Andrew Ortiz - the 18 year old who we featured on the news one month ago when he left for Cleveland, Ohio - caught our attention with a speech he gave in that US City.

The former Sadie Vernon student - who is now in the twelfth grade - or what we would call fourth form - had to write an acceptance speech. He told his new peers that he quote, "grew up in the hood in Belize City surrounded by drugs and guns but choose not to go down the wrong path."

He continued:

"Many days heading to the basketball court I was chased by (gangs), so I had to change the direction I walked every day because I would have been shot or killed, but I choose to block out all of that."

His speech goes on to explain that his break came when he was recruited at his neighborhood ball court by Coach Bernie Tarr of whom he says, "Many people were staring at him because he was the first white man come in the hood like that." He adds, "I want to give a special thank you to my coach because he made my life much better here. I don¹t hear gunshots here."

His speech closed with this:

"NEVER BLAME THE AREA YOU LIVE IN IT¹S, THE WAY YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE IN IT!"