February 24, 2025 • 26 mins
Life is hard, we all know it. Many of us put our faith in something greater to help us through the hardship. Join us for part 1 of Mahonri's story as he shares the trials and faith-building that happened in his journey to finishing high school.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Welcome aboard the Story Arc.
(00:08):
I'm your captain Kenny Mears and let's take a voyage together.
For most of us, life is no easy voyage.
We have our ups and downs and struggles all around.
And for many of us, we hold on to faith in something greater than us to get through the
(00:28):
hard times, whether that be God or the universe.
This week's story comes from a dear friend of mine, Mahanrai, who has had an especially
hard go of life.
Now this story is so deep that it went extra long, so today's episode is part one and
next week we will have the second part of Mahanrai's story.
Here's Mahanrai.
Okay, awesome.
(00:48):
So, my name is Mahanrai.
I was actually originally born in Mexico, Veracruz, by the Gulf of Mexico and today
I will actually go on to talk about a personal story I never told before to anybody actually.
It's going to be the first time.
And so, the story is pretty much about how the gospel actually has helped me a lot in
(01:14):
my life and how some experiences got me through, got me to here where I am today.
So yeah, that's going to be my story for today.
So we'll start off with when I got here to the US, I was like 10 years old and the first
state I arrived to was Tennessee.
So in Tennessee, I was actually one of the only Hispanic kids in the entire town and
(01:39):
a lot of people thankfully were actually really welcoming.
A lot of people thought that it was really weird to see somebody with black hair, just
different like darker futures.
It was just blonde or brunette, but nobody really had black hair so people thought it
was pretty cool.
But throughout those 10 tired years, I was actually in Tennessee for five years and during
those five years, I started school there.
(02:01):
It was in fifth grade and then finished school there in eighth.
Now the problem was that my parents thought about something and the fact was that I wasn't
going to be able to go to college in Tennessee.
So they were thinking about other options and one of those options was actually to move
(02:23):
to Texas.
Now and my entire life actually was a hard transition to move to another country, but
then move out to another state.
And so I was in Texas and just once in my life.
So during that time when I was in Texas, when we finally arrived in 2016, fast forward,
(02:48):
it was the first I needed to attend high school.
So that was like when I arrived to Texas, I knew that I needed to go to high school.
So I was pretty afraid.
I didn't know what school I needed to attend.
My family was super poor.
We weren't able to afford food.
So my dad actually, my family and I, we stayed at my dad's half sister's house for a couple
(03:12):
months or four, three months.
And during those entire time and like during those days, it was pretty harsh.
There was, I could tell you for a fact, there was a lot of arguments.
There was a lot of confusion at the time, resentment.
You know, I knew my mom at that time was maybe mad at my dad because she just really felt
(03:33):
like she didn't need to leave Tennessee and that we were just in such a worse situation.
And so at that time, when I was 14 when I got there, I then, my older cousin, her name
was Giselle or is Giselle.
She actually mentioned to my parents that she was attending high school.
(03:56):
And so actually at that time, that high school was named Energy Institute High School.
And so Energy Institute High School is actually one of the first high schools in the US that
was fully focused on engineering programs.
So to actually do engineering yourself, not just to study it, but to actually deal with
it.
And so for me, that was like, whoa, that's like beyond my level.
I don't think I could do that.
(04:17):
I don't think I'm capable.
I don't think I'm like smart enough to do those things.
And so they told me, you know, what do you have to lose?
Just go ahead and just try to see if you apply, you can apply and then if they accept you.
And so it was a private program.
It was magnet school.
And so I remember one day I went and then I was in the cafeteria with my parents and
(04:40):
my cousin was there and I was waiting for one of the instructors to come get me and
to get a math test.
And so with that math test was just to place me in a certain category of where my math
level was.
So it turns out that my math level was in such a low level.
(05:01):
So I was really ashamed about that.
I just, I was never really good at math.
Now when, when that happened, they were pretty much making a gambling of names.
So they gamble the names and it was just going to pick up like a couple of couple of people
to get into the magnet school.
(05:21):
And so it turns out that a couple of days later they told me that I was finally accepted
into the program.
Now until this day, I do believe that that was a miracle because there was almost no
possible way for me to get into that program.
Now since I didn't knew anybody in Texas, Texas was still a super new place to me, a
(05:44):
whole new world.
It was a bigger city.
It was a whole different culture, a whole different culture of people and top of people
I had to deal with.
And during that time, the first couple of days I attended, I started to attend high
school.
It was so different.
Everything was just so different.
Everybody, I guess also it was a little more ghetto.
(06:04):
So it was definitely a lot different from Tennessee, small country town.
But when I did my first year, I actually ended up failing that program.
And so since I ended up failing that program, I was actually ended up getting kicked out
of the program.
And so the last day I just got on the bus and I just went home and I got home and I
(06:25):
told my parents, look, I failed the program.
