From Rock Bottom to Rising: Why I Started the AJ Battle Foundation

On July 19, 2019, everything changed. I made a decision that ended in tragedy—one that took someone’s life and almost took mine. It forced me to sit face-to-face with myself, my trauma, and the reality of where my choices had led me. I was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but by God’s grace, I only served a total of 25 months. That time broke me, but it also began to rebuild me.

While I was locked away, I realized something: I wasn’t just grieving the accident—I was grieving years of pain I had never fully dealt with. Childhood trauma, people-pleasing, drinking to cope, never feeling like I was enough… it all came crashing down. But in that dark space, I found God, I found clarity, and I found a new kind of strength I didn’t know I had or was capable of.

The AJ Battle Foundation was born from that place. I wanted to create something that could reach young people before they hit rock bottom like I did. A safe space where they could learn emotional intelligence, talk about mental health, understand their worth, and develop the kind of skills school doesn’t always teach—like how to manage pressure, how to bounce back, how to make decisions from a place of truth instead of pain.

This nonprofit is personal. It’s my second chance, and it’s my way of helping others find theirs.

If you’re here, thank you for walking with me. It’s a battle—but it’s one I refuse to lose.

Sincerely, 

It's A Battle

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