My name is Justin Smith, I am 18 years old and I live in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and this is my story.
I was born on March 11th, 1995 in Yorkshire, United Kingdom. I was three months pre-mature. I was born with a collapsed lung on my right and irregular heart beat and no cartilage at all. My condition was so serious, my parents doubted that I would make it, but they kept on until I was fully capable of breathing and had a steady heartbeat with no help from machines. When I turned three, my parents got divorced and I moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. For ten years I have lived with my brother, sister, and father. My brother’s name is James, my sister’s name is Autumn, and my father’s name is Jim. I had a job working with my father’s roofing company called, “The Roof Doctor.” Since I left my mother, Donna, at the age of three, I haven’t spoken to her in 13 years. When I turned 16, I started talking to her again. Around the same age, I moved to Montville, New Jersey. I met a few people around my style, Jon Martinez, Alex Cufino, and Evan Cufino. They were the best people I have ever met. Then, the friendships kept growing and growing, finally I had millions of friends and we hung out constantly, there were so many of us. I started to go to a camp called, “Camp Lindenmere.” Such an amazing place. One day, I was on facebook and I commented on a picture that my friend Elyssa shared and another commenter was Kathy Martino. Kathy and I started talking and we ended up dating. Our relationship grew more and more into a best friend/girlfriend/boyfriend relationship. Such a wonderful relationship. After a while, someone started a rumor that I was cheating on her. Then we faded away. We both stopped talking and it’s now like we haven’t even met. Then in August of 2012, I moved back with my father in Winston-Salem. Getting back to old friends, making new, and getting back into old routines. Will Brendle, my best friend, introduced me to Ben White who lives next door. Will and Ben are two of the greatest friends ever. A few friends and I started a band called Plastic Sunset. We only had a few songs but everyone loved our song called, “Miss. Leader.” Eventually, the band faded away. One of the members were friends with someone named Bri Alford. We are good friends and we hang out everyday. I eventually started a band called Eyes of The Sailor with KeAndre’ Williams, Brandon Finney, Morgan Hicks, and I. Bri was our merch girl. We met someone from a band called Get Rude and we started to tour with them with a lot of other bands. We got to play with Asking Alexandria, Memphis May Fire, I See Stars, and More. Along with the band, I run a record label called, “Tyrant Records” and I’m a graphic designer for a major pressure washing company called “JNJ Pressure Washing.” Also I am a producer with another major record label. To end my story, I want to let everyone know, along the course of my life, I was diagnosed with depression, major anxiety, and also I’m bipolar and I think that if you keep your head into a positive state, you can achieve any of your goals, no matter how hard and how long. Believe in yourself and forget what others say. You are beautiful in every way!
