Situation  

You graduated from high school and start spending time with a crowd that makes risky choices.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I want friends who help me grow. I’ll look for positive influences and safe spaces.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I don’t want to be left out. I’ll go along even if it hurts me.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought protects your future and shows care for yourself?

Situation  

Your old friends tease you for focusing on saving money instead of spending it all.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll stay disciplined. Saving now helps me reach bigger goals later.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “They’ll think I’m boring. I’ll spend recklessly to impress them.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought shows more care for your future?

Situation  

A group invites you to skip responsibilities and hang out all night.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “Rest and balance matter. I’ll join them another time when I’m free.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “If I say no, I’ll lose my place in the group.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which choice respects your health and commitments?

Situation  

Friends push you to spend all your time hanging out instead of applying for jobs.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll balance fun with responsibility. Applying now helps me secure my future.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll ignore job hunting. My friends’ approval matters more than my goals.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought shows more care for your future?

Situation  

A group pressures you to lie to your family about where you’ve been.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “Honesty keeps trust strong. I’ll be truthful about my choices.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll hide the truth. It’s easier to avoid conflict.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which response builds healthier relationships?

Situation  

A group pressures you to join them in skipping class or training.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll stay committed. Showing up builds discipline and opens doors for my future.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “Skipping once won’t matter. I’ll go along to fit in.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought shows more care for your growth?

Situation  

Peers tell you that chasing short-term fun is more important than planning for your career.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll enjoy life responsibly while still preparing for tomorrow.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “Planning is boring. I’ll live recklessly and hope it works out.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought balances joy with responsibility?

Situation  

Peers encourage you to skip saving for school or training to spend on short-term fun.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “Investing in my education builds my future. Fun can wait.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll spend now and worry about opportunities later.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which choice shows more care for your long-term goals?

Situation  

Peers encourage you to join them in risky online challenges.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll avoid harmful trends. My safety and dignity matter more than views.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll do it for attention, even if it’s dangerous.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought protects your reputation and safety?

Situation  

Friends push you to skip volunteering or community service because it’s “not cool.”  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “Helping others builds character. I’ll keep giving back.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll stop volunteering so I don’t get teased.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which response shows more pride in your values?

Situation  

Friends encourage you to buy things for the thrill, even if you can’t afford them.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll spend wisely. Saving now helps me reach bigger goals later.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll buy it anyway. The rush matters more than my future.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which choice shows more care for your stability?

Situation  

You spend all your time gaming with friends online, avoiding real‑world connections.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “Gaming is fun, but I’ll also build friendships offline.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “Online is enough. I don’t need real‑world bonds.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought creates stronger, lasting relationships?

Situation  

Your friends pressure you to skip work for parties.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “My job helps me build my future. I’ll celebrate responsibly after work.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “If I don’t join them, I’ll lose my place in the group.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought shows more care for your goals?

Situation  

You feel lonely after graduation and want belonging.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll join positive groups—sports, music, community projects—to build healthy connections.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “Any group is fine, even if they make risky choices.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought creates safer, stronger friendships?

Situation  

You’re pressured to post risky photos or videos online to get attention.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll share content that reflects my values. My reputation matters.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “Likes and views are all that count. I’ll post whatever gets attention.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought protects your image and self‑respect?

Situation  

Friends encourage you to skip paying rent or bills to buy something flashy.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll cover my responsibilities first. Stability matters more than showing off.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I need to look successful now, even if I fall behind later.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which response shows maturity and responsibility?

Situation  

You’re pressured to join a group that constantly skips responsibilities.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I want to surround myself with people who lift me up, not hold me back.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll go along with them, even if it hurts my progress.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which choice builds stronger character?

Situation  

You’re told that chasing quick thrills is more important than planning for the future.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll enjoy life responsibly while still preparing for tomorrow.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “Planning is boring. I’ll live recklessly and hope it works out.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought balances joy with responsibility?