I don't, I just can't pass.
I don't know what to tell you, but I'm dropping out of high school.
I don't know what to tell you.
I'm going to turn 15.
I'm already about to turn 15.
I don't know what to do.
But I understand if you want to kick me out of the house, it is what it is.
(06:47):
So that was like a situation where I was in at that time when I was 15.
And yeah, no, I actually took a whole year off.
I didn't go to school.
I was like completely set.
I was like, I'm not going back to high school.
I just, I just don't think I can do school.
So during that time I started to then get into more hobbies.
(07:11):
During that time I was out of high school and that was like making music, I guess reading
a little more and actually just writing songs, something new to me.
And so that really inspired me because Houston, you know, Houston has such a big music culture.
You know, everything is like such a big culture about music, hip hop, rap.
(07:32):
So that really caught my attention at that time.
So I started to get involved with that.
So I started to meet people that would make music.
Some of the friends that I met made music.
They were into that stuff.
So I really got like really intrigued about it.
But the time that I was still 15, I actually received a letter and in that letter I remember
(07:59):
getting the mail and I remember the letter say HCC.
So HCC stands for Houston Community College.
And so I was like, wait, I haven't even graduated high school, but I'm getting the Houston Black
Community College letter.
That doesn't make any sense.
Doesn't add up.
So I opened the letter and I read the letter itself and it pretty much says that they were
(08:20):
offering me, offering another opportunity to me to recover my credits that I didn't
acquire in high school and giving me another opportunity to actually get back into school
so I could finish my education and that the program was fully focused on finishing school
quick so I can get a job or I can just go to college or community college, whatever
the case was.
(08:41):
And so I didn't know what to think about that until my dad came and he was like, what is
that?
And so I remember showing my dad the letter and he saw the letter and he was like, huh,
you know, maybe God is trying to tell you something, man.
Maybe he's giving you another chance.
You know, these things don't happen too often.
So I would consider it.
(09:03):
If you consider yourself an adult, then make your choices now.
And so at that time, I honestly, I didn't know what to do.
I was totally confused.
I didn't have any vision of my future.
I didn't have any plans.
So and the least thing I had was a relationship with God.
So that's that was one of the biggest parts too.
(09:26):
And after I consider the letter and the opportunity that was offered to me, it took me about three
days or four.
And on the last day that I finally took the decision, I made the decision to just reach
out and go in person.
And so I made, you know, I made the process of like, you know, going in person, signing
(09:51):
up for like this program.
It was like a high school, but you know, it was a program offered to like just get you
out of school quick.
Cool.
What happened the first year?
First year, I totally fell.
Again.
But I was still in school and I still needed to continue to do get my career.
That's what they were trying to focus on.
They just wanted me out of school.
(10:11):
They just wanted to make sure that I graduated.
During those times were in high school too.
I was actually introduced to some certain amount of people and some certain people specifically.
And I was introduced into a whole world where made led me to really make like the wrong
decisions.
(10:32):
And during the time that I was still in high school, I was actually dealing with gang members.
I was also dealing with a lot of actually some mafia members too.
And during that time, I was actually getting myself in a lot of trouble.
I remember a lot of the kids were getting fights.
I remember being when I was younger, I remember like people would get like in shootouts in
(10:56):
the gas stations.
I remember as well we were in the car and we got shot up one night.
And so those things were stuck with me still till this day.
But I remember that I just was so confused about what I was doing because I knew I needed
to finish high school first.
(11:16):
But there was something else that I didn't understand.
And I was like, there's something I just don't that I'm not getting.
High school can be one thing.
What happens after I finish high school?
That was the question I was asking.
What do I do after that?
What is really my purpose?
What do I need to do?
And so during the age, the time that I had, like I was 15 years old, I remember going
(11:39):
to church and I remember somebody on a Sunday, I remember going to one of the benches of
the Berry Bag and I said, I just sat down and I waited for sacrament to start.
Sacrament when I was passed around, I didn't take the sacrament.
I just refused to do such thing at that time.
(12:00):
And when the speakers were finally were introduced and they were talking about a topic about
the atonement of Jesus Christ, it's pretty much one of them I remember mentioning about
a patriarchal blessing.
So I was like, whoa, what is that?
What is a patriarchal blessing?
(12:21):
And I was just like, well, that's really intriguing.
And after church services, we just went back home.
So as we got home, I remember sitting down on the couch and I was just still thinking
about that.
I was like, wait, that sounds like a patriarchal blessing.
The way he's like explaining it to me just sounded like, whoa, it sounds like God just
(12:41):
predicted his future.
So I'm like, whoa, actually I want to have that.
So I was like, I'm pretty curious, but I don't know how that works.
And I remember my father coming up to me and he's like, you ever thought about like a patriarchal
blessing?
A patriarchal blessing?
