Introduction to "Foundations of Delinquency"

His Book About What Has Shaped His Life

by Vusi Kweyama

I chose for my new book's title, "Foundations of Delinquency," because I wanted to write a compelling book that emphasizes the importance [for me] of improving your life before it becomes too late. I'm directing this book to the general public, as well as to inmates and ex-convicts who are eager to change their lives.

As you'll see in my biography, my life turned delinquent at age 15 and remained that way for eight solid years, living in one prison then another. Fortunately I was given a second chance to make things right at age 24 and I'm pleased to write a book about my change in life.

I believe that delinquent behavior doesn't exist in a vacuum. Neither are you born with that character. To me, delinquent behavior is the product of a series of events and happenings in a person's’s life. I explore these events in my book, sharing my life's journey and looking at how, fortunately, a variety of events have become foundations from which I have built my life. These foundations didn't simply build up or shape my delinquent behavior. Instead, as I document in Foundations of Delinquency, they also served as a stable platform from which to build succeeding phases of life.

It's my firm belief that there is no single life event that is wasted. In fact, everything that happens in one’s life is an essential occurrence that aids his or her development. However, how one chooses to use these experiences will determine his or her destination. No matter how bad the experiences might have been, life always presents opportunities for us to make amends and change the course of the journey. I'm very thankful for second chances!

Some people quickly seize such opportunities when life presents them. Some of us are too stubborn and shortsighted to perceive the connectivity between our today and our tomorrow. Some of us fear change, not because of its consequences but often because we're too concerned about what other people will say and how they'll respond to our change. Having fear distinguishes ordinary people from significant people, spectators from history makers. We seldom realize that such simple, radical choices and fears can compromise or cost us our destiny.

A good question to ask yourself is, "Do you seriously want to control your destiny?" If you do, you must prioritize your concern for it, more than any other thing in life. Thankfully, I've been able to master the skill of caring less about inconsequential things that have no relationship to my future. Instead, I care about what people think and say, however, I don’t let what they say interfere with my life's journey.

At times, I don’t have a clue about what events will necessarily happen to me in the future. But the fact that I know I have a promising future, which I see as extraordinary, is what keeps me running my race.

Sure, some of you might challenge my opinions and say, "But Vusi, you and I are so different." To that, I say, "Yes, you are right. You are the very best at being you; just as I am the best at being me. But, the essential point that I drive home in Foundations of Delinquency is that it's those differences that make each of us unique, as well as potentially powerful in the various spheres of influence that have been apportioned to us.

What matters the most in life, certainly my life, is the fact that you are alive and you have the power to control much of what will happen in your future. I've learned to fully appreciate my destiny because I see it as the only reason for me to exist. Without it, life is futile.

Your past experiences are the foundation upon which your future enterprises are built. For me, my previous life of delinquency is now serving me well. However, it certainly isn't necessary for everyone to go through delinquent processes as I have.

So please don’t try to be so "cool" that you'll become delinquent. If you have already begun to behave in a delinquent manner, stop immediately! Change that behavior before you die without first contributing to what the world needs most from you: your skills and talents.