LA Task 1: Part One
PART 1: THE BASICS
What is your full name?
• Kieran Tariq Hope
Where and when were you born?
• At home (not planned) on April 12th, the year of 1995.
Who are/were your parents? (Know their names, occupations, personalities, etc.)
• His mom is Vashtie Johns has been battling drug addiction since her late teens, and it’s something that has taken a toll on her appearance and health. She has a history of hopping from job to job, never quite able to hold onto anything long-term, often relying on others for support or living on government assistance. When she's sober, she can be distant, withdrawn, and forgetful, her mind consumed by cravings and past traumas. However, when she’s high, she’s an entirely different person; lively, fun, and free-spirited, often the life of the party. People gravitate to her when she's "on," but when she’s off, she's hard to rely on. Vashtie has a deep love for her kids but struggles to express it consistently. She’s been in and out of rehab multiple times, but the cycle never seems to end.
• Tyrone Hope, he’s always been a bit of a mystery, an angry and unpredictable figure in Kian’s life. Tyrone’s struggles with alcohol began long before he and Vashtie met, stemming from a difficult childhood where his own parents were neglectful. Despite his issues, he’s a hard worker when he's sober, sometimes taking on blue-collar jobs or working construction but his temper often gets the better of him. When he drinks, his anger takes over, and he's been known to lash out, both verbally and physically. This created a toxic atmosphere in the household. Tyrone’s relationship with his son is distant and often filled with disappointment, but he holds a quiet hope that his son will avoid the same pitfalls.
Do you have any siblings? What are/were they like?
• I have 12 siblings, yeah, 12. We’re a pretty complicated bunch. Some of us are close, and some… not so much. Growing up was unpredictable most of the time. Because of our parents’ struggles, we didn’t always stay together. Some of us ended up in foster care, others were taken in by relatives. It wasn’t easy. I was one of the middle kids, and I always tried to look out for the younger ones when I could, but it felt like I was constantly trying to hold back a flood with my bare hands. We all carry different wounds from how things were, some of my siblings have a lot of resentment toward our parents, and others just cut ties completely. A few of us are trying to heal and forgive in our own ways. Despite everything, there’s still this bond. It’s not always healthy or easy, but it’s there. My younger brother, Kian, is the one I’m closest to, we live together now. No matter what, I still hold onto the hope that we can all find our way back to each other someday.
Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.
• I live in a three-bedroom condo in Los Angeles with my younger brother, Kian. He’s a successful lifestyle vlogger, so one of the bedrooms is dedicated to his filming setup, think tripods, ring lights, and a sleek editing desk. The rest of the condo has a sleek, masculine vibe. The furniture is modern, black leather sectional, glass coffee table, and minimalist bookshelves. We’ve got dark wood floors and a few industrial-style touches, like exposed metal light fixtures. The walls are painted in neutral tones, and there’s some understated art—mostly abstract pieces in black, white, and gray. There’s also a small balcony where I go to unwind.
What is your occupation?
• Community Outreach worker at a non-profit aimed to help at risk youth in underserved communities.
Write a full physical description of yourself. You might want to consider factors such as: height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, and any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks.
• I stand at 6’0”, slim but with lean, toned muscle, a build shaped by years of pick-up basketball and the kind of physical work that comes with my job. My skin is a deep brown, and my long locs usually fall past my shoulders, though I tie them back when I need to focus. My eyes are dark, and I’ve been told they give away too much when I’m lost in thought or feeling something too deeply.
When it comes to style, I keep it simple, fitted jeans, plain tees or button-downs, and neutral tones. I like to stay comfortable but put-together, and I’ll throw on a blazer or a lightweight jacket when work calls for it. I have a plethora of tattoos, each with sentimental significance. There’s a tattoo on my left forearm that reads ‘Hope’—our family name, but also a reminder to hold onto it, no matter what. No major scars, just a few small ones scattered across my hands and arms from a rough childhood.
To which social class do you belong?
• Middle Class
Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses?