No, not really.
(13:02):
I don't know what it is really, but I just heard of it.
And he proceeded to explain what it is.
And he explained that, you know, the patriarchal blessing was one of those things that once
in a lifetime opportunity where God directly speaks to you.
And I thought that was amazing.
I was like, wait, really?
And my dad was, yeah.
I've been serious about that.
(13:23):
And so I was just intrigued about that, the idea.
And I did believe in God.
I just didn't believe that he really like loved me.
I didn't believe that he really cared about me.
So at the age of 15 still, I then asked my father to help me get a patriarchal blessing.
(13:46):
And then he set up an appointment later on, a couple of days later with the bishop.
And the bishop then got in contact with me personally.
And I was reaching out to see how I was doing and asked me, hey, when do you have time to
meet up so that way we are able to talk about this patriarchal blessing you need?
And it wasn't true because he said that you want, he says that you need.
(14:08):
And I'm like, oh, okay.
Yeah.
I say actually we can do it tomorrow if possible.
I want to actually do this as soon as possible.
And so he did interview me.
He talked to me.
We talked about it.
And I then was intrigued about, even more intrigued about the idea.
(14:29):
And I just, all I really wanted, I just wanted to really hear, I just want to hear God himself
talk to me.
And honestly, the first time, the day, the finally the day came for the day when I got
a patriarchal blessing.
(14:51):
And it was on, I think it was on a Tuesday or it was like March 24th.
I can't remember.
But I remember getting going into this, this humble house.
It was still pretty big, nice house.
But I went in and it was really cozy as soon as I got in.
I was like, whoa, this is such a nice house.
And there was like a hymn playing in the background.
(15:14):
And the patriarch, the patriarch's wife actually came up to us and she was so sweet and so
nice.
I just felt like I was a whole different world.
I'm like, I'm coming from this life to like this super humble, like lovely people.
And I'm like, whoa.
Yeah, it's felt really different.
But when I was there, the first thing the patriarch says, welcome.
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I'm actually honored that you're here.
And I'm like, well, I've never had anybody in my life said that.
So I was like, wow, I really do feel honored.
So when the patriarch was talking to my family and I, he asked to have a moment alone with
me and just talk about what's a patriarchal blessing, what's this going to be, how it
(16:03):
can help me in my life.
And we had a good conversation.
I really loved that.
I still remember the conversation to this day.
When the time came when I got the actual patriarchal blessing, I can do not.
That was the first time I actually ever realized that there was actually a lot more to life
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than the things that I was thinking about.
There was a lot more blessings that were coming my way that I didn't realize about.
And when I heard the words that were said in that patriarchal blessing, I realized that
I was being a very ungrateful being.
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I felt so, so little.
I felt so small.
I felt so unworthy.
I just, at the same time, I had this sensation of love and peace and comfort.
And I had like the sensation that everything will be okay.
And after that event happened, actually, I continued with my education in high school.
(17:16):
But I was still strong on one thing and that was passing school.
And I really was like, God, if these things are true.
You're telling me I'm going to graduate.
I have to graduate.
So how am I supposed to graduate when I'm not even smart enough or intelligent enough
to do these things?
And I'm dealing with some other things in my personal life that I understand maybe they're
(17:39):
not the best.
But I'm doing my very best to do what I can.
And so when I went, when I continued to go to school, I got to the point where the principal
actually told me that I was going to fail and I was going to be officially kicked out
(17:59):
of the program and that I was going to be prohibited from attending high school again
in the state.
And so when she told me that, I got pretty scared.
Because if that was the case, then I then was like, I'm done for.
I'm getting no high school diploma or GED.
(18:21):
And then I'm prohibited to go back to school, even though I'm 17 at that time.
And then I cannot get a good job.
And so that really scared me.
I was in fear at that time.
And so the principal gave me one option.
And it was like, look, I have one last chance for you.
But you have to take it.
(18:41):
But it's not going to be as easy as you think.
And I was thinking, well, what is it?
So she told me that I needed to attend different places around Houston.
And it was different buildings, which means there were different high schools.
And so I started to attend another program named On Time Grad.
And On Time Grad was actually another program that was focused with people that didn't graduate
(19:03):
high school.
So if you were like 25, you just went back and you're trying to get your diploma, not
a GED, through the diploma.
So I was put in there.
And I was actually one of the youngest students.
Some of them had kids already.
Some of these people already had a life going on.
And some people were just starting a family.
Some people were planning to get married.
(19:24):
Some people were just, some girls, I remember seeing, they were one of the most pregnant.
I'm like, dude, what am I doing here?
What the crap?
So I'm asking myself, why am I here in this place when I should be back in my actual school,
actually studying?
And then I realized, you know what?
(19:44):
God told me I'm going to graduate.
So you know what?
I'll do it.
So I then started to do the classes, attend the classes.