Situation  

Peers encourage you to spend money on clothes or gadgets you can’t afford.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll budget wisely. My style doesn’t need to hurt my finances.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I need to look impressive now, even if I go into debt.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which choice protects your stability?

Situation  

Friends pressure you to drive recklessly to impress them.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “Safety matters more than showing off. I’ll drive responsibly.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “If I don’t speed or stunt, they’ll think I’m boring.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought values your life

Situation  

Friends push you to skip healthy routines like exercise or rest.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll protect my health. Balance makes me stronger in the long run.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll ignore my health to keep up with them.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which response shows more care for your well-being?

Situation  

Peers encourage you to spend all your money on a big trip without planning.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “Travel is great, but I’ll budget wisely so I don’t struggle later.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll spend it all now. Tomorrow can wait.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which choice balances fun with responsibility?

Situation  

Peers encourage you to compare yourself constantly to others’ success.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll focus on my own journey. Growth looks different for everyone.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’m behind. I’ll give up because I don’t measure up.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought builds confidence in your path?

Situation  

You feel pressured to post everything online to prove you’re living.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll share what feels real, not just what looks good.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “If I don’t post it, it doesn’t count.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought values your true experience more?

Situation  

Peers tell you to hide your language or culture to fit in.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “My heritage is my strength. I’ll celebrate it proudly.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll hide who I am so I don’t stand out.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought honors your identity?

Situation  

You’re offered a chance to try substances with a new crowd.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I want to stay healthy and focused. I’ll say no and protect myself.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I need to fit in, even if it risks my health.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which choice values your well‑being more?

Situation  

You feel left behind because some peers are in college while you’re working.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “Everyone’s path is different. I’ll focus on my growth and opportunities now.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’m failing compared to them. I’ll give up on my goals.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought builds confidence in your journey?

Situation  

A friend suggests making quick money through unsafe or illegal means.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll look for safe, honest ways to earn. My future matters more than fast cash.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “It’s easy money. I’ll risk it even if it harms me later.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which response protects your long‑term success?

Situation  

You feel left behind because some peers are in college while you’re working.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “Everyone’s path is different. I’ll focus on my growth and opportunities now.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’m failing compared to them. I’ll give up on my goals.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought builds confidence in your journey?

Situation  

You’re pressured to join in gossip or negativity about others.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll avoid tearing people down. I want to build positive relationships.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “Talking bad about others helps me fit in. I’ll join the gossip.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought creates healthier friendships?

Situation  

Peers encourage you to drop your hobbies or passions because they don’t think they’re “cool.”  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “My passions make me unique. I’ll keep doing what inspires me.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll give up what I love just to fit in.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought honors your identity?

Situation  

Friends pressure you to skip an important family event for a night out.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “Family time matters. I’ll honor my commitments and join friends another time.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “My family will understand. I’ll ditch them to avoid missing out.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought shows more respect for your relationships?

Situation  

Friends push you to laugh at or bully someone different.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I’ll stand against negativity. Respecting others makes me stronger.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “If I join in, I’ll be accepted—even if it hurts someone.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which response builds healthier character?

Situation  

A group pressures you to hide your true interests because they’re “different.”  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “My uniqueness is my strength. I’ll stay true to myself.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll pretend to be someone else just to fit in.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought honors your identity?

Situation  

Friends pressure you to skip an interview because “it’s just practice.”  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “Every interview builds experience. I’ll show up and give my best.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “It doesn’t matter. I’ll blow it off to hang out instead.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought shows more care for your future?

Situation  

A group pressures you to hide your emotions and “act tough.”  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “It’s okay to be real. Sharing how I feel builds stronger connections.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “I’ll bottle it up. Showing feelings makes me weak.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought creates healthier relationships?

Situation  

Friends push you to live recklessly, saying rules don’t matter.  

✅ Healthy Thinking (Do): “I can enjoy freedom while still respecting boundaries that protect me.”  