• I was born premature, and my lungs didn’t develop fully, which left me with asthma. It’s mostly under control now, but when I was a kid, it was a lot worse, every little cold or too much running around could trigger an attack. Even now, I still carry an inhaler with me just in case. It’s a weakness I’ve learned to live with, but it also taught me to listen to my body and not take my health for granted. I try to stay active and healthy so I don’t let it slow me down.
Are you right- or left-handed?
• Right-handed.
What does your voice sound like?
•My voice is deep but steady, with a calm, measured tone. People say there’s a certain warmth to it, the kind that puts others at ease, something I’ve leaned on a lot in my work with at-risk youth. I’ve got a slight rasp, probably from growing up with asthma, but it’s softened over the years.
What words and/or phrases do you use very frequently?
• Stay steady, you’ve got this, solid, bet.
What do you have in your pockets?
• Chapstick and my wallet.
Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?
• I have a habit of tapping my fingers on whatever’s nearby when I’m deep in thought—it’s something I’ve done since I was a kid, and my siblings used to call me out on it all the time. When I’m nervous or trying to stay calm, I tend to roll my shoulders or adjust my locs—small motions to keep myself grounded. I also have this thing where I’ll quietly hum under my breath when I’m focused on a task.
PART 2: GROWING UP
How would you describe your childhood in general?
• My childhood was… complicated. Growing up in Los Angeles with 12 siblings and parents who struggled with addiction meant life was unpredictable. Some days were okay, but a lot of them felt like walking a tightrope, never knowing when things would fall apart. We moved around a lot, sometimes living together, sometimes split up between relatives or foster homes. I learned early how to take care of myself and watch out for my younger siblings when no one else could.
There were family dinners here and there when things weren’t so bad, and those rare moments of stability are what I held onto. But for the most part, my childhood was about survival. It shaped me into someone who’s steady under pressure, but it also left scars I’m still working through.
What is your earliest memory?
• My earliest memory is of sitting on the front steps of a house we lived in for a short time, I must’ve been four or five. It was just before sunset, and I remember the light hitting the sidewalk, making everything look golden. My mom was inside, and my older brother sat next to me, sharing a piece of pizza because we didn’t have much else to eat. I remember the feel of the warm concrete under my hands and the sound of a neighbor’s radio playing some old R&B track. Even at that young age, I think I sensed the weight of things.
How much schooling have you had?
• I graduated from college, but it was far from a straight path. While I was earning my degree, I was also juggling the responsibility of looking after my younger siblings. There were days I’d be in class one moment and rushing home the next to make sure they had dinner or helped with homework. It was exhausting, but dropping out was never an option, I was determined to get that degree. I studied social work and psychology because I wanted to understand what we’d been through and figure out how to help others going through similar struggles. In a way, those years taught me just as much about resilience as they did about anything academic.
Did you enjoy school?
• School was a mixed bag for me. I liked learning, especially anything related to psychology or social studies, classes that helped me understand people and the world around me. But it wasn’t easy to focus when I had so much going on at home. There were times I’d be sitting in class, worrying about my siblings or whether we’d have food on the table that night.
Some teachers saw the weight I was carrying and really supported me, which made a huge difference. Others just saw me as a kid who was ‘distracted’ or ‘difficult.’ In college, it was a little better because I was studying what I cared about and had more control over my time. It wasn’t always fun, but I valued it. Education was my way out, my way of building a future I could be proud of.
Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities?
• I learned most of my skills the hard way, through life experience. Growing up in a household with 12 siblings and parents who struggled with addiction meant I had to grow up fast. I learned how to take care of others by necessity, stepping into a caretaker role for my younger siblings whenever things got rough. That taught me patience, empathy, and how to stay calm under pressure.
I picked up my problem-solving skills from navigating the disfunction, figuring out how to keep the lights on, handle school, or smooth over conflicts. College helped sharpen those skills and gave me the foundation I needed for my work, especially in social work and psychology. But my real education came from the kids I work with. Every day, they teach me how to listen better, adapt, and show up for others in a way that really makes a difference.
While growing up, did you have any role models? If so, describe them.
• Growing up, my biggest role model was my older brother Marcus. He was the one who stepped up when our parents couldn’t. Marcus taught me how to take care of my siblings, how to stay steady when things got rough, and how to fight for what mattered without losing yourself. He was far from perfect, he made his own mistakes along the way but he never gave up on us.