And then as time progressed, time spiced back, I went back to my actual school a couple months
later.
And as that happened, I was caught up.
(20:06):
And they told me, look, you just need to finish the rest of the school year and then you'll
graduate.
And I was like, dude, absolutely.
And I remember that.
I remember the specific days, those specific days, everybody was planning about, you know,
how are we going to celebrate after we graduate or where are we going to go or what place
we're going to meet up at.
(20:27):
You know, people were making plans of like, hey, we should take pictures here and there.
Other people were making plans to like maybe travel, spend time with their families.
And some of the people already planning to go to college and like, you know, make a plan
to just like attend a job.
Some people have other job opportunities.
And everybody's buying their coats and you know, like, what are they called?
(20:48):
The hats, cabs?
I don't know.
But graduation cab, I guess.
But to me, I was like, yes, I want to do that.
I want to buy my stuff.
Where is my code?
You know, where's my graduation code?
So I remember just going to the office and I'm like, where's my graduation code?
Then one of the secretaries is like, oh, what is your name?
(21:09):
So I told them, oh, my name is Mahan Rai.
Oh, OK, yeah, let me look you up.
And so they had a whole list of graduation.
And guess what?
I was not in that graduation list.
And they told me, look, you're actually not in that graduation list.
So I was just like, what do you mean I'm not in the graduation list?
(21:34):
That's what I mean.
You're not in the graduation list, unfortunately.
And I'm like, how is that possible?
I went to another program for a couple of months.
I recovered my credit.
What is going on?
It turns out that I was not caught off completely.
I was actually about 19 credits in out of 24 or 22.5.
(21:59):
And 22.5 was the very minimum so you can get out of school.
Like 24 was average.
And so I was just like, are you kidding me?
That's what I like.
First of all, you're not passing classes.
That's what we look at in the system.
You're filling a couple of classes right now and you're supposed to finish them off.
(22:21):
You're supposed to pass them.
And if you pass those classes that you're in right now, then yeah, you're able to get
your credits.
But if you don't, then there's no graduation for you.
It's just pretty clear.
It's pretty straightforward.
And so I remember I go back home.
Dude, how can you not?
I was so mad.
I was not even sad.
I was mad.
I was mad about the fact they told me, you can't graduate.
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You can't get your code.
I'm like, why?
I worked so hard for this.
And I remember that one night also, I got on my knees.
I'm like, God, if you don't get me out of this place, I don't know what else to do.
I really don't.
I'm trying to do my very best, but it just doesn't seem like things are working.
(23:03):
Well, the next day I go to school again and I remember seeing everybody getting graduation
codes, everybody's getting their stuff.
And I'm like, dude, I'm one of the few people that I'm not.
And then I maybe sad and I didn't know how to tell my mom how I was not going to graduate.
(23:25):
And yeah, fast forward with that.
I actually did not end up graduating.
I actually ended up failing.
And on the day of graduation, which I still remember to this day, it was like around June
6th or so of 2019.
The only else was graduating, except me.
(23:47):
And I remember just going to the bathroom and I remember just turning the shower and
I remember just sitting in the bathtub.
I was just sitting there by myself and I was alone at home.
It was a hot shower and I didn't want to pick up my phone because everybody's Instagram
was popping off.
(24:07):
The only Instagram stories and photos that was popping off of my feed was like people
graduating, taking pictures with friends, family members and how they made it.
I'm like, you know what, God, if I can't do it, then yeah, then I'm sorry.
Maybe I did fail you or I don't know what to do.
I'm going to go back to the things that I was doing.
(24:30):
So if that's something you don't like, then tell me right now because if that's the case,
then I'll make the decision right now and that's going to be my life from now on.
And so and I really did not want to go back.
I was not in a position where I actually felt safe either.
(24:51):
I was dealing with that at the same time and I was also dealing with like some threats
that I was receiving.
I was actually dealing with some losses that I had.
I lost two friends that were mine during that time in 2019 due to dumb decisions that I
(25:11):
made as a young person.
But in the meantime, when those things were happening, I still needed to finish school.
And you know, the more I talk about school, I understand it seems like the more the main
topic.
The reason why I go such in detail with school is because later on, I then started to attend
(25:34):
like the very last program that they offered me and I started attending school 24 7.
I mean, I'm being dead serious.
I was attending school from Sunday to Mike Sunday and it was like from like eight hours
straight and I needed to do attendance, catch up with attendance work and like credits and
I don't know what else.
And so I did my very best.
(25:55):
Cool.
I did it in August 13th, 2019.
Finally, I'd like to thank my own right for his story up to this point to hear the
rest of his story.
Be sure to tune in to part two next week.
This story arc is a production of food for thought audio.
This episode is written, produced and edited by me, Kenny Mears.
(26:17):
We'd like to thank today's storyteller, Mahanrai for sharing his story.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram or wherever you listen to podcasts
for more content.