❌ Negative Thinking (Don’t): “Rules are boring. I’ll break them all to feel alive.”  

👉 Reflection Prompt: Which thought balances fun with responsibility?

"Thanks for riding with us! Drop your thoughts in the chat-box -we'd love to hear your experiences"

 BOOK ONE — BEGINNINGS

CHAPTER 1 — The Court

The basketball court behind Lincoln High was more than a court — it was a stage, a confessional, a battleground, and a sanctuary all at once.

Every afternoon, the Miami sun dipped low enough to paint the asphalt gold, and the neighborhood kids drifted in like migrating birds.

Jamal arrived first, as usual.

He dribbled lazily, not really playing — just thinking.

He had that look again: shoulders heavy, eyes distant, hoodie up even though it was eighty‑three degrees.

Maya noticed before anyone else.

She always did.

She walked over, her braids swinging behind her, her backpack still on one shoulder.

“Hey,” she said softly.

Jamal didn’t look up. “Hey.”

Maya sat beside him, leaving a respectful gap between them. She didn’t ask questions. She didn’t force conversation. She just let the silence settle — warm, patient, unthreatening.

Finally, Jamal exhaled.

“Coach benched me today.”

Maya nodded, waiting.

“He said I’m slipping. Said I’m not focused. But he don’t know I’m watching my brothers every night. He don’t know I’m barely sleeping.”

Maya turned toward him, her expression gentle.

“That’s a lot for one person,” she said. “Do you want help figuring it out… or do you just want someone to hear you?”

Jamal blinked.

No one had ever asked him that before.

“Just hearing me is enough,” he whispered.

And for the first time that day, he felt the weight shift — not gone, but shared

Tasha was the kind of girl who always looked put together — edges laid, notebooks color‑coded, grades immaculate.

People assumed she had no problems.

People were wrong.

She sat in math class the next morning, staring at the board but seeing none of it.

Her phone buzzed in her lap.

Andre:

Why didn’t you text me back last night?

Her stomach tightened.

She typed:

I was studying.

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Andre:

You always say that. You’re acting different.

Tasha closed her eyes.

She felt the pressure rising — the kind that made her chest feel too small.

When she slammed her notebook shut, the whole class jumped.

Mr. Rivera didn’t scold her.

He didn’t embarrass her.

He simply walked over and crouched beside her desk.

“Let’s take a breather,” he murmured.

In the hallway, she folded her arms.

“I’m fine.”

Mr. Rivera leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets.

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll stand here with you until you feel like talking.”

Two minutes passed.

Then Tasha whispered, “He gets mad when I don’t text back fast enough.”

Mr. Rivera’s face softened.

“That sounds exhausting.”

Tasha nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks.

“Do you want to talk about it,” he asked, “or do you want a quiet moment?”

“Quiet moment,” she whispered.

And he stayed with her — not fixing, not judging, just present

Keisha and Luis had been inseparable since sixth grade.

Everyone joked they were “basically married,” which annoyed them both — but also made them smile.

This year, though, something felt… off.

Luis had started talking to a girl from another school — a girl with perfect curls and a perfect smile and a perfect Instagram feed.

Keisha didn’t know why it bothered her so much.

It wasn’t romantic jealousy.

It was fear — fear of being replaced.

So she pulled back.

Short texts.

Dry replies.

Avoiding eye contact.

Luis finally cornered her in the corner store after school.

“You mad at me?” he asked.

Keisha grabbed a bag of Hot Cheetos and shrugged. “No.”

“You sure?”

She rolled her eyes. “You wouldn’t get it.”

Luis didn’t argue.

He didn’t defend himself.

He didn’t say she was being dramatic.

He said, “Try me. I’m listening.”

Keisha froze.

Then, quietly:

“I just don’t wanna lose my best friend.”

Luis’s expression softened instantly.

“You’re not losing me,” he said. “Ever.”

And for the first time in weeks, she believed him