Stories

My name is Jake. I'm 23 years old and have lived in town my whole life but I'd prefer to live somewhere that’s not busy like the countryside or even just outside of town. I’d just like the peace and quiet, that’s all. I used to live with my Ma, Da and Grandparents, brothers and sister and my dog Goldie. My Grandparents have passed and so has my dog Goldie. I love my Ma, I couldn’t ask for a better Mother.

I like piercings and I have a lot. They make me feel unique. I like to change my appearance a lot so I can be different. People don’t realize but I’m actually a quiet guy, I mean I look like a tough guy because of the way I dress and my head is shaved but the truth is that I’m really soft and a huggy sort of bloke. I think, I’m kind and caring. I like to make other people happy by doing nice things for them. Funny, kind, a loving guy, sweet, and I’m a messer in a nice way, I like to buzz off staff members and make them laugh.

I’ve been interested in Cars and Motorbikes since I was a kid and still like them, especially cars. I love to cycle, listen to music, watch Wrestling and like MMA. I love Art. It’s my biggest passion. It’s the thing I’m most into. People have always told me I am good at it. I started when I won a competition in school and the school won a computer. That made me happy and proud. When I’m doing my painting and drawing, I feel relaxed and calm. I draw, make unique designs and color and sometimes I make special cards for the Staff in Gheel for Birthdays or Christmas and things like that. I make special cards for my Ma too. People say it’s abstract.

I started riding horses this year. I really like it. I like looking after them and brushing their hair. I feel like I can be myself around them. Bluey is my favorite. She has big blue eyes like me. The horses don’t judge me. This makes me feel happy. I like caring for animals in general. I feel safe around them. They relax me and take my mind off all the worries I have.

I came to Gheel around two years ago. I found it difficult at the start. I was very nervous with all the changes like meeting new people. I find it so hard to make new changes but the staff helped me a lot. I have worked very hard and staff have motivated me. I used to drink a lot of coke, nearly 2 litres a day and ate junk food. I was overweight. This made me depressed and angry. Staff believed in me and helped me make the changes I wanted to make. Staff helped me get set up in a gym. I now go by myself, even on the weekends. The Staff have helped me get better at cooking. We’ve cooked Indian, Mexican, Thai and Italian food. I’m mad about spicy food. The staff can’t believe how much spicy stuff l can eat. I like tasty and healthy food. Staff are good for introducing me to new types of food.

I’ve a few goals. Someday I'd like to work with cars or horses as a full-time job. I’ve never gone away on a holiday. I’d like to go away with staff on a holiday, I don’t have the confidence to go away just yet, maybe to Spain or America. I’d like to work on my reading and writing. I’d like to move out and get my own place with Staff to help me out. I’m going to keep working hard to achieve my goals. It’s a nice feeling. It makes me happy. A little while ago, I worked with a Producer from New York on a song about my life, it is a dancey rave song and people have said it is really catchy. I would like to work on more songs like this in the future. I was also really happy to be invited to an MMA gym by the Irish MMA fighter Cian Cowley. He has asked me to come down and show him my skills on the rowing machine. I am looking forward to meeting Cian and training in his gym. Cian is really kind for asking me to come down to his gym.

As a person I have good days and bad days but I am very proud about the things I have done with Gheel. I have enjoyed working on things from my art projects, to music projects, to exercising in the gym. I think being able to read and write will change my life so I want to focus on this goal next...I am excited to begin this task. My advice to anyone starting at Gheel: “Take it one step at a time, when I started at Gheel I felt like this could actually change everything in my life, I asked for help when I needed it and tried to be pleasant and kind with staff. I hope that everyone who starts at Gheel can reach their goals in life and that they can live a nice life”.

Click here to hear my song.