And until next time, thanks for listening.
Welcome aboard the Story Arc.
(00:08):
I'm your captain Kenny Mears and let's take a voyage together.
For most of us, life is no easy voyage.
We have our ups and downs and struggles all around.
And for many of us, we hold on to faith in something greater than us to get through the
(00:28):
hard times, whether that be God or the universe.
This week's story comes from a dear friend of mine, Mahanrai, who has had an especially
hard go of life.
Now this story is so deep that it went extra long, so today's episode is part one and
next week we will have the second part of Mahanrai's story.
Here's Mahanrai.
Okay, awesome.
(00:48):
So, my name is Mahanrai.
I was actually originally born in Mexico, Veracruz, by the Gulf of Mexico and today
I will actually go on to talk about a personal story I never told before to anybody actually.
It's going to be the first time.
And so, the story is pretty much about how the gospel actually has helped me a lot in
(01:14):
my life and how some experiences got me through, got me to here where I am today.
So yeah, that's going to be my story for today.
So we'll start off with when I got here to the US, I was like 10 years old and the first
state I arrived to was Tennessee.
So in Tennessee, I was actually one of the only Hispanic kids in the entire town and
(01:39):
a lot of people thankfully were actually really welcoming.
A lot of people thought that it was really weird to see somebody with black hair, just
different like darker futures.
It was just blonde or brunette, but nobody really had black hair so people thought it
was pretty cool.
But throughout those 10 tired years, I was actually in Tennessee for five years and during
those five years, I started school there.
(02:01):
It was in fifth grade and then finished school there in eighth.
Now the problem was that my parents thought about something and the fact was that I wasn't
going to be able to go to college in Tennessee.
So they were thinking about other options and one of those options was actually to move
(02:23):
to Texas.
Now and my entire life actually was a hard transition to move to another country, but
then move out to another state.
And so I was in Texas and just once in my life.
So during that time when I was in Texas, when we finally arrived in 2016, fast forward,
(02:48):
it was the first I needed to attend high school.
So that was like when I arrived to Texas, I knew that I needed to go to high school.
So I was pretty afraid.
I didn't know what school I needed to attend.
My family was super poor.
We weren't able to afford food.
So my dad actually, my family and I, we stayed at my dad's half sister's house for a couple
(03:12):
months or four, three months.
And during those entire time and like during those days, it was pretty harsh.
There was, I could tell you for a fact, there was a lot of arguments.
There was a lot of confusion at the time, resentment.
You know, I knew my mom at that time was maybe mad at my dad because she just really felt
(03:33):
like she didn't need to leave Tennessee and that we were just in such a worse situation.
And so at that time, when I was 14 when I got there, I then, my older cousin, her name
was Giselle or is Giselle.
She actually mentioned to my parents that she was attending high school.
(03:56):
And so actually at that time, that high school was named Energy Institute High School.
And so Energy Institute High School is actually one of the first high schools in the US that
was fully focused on engineering programs.
So to actually do engineering yourself, not just to study it, but to actually deal with
it.
And so for me, that was like, whoa, that's like beyond my level.
I don't think I could do that.
(04:17):
I don't think I'm capable.
I don't think I'm like smart enough to do those things.
And so they told me, you know, what do you have to lose?
Just go ahead and just try to see if you apply, you can apply and then if they accept you.
And so it was a private program.
It was magnet school.
And so I remember one day I went and then I was in the cafeteria with my parents and
(04:40):
my cousin was there and I was waiting for one of the instructors to come get me and
to get a math test.
And so with that math test was just to place me in a certain category of where my math
level was.
So it turns out that my math level was in such a low level.
(05:01):
So I was really ashamed about that.
I just, I was never really good at math.
Now when, when that happened, they were pretty much making a gambling of names.
So they gamble the names and it was just going to pick up like a couple of couple of people
to get into the magnet school.
(05:21):
And so it turns out that a couple of days later they told me that I was finally accepted
into the program.
Now until this day, I do believe that that was a miracle because there was almost no
possible way for me to get into that program.
Now since I didn't knew anybody in Texas, Texas was still a super new place to me, a
(05:44):
whole new world.
It was a bigger city.
It was a whole different culture, a whole different culture of people and top of people
I had to deal with.
And during that time, the first couple of days I attended, I started to attend high
school.
It was so different.
Everything was just so different.
Everybody, I guess also it was a little more ghetto.
(06:04):
So it was definitely a lot different from Tennessee, small country town.
But when I did my first year, I actually ended up failing that program.
And so since I ended up failing that program, I was actually ended up getting kicked out
of the program.
And so the last day I just got on the bus and I just went home and I got home and I
(06:25):
told my parents, look, I failed the program.
I don't, I just can't pass.
I don't know what to tell you, but I'm dropping out of high school.
