was a corpse when I first came to Hard as Nails. He then added that I had gained JOY since being here. The staff and my fellow teammates could see a change in me that had taken place in the past six to seven months. They saw that I had joy.

For the longest time, I always assumed that chivalry meant a code that knights from stories like King Arthur and The Knights of The Round Table followed, but I foolishly thought that it was about little more than how to look stoic in a suit of armor and how to carry a big sword. After so much needed maturity, I came to discover that chivalry is more than knights, and is actually a way for men to live with dignity, giving of themselves selflessly to serve others.

Do you take good care of yourself? If you’re like most teens, self-care isn’t at the top of your mind. After all, your parents seem to take charge of your health care and encourage decisions that protect your well-being.

My whole life I’ve expected others to not let me down, for friends to be faithful, for them to understand me and want me in their lives. The problem is that’s not reality. It’s hard for me to accept, but the truth is that I let people down too.