"Baltimore...like from The Wire?"

My father's family has lived in Baltimore for five generations. My mom has always been involved with inner city youth and I was aware of some of the problems Baltimore is faced with. Some of the main issues that came to mind were hunger, drug abuse, and teenage pregnancy. I grew up in Baltimore my entire life and when it was time to go to college there was no way I even considered staying in the state of Maryland. I  had this idea that I wanted to get away since I had been here for my whole life. I headed to College of Charleston for my freshman year. Although I wanted a new experience I was proud of my home roots. I remember introducing myself to a classmate native to South Carolina. When I said I was from Baltimore my classmates immediate reaction was "Baltimore...like from the Wire?" At first I was shocked by this girls response and then I began to think is this really how some people perceive Baltimore?
After a year and a half at College of Charleston I decided to transfer to UMD. My decision was influenced by many factors but there was something pulling me back. Once I came back I wanted to get involved and make a difference in the life of youth in Baltimore City. In my human development class last semester I learned that the best time to intervene in a persons life is when they are children and their brains are still forming. To me, education means power. If we are able to give the children of Baltimore the tools they need to succeed, they are likely to have a better chance at leading productive lives.