I don't know what to tell you.
I'm going to turn 15.
I'm already about to turn 15.
I don't know what to do.
But I understand if you want to kick me out of the house, it is what it is.
(06:47):
So that was like a situation where I was in at that time when I was 15.
And yeah, no, I actually took a whole year off.
I didn't go to school.
I was like completely set.
I was like, I'm not going back to high school.
I just, I just don't think I can do school.
So during that time I started to then get into more hobbies.
(07:11):
During that time I was out of high school and that was like making music, I guess reading
a little more and actually just writing songs, something new to me.
And so that really inspired me because Houston, you know, Houston has such a big music culture.
You know, everything is like such a big culture about music, hip hop, rap.
(07:32):
So that really caught my attention at that time.
So I started to get involved with that.
So I started to meet people that would make music.
Some of the friends that I met made music.
They were into that stuff.
So I really got like really intrigued about it.
But the time that I was still 15, I actually received a letter and in that letter I remember
(07:59):
getting the mail and I remember the letter say HCC.
So HCC stands for Houston Community College.
And so I was like, wait, I haven't even graduated high school, but I'm getting the Houston Black
Community College letter.
That doesn't make any sense.
Doesn't add up.
So I opened the letter and I read the letter itself and it pretty much says that they were
(08:20):
offering me, offering another opportunity to me to recover my credits that I didn't
acquire in high school and giving me another opportunity to actually get back into school
so I could finish my education and that the program was fully focused on finishing school
quick so I can get a job or I can just go to college or community college, whatever
the case was.
(08:41):
And so I didn't know what to think about that until my dad came and he was like, what is
that?
And so I remember showing my dad the letter and he saw the letter and he was like, huh,
you know, maybe God is trying to tell you something, man.
Maybe he's giving you another chance.
You know, these things don't happen too often.
So I would consider it.
(09:03):
If you consider yourself an adult, then make your choices now.
And so at that time, I honestly, I didn't know what to do.
I was totally confused.
I didn't have any vision of my future.
I didn't have any plans.
So and the least thing I had was a relationship with God.
So that's that was one of the biggest parts too.
(09:26):
And after I consider the letter and the opportunity that was offered to me, it took me about three
days or four.
And on the last day that I finally took the decision, I made the decision to just reach
out and go in person.
And so I made, you know, I made the process of like, you know, going in person, signing
(09:51):
up for like this program.
It was like a high school, but you know, it was a program offered to like just get you
out of school quick.
Cool.
What happened the first year?
First year, I totally fell.
Again.
But I was still in school and I still needed to continue to do get my career.
That's what they were trying to focus on.
They just wanted me out of school.
(10:11):
They just wanted to make sure that I graduated.
During those times were in high school too.
I was actually introduced to some certain amount of people and some certain people specifically.
And I was introduced into a whole world where made led me to really make like the wrong
decisions.
(10:32):
And during the time that I was still in high school, I was actually dealing with gang members.
I was also dealing with a lot of actually some mafia members too.
And during that time, I was actually getting myself in a lot of trouble.
I remember a lot of the kids were getting fights.
I remember being when I was younger, I remember like people would get like in shootouts in
(10:56):
the gas stations.
I remember as well we were in the car and we got shot up one night.
And so those things were stuck with me still till this day.
But I remember that I just was so confused about what I was doing because I knew I needed
to finish high school first.
(11:16):
But there was something else that I didn't understand.
And I was like, there's something I just don't that I'm not getting.
High school can be one thing.
What happens after I finish high school?
That was the question I was asking.
What do I do after that?
What is really my purpose?
What do I need to do?
And so during the age, the time that I had, like I was 15 years old, I remember going
(11:39):
to church and I remember somebody on a Sunday, I remember going to one of the benches of
the Berry Bag and I said, I just sat down and I waited for sacrament to start.
Sacrament when I was passed around, I didn't take the sacrament.
I just refused to do such thing at that time.
(12:00):
And when the speakers were finally were introduced and they were talking about a topic about
the atonement of Jesus Christ, it's pretty much one of them I remember mentioning about
a patriarchal blessing.
So I was like, whoa, what is that?
What is a patriarchal blessing?
(12:21):
And I was just like, well, that's really intriguing.
And after church services, we just went back home.
So as we got home, I remember sitting down on the couch and I was just still thinking
about that.
I was like, wait, that sounds like a patriarchal blessing.
The way he's like explaining it to me just sounded like, whoa, it sounds like God just
(12:41):
predicted his future.
So I'm like, whoa, actually I want to have that.
So I was like, I'm pretty curious, but I don't know how that works.
And I remember my father coming up to me and he's like, you ever thought about like a patriarchal
blessing?
A patriarchal blessing?
No, not really.
(13:02):
I don't know what it is really, but I just heard of it.
And he proceeded to explain what it is.
