Leroy Faultry, Spindletop Center Peer

My name is Leroy Faultry, and I am not what my past says I am.

Before the turbulence, I was a happy kid. I love dogs. I had a stepfather who provided for me financially, but quality time and guidance were limited. I had the potential to reach incredible heights, but without consistent leadership and direction, I began navigating life on my own terms. The choices I made led me into the streets. I chased a false image of glamour and success, hustling in search of identity and belonging.

What I found instead were serious consequences that altered the course of my life. I eventually spent 20 years in prison. Prison was my lowest altitude, but it was also the place where I experienced my first internal shift. Before incarceration, I had started drifting from academics and positive opportunities. I even encountered a military recruiter who saw potential in me and offered me a path forward. I declined.

At the time, I believed I had everything figured out. I was making good money and purchased my first home at 21 years old. On the outside, it looked like success. On the inside, I was still searching for purpose. While incarcerated, I had time to reflect. Turbulence has a way of forcing you to examine your life. I worked jobs I enjoyed, developed new skills, and committed to personal growth. I had learned something powerful during that season: I am not a lost cause. I still have everything within me to become successful. That became my turning point. I was raised with old-fashioned values, and even today, I operate with integrity, accountability, and respect.

Growth did not happen overnight. 
 
It happened through both big steps and small steps; consistent decisions to move in the right direction. Today, I actively participate in peer support groups and engage in one on-one peer counseling. I serve others because I understand struggle.

One of my proudest accomplishments is earning the trust of professionals and individuals outside of my inner circle. Trust is something you can’t demand; it must be demonstrated through consistent change. And my change is visible. Hope is now my foundation. I believe that where there is hope, there is victory.

My transformation allows me to help others not just with words, but with evidence. When people see change, they believe change is possible. To anyone who is struggling: Never give up. Be persistent. Be consistent. You can grow beyond even your own expectations. My goals now are clear. I want to own my own home again. I want to run my own business. I want to give back to the land and to my community.

A bright future to me looks rechargeable and prosperous for a life that continues to renew itself through growth, learning, and service. How do I move forward? One step at a time. By being assertive. By remaining teachable. By continuing to learn more about my life and my eternity. Turbulence may shake you, but it does not have to define your destination. Sometimes altitude shifts require pressure, but pressure produces strength.

And I am proof that transformation is possible.