This episode: From Struggle to Success: Schwartzen's Journey of Redemption and Giving Back.

Here’s what you’ll learn about:

Overcoming adversity and giving back. (0:00)

• Schwartzen Precil shares his personal story of overcoming adversity and giving back to help youth turn their lives around.

Childhood trauma and identity issues. (2:21)

• Schwartzen reflects on his childhood in foster care, including early identity issues and affiliation with gangs.
• At 14 years old, he experienced a traumatic and dramatic time in his life, including getting into fights and feeling disconnected from his guardians.

Family dynamics and personal struggles. (4:59)

• Schwartzen recounts his experiences with a controlling and dominant foster care father, including being forced to run away from home at 14 years old.

Teenage boy's legal issues and mental health evaluation. (6:30)

• As a 14-year-old boy, Schwartzen faced court charges for trespassing, had struggles with ADHD diagnosis and feeling worthless.

Juvenile justice system and personal growth. (8:20)

• Schwartzen reflects on his experience in the foster care system and how it has shaped his life, including his resentment towards his guardian, and foster care father.
• The speaker describes how his guardian surprised him by showing compassion in a courtroom moment, which led to a turning point in Schwartzen’s life and a desire to change his path.

Personal growth and grace of God. (11:06)

• Schwartzen reflects on his childhood, mentioning a brother who went down a similar path and ended up in prison, and a foster father who fell ill and had to go to the hospital for treatment.
• Schwartzen describes his daily routine as a teenager, including attending school and basketball practice, and being chaperoned by a foster sibling due to his curfew.

High school experiences, identity formation, and sports. (13:28)

• As a 16-year-old, Schwartzen begins to form identity as creator through dancing and basketball, despite challenges from peers and girls.

Mental health, addiction, and faith. (15:10)

• Schwartzen struggles with mental health and performance in college due to partying and substance use.
• He describes experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings of isolation, with no one to turn to for support.
• Schwartzen recounts a specific incident where he left his body while drunk and high, feeling disconnected from his mind and body.

Spiritual growth and career goals after college. (19:34)