And he explained that, you know, the patriarchal blessing was one of those things that once
in a lifetime opportunity where God directly speaks to you.
And I thought that was amazing.
I was like, wait, really?
And my dad was, yeah.
I've been serious about that.
(13:23):
And so I was just intrigued about that, the idea.
And I did believe in God.
I just didn't believe that he really like loved me.
I didn't believe that he really cared about me.
So at the age of 15 still, I then asked my father to help me get a patriarchal blessing.
(13:46):
And then he set up an appointment later on, a couple of days later with the bishop.
And the bishop then got in contact with me personally.
And I was reaching out to see how I was doing and asked me, hey, when do you have time to
meet up so that way we are able to talk about this patriarchal blessing you need?
And it wasn't true because he said that you want, he says that you need.
(14:08):
And I'm like, oh, okay.
Yeah.
I say actually we can do it tomorrow if possible.
I want to actually do this as soon as possible.
And so he did interview me.
He talked to me.
We talked about it.
And I then was intrigued about, even more intrigued about the idea.
(14:29):
And I just, all I really wanted, I just wanted to really hear, I just want to hear God himself
talk to me.
And honestly, the first time, the day, the finally the day came for the day when I got
a patriarchal blessing.
(14:51):
And it was on, I think it was on a Tuesday or it was like March 24th.
I can't remember.
But I remember getting going into this, this humble house.
It was still pretty big, nice house.
But I went in and it was really cozy as soon as I got in.
I was like, whoa, this is such a nice house.
And there was like a hymn playing in the background.
(15:14):
And the patriarch, the patriarch's wife actually came up to us and she was so sweet and so
nice.
I just felt like I was a whole different world.
I'm like, I'm coming from this life to like this super humble, like lovely people.
And I'm like, whoa.
Yeah, it's felt really different.
But when I was there, the first thing the patriarch says, welcome.
(15:40):
I'm actually honored that you're here.
And I'm like, well, I've never had anybody in my life said that.
So I was like, wow, I really do feel honored.
So when the patriarch was talking to my family and I, he asked to have a moment alone with
me and just talk about what's a patriarchal blessing, what's this going to be, how it
(16:03):
can help me in my life.
And we had a good conversation.
I really loved that.
I still remember the conversation to this day.
When the time came when I got the actual patriarchal blessing, I can do not.
That was the first time I actually ever realized that there was actually a lot more to life
(16:26):
than the things that I was thinking about.
There was a lot more blessings that were coming my way that I didn't realize about.
And when I heard the words that were said in that patriarchal blessing, I realized that
I was being a very ungrateful being.
(16:48):
I felt so, so little.
I felt so small.
I felt so unworthy.
I just, at the same time, I had this sensation of love and peace and comfort.
And I had like the sensation that everything will be okay.
And after that event happened, actually, I continued with my education in high school.
(17:16):
But I was still strong on one thing and that was passing school.
And I really was like, God, if these things are true.
You're telling me I'm going to graduate.
I have to graduate.
So how am I supposed to graduate when I'm not even smart enough or intelligent enough
to do these things?
And I'm dealing with some other things in my personal life that I understand maybe they're
(17:39):
not the best.
But I'm doing my very best to do what I can.
And so when I went, when I continued to go to school, I got to the point where the principal
actually told me that I was going to fail and I was going to be officially kicked out
(17:59):
of the program and that I was going to be prohibited from attending high school again
in the state.
And so when she told me that, I got pretty scared.
Because if that was the case, then I then was like, I'm done for.
I'm getting no high school diploma or GED.
(18:21):
And then I'm prohibited to go back to school, even though I'm 17 at that time.
And then I cannot get a good job.
And so that really scared me.
I was in fear at that time.
And so the principal gave me one option.
And it was like, look, I have one last chance for you.
But you have to take it.
(18:41):
But it's not going to be as easy as you think.
And I was thinking, well, what is it?
So she told me that I needed to attend different places around Houston.
And it was different buildings, which means there were different high schools.
And so I started to attend another program named On Time Grad.
And On Time Grad was actually another program that was focused with people that didn't graduate
(19:03):
high school.
So if you were like 25, you just went back and you're trying to get your diploma, not
a GED, through the diploma.
So I was put in there.
And I was actually one of the youngest students.
Some of them had kids already.
Some of these people already had a life going on.
And some people were just starting a family.
Some people were planning to get married.
(19:24):
Some people were just, some girls, I remember seeing, they were one of the most pregnant.
I'm like, dude, what am I doing here?
What the crap?
So I'm asking myself, why am I here in this place when I should be back in my actual school,
actually studying?
And then I realized, you know what?
(19:44):
God told me I'm going to graduate.
So you know what?
I'll do it.
So I then started to do the classes, attend the classes.
And then as time progressed, time spiced back, I went back to my actual school a couple months
later.
And as that happened, I was caught up.
