Growing up in the rough streets of south-central Los Angeles, California was not easy for Shalise. She had plans to escape at any means necessary. Shalise grew up quickly as the oldest of seven children with no father and a drug-addicted mother. Her great, great grandmother was left to fulfill the role of both parents. Shalise's main focus was to get her life together. At a very young age, she promised herself that she would always be independent and damned if she would ask for help. She was determined that if she ever became a mother, she would be the best parent to her children. As she grew older, she was distracted from her dreams. This is her story of coming back and making those promises come true.