12/15/2025
I was homeless When I was 17 & I sold my microphone to survive.
Music was my outlet , my way of processing pain after my mom passed. But when I became homeless, living out of a mall garage in El Cajon near Crunch Fitness, I had to make a choice between my passion and a meal. I sold the mic that once saved me… just to eat.
Those few weeks felt like forever. I remember the silence , not just around me, but inside me. That mic represented hope, and letting it go felt like letting go of a part of myself.
Now, over 12 years later, my love for music has been reignited. I’ve picked up the acoustic guitar, now learning for over 4 month, medicine music , to help me regulate, express, and reconnect.
It took years to rebuild my life into what it is today, a life filled with peace, love, and stability. I’m so grateful that my daughter will grow up surrounded by rhythm, safety, and support… things I didn’t have at her age after my mom’s passing. And i’ll always have in mind, that our parents did the best they could during that time, so i have released the blame.
I’m beyond grateful for the love and support I’ve received from family and the people who believed in me along the way. I couldn’t have made it here without them. Joseph Antoine Ingram III Melissa Finger Julia Przytulski-smith
As I play my guitar now, I reflect on all the mistakes I made just trying to survive. And my intention moving forward is to return love, rebuild bridges, and continue creating from a place of harmony.
Here’s to healing, to growth, to music, and to becoming the example I want my daughter to see. 🎸