(20:06):
And they told me, look, you just need to finish the rest of the school year and then you'll
graduate.
And I was like, dude, absolutely.
And I remember that.
I remember the specific days, those specific days, everybody was planning about, you know,
how are we going to celebrate after we graduate or where are we going to go or what place
we're going to meet up at.
(20:27):
You know, people were making plans of like, hey, we should take pictures here and there.
Other people were making plans to like maybe travel, spend time with their families.
And some of the people already planning to go to college and like, you know, make a plan
to just like attend a job.
Some people have other job opportunities.
And everybody's buying their coats and you know, like, what are they called?
(20:48):
The hats, cabs?
I don't know.
But graduation cab, I guess.
But to me, I was like, yes, I want to do that.
I want to buy my stuff.
Where is my code?
You know, where's my graduation code?
So I remember just going to the office and I'm like, where's my graduation code?
Then one of the secretaries is like, oh, what is your name?
(21:09):
So I told them, oh, my name is Mahan Rai.
Oh, OK, yeah, let me look you up.
And so they had a whole list of graduation.
And guess what?
I was not in that graduation list.
And they told me, look, you're actually not in that graduation list.
So I was just like, what do you mean I'm not in the graduation list?
(21:34):
That's what I mean.
You're not in the graduation list, unfortunately.
And I'm like, how is that possible?
I went to another program for a couple of months.
I recovered my credit.
What is going on?
It turns out that I was not caught off completely.
I was actually about 19 credits in out of 24 or 22.5.
(21:59):
And 22.5 was the very minimum so you can get out of school.
Like 24 was average.
And so I was just like, are you kidding me?
That's what I like.
First of all, you're not passing classes.
That's what we look at in the system.
You're filling a couple of classes right now and you're supposed to finish them off.
(22:21):
You're supposed to pass them.
And if you pass those classes that you're in right now, then yeah, you're able to get
your credits.
But if you don't, then there's no graduation for you.
It's just pretty clear.
It's pretty straightforward.
And so I remember I go back home.
Dude, how can you not?
I was so mad.
I was not even sad.
I was mad.
I was mad about the fact they told me, you can't graduate.
(22:42):
You can't get your code.
I'm like, why?
I worked so hard for this.
And I remember that one night also, I got on my knees.
I'm like, God, if you don't get me out of this place, I don't know what else to do.
I really don't.
I'm trying to do my very best, but it just doesn't seem like things are working.
(23:03):
Well, the next day I go to school again and I remember seeing everybody getting graduation
codes, everybody's getting their stuff.
And I'm like, dude, I'm one of the few people that I'm not.
And then I maybe sad and I didn't know how to tell my mom how I was not going to graduate.
(23:25):
And yeah, fast forward with that.
I actually did not end up graduating.
I actually ended up failing.
And on the day of graduation, which I still remember to this day, it was like around June
6th or so of 2019.
The only else was graduating, except me.
(23:47):
And I remember just going to the bathroom and I remember just turning the shower and
I remember just sitting in the bathtub.
I was just sitting there by myself and I was alone at home.
It was a hot shower and I didn't want to pick up my phone because everybody's Instagram
was popping off.
(24:07):
The only Instagram stories and photos that was popping off of my feed was like people
graduating, taking pictures with friends, family members and how they made it.
I'm like, you know what, God, if I can't do it, then yeah, then I'm sorry.
Maybe I did fail you or I don't know what to do.
I'm going to go back to the things that I was doing.
(24:30):
So if that's something you don't like, then tell me right now because if that's the case,
then I'll make the decision right now and that's going to be my life from now on.
And so and I really did not want to go back.
I was not in a position where I actually felt safe either.
(24:51):
I was dealing with that at the same time and I was also dealing with like some threats
that I was receiving.
I was actually dealing with some losses that I had.
I lost two friends that were mine during that time in 2019 due to dumb decisions that I
(25:11):
made as a young person.
But in the meantime, when those things were happening, I still needed to finish school.
And you know, the more I talk about school, I understand it seems like the more the main
topic.
The reason why I go such in detail with school is because later on, I then started to attend
(25:34):
like the very last program that they offered me and I started attending school 24 7.
I mean, I'm being dead serious.
I was attending school from Sunday to Mike Sunday and it was like from like eight hours
straight and I needed to do attendance, catch up with attendance work and like credits and
I don't know what else.
And so I did my very best.
(25:55):
Cool.
I did it in August 13th, 2019.
Finally, I'd like to thank my own right for his story up to this point to hear the
rest of his story.
Be sure to tune in to part two next week.
This story arc is a production of food for thought audio.
This episode is written, produced and edited by me, Kenny Mears.
(26:17):
We'd like to thank today's storyteller, Mahanrai for sharing his story.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram or wherever you listen to podcasts
for more content.
And until next time, thanks for listening.
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