I also had a teacher in high school, Mrs. Thompson, who saw something in me. She was the first person outside my family who believed I could do more than just survive. She pushed me to stick with school when I wanted to quit and taught me the power of persistence and empathy. Between Marcus and Mrs. Thompson, I learned that leadership is about showing up, consistently, even when it’s hard. They gave me the foundation I needed to become the person I am today.
While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family?
• Growing up, my relationships with my siblings were complicated but strong. With 12 of us, there was always noise, arguments, and clashing personalities. I felt responsible for my younger siblings—stepping into that caretaker role wasn’t a choice, it was just something I did because someone had to. We were close, but that kind of closeness came with a lot of pressure.
My older siblings were harder to connect with. Some of them tried to take care of us when they could, but others distanced themselves from the family to escape the trauma. I didn’t hold it against them, they were just trying to survive, too.
As for my parents... that’s a harder story. There were moments of warmth, but they were few and far between. Most of the time, it felt like we were raising ourselves. There’s still a lot of resentment and hurt there, but I’ve learned to focus on forgiveness, for myself, if not for them.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
• I had dreams of being an artist of some sort.
As a child, what were your favorite activities?
• As a kid I loved playing basketball, listening to music; I taught myself how to play the guitar and piano, I also loved writing.
As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display?
• As a child, I was always the responsible one, even before I fully understood what that meant. I was always the jokester. It was my way of coping with everything going on around me.
As a child, were you popular? Who were your friends, and what were they like?
• In high school, I was well-known, mostly because of sports. I was a star athlete, and that came with its perks. I had a solid group of friends, mostly teammates, who were cool with me because of the bond we had on the field. We kept things light and focused on the game.
But there were always a few people who liked to stir things up, trying to bring up my family situation or make jokes about my parents. I hated that. I wasn’t about to let anyone disrespect my family, no matter how hard things were at home. I got into my share of fights over it, mostly out of anger and frustration. People didn’t understand what it was like to carry that weight around every day.
Despite that, I had a few solid friends who really saw me for who I was beyond the athlete or the kid with the messed-up family. They were loyal, but I always kept my circle small. I wasn’t about to let just anyone get close enough to judge me or my family. I’d learned early on that the less people knew about my life at home, the better.
When and with whom was your first kiss?
• His first kiss was a girl who was his neighbor around the age of 8.
Are you a virgin? If not, when and with whom did you lose your virginity?
• TRIGGER WARNING SA MENTIONED: He lost his virginity to his mom’s friend Tammy who would watch them often, when he was just 9 years old.
PART 3: PAST INFLUENCES
What do you consider the most important event of your life so far?
• The most important event of my life so far was graduating from college. It wasn’t just about the degree, it was about everything I had to fight through to get there. Balancing school with taking care of my siblings, working jobs to help keep the lights on, and still pushing forward despite everything pulling me back, it all came down to that day. When I walked across that stage, it felt like a victory not just for me, but for my whole family. It was proof that we could break the cycle of struggle, that even when life kept throwing punches, I could stand tall.
That day, I realized that I wasn’t just surviving anymore. I had built something, even if it didn’t look the way I thought it would. And for the first time in a long while, I felt like I had a future I could shape on my own terms.
Who has had the most influence on you?
• Mrs. Thompson, my high school teacher, saw potential in me when I thought I was just another kid trying to make it through. And Mr. Reyes, my college counselor, pushed me to not just finish school, but to figure out why I was there in the first place. They didn’t let me fall through the cracks like so many other kids do. They made me realize that my circumstances didn’t define my future, that I could do more than just survive, I could actually thrive. Without their belief in me, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
• My greatest achievement is making it through college and graduating while still being there for my siblings. It wasn’t easy. I had to balance schoolwork with being the constant in my younger siblings’ lives, making sure they had everything they needed, even when I barely had time to take care of myself. There were times I wanted to quit, throw in the towel, and focus on just surviving. But I kept going because I knew how much it would mean for all of us.
What is your greatest regret?
• I wish I had learned earlier that it’s okay to not be okay and that taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of others.
What is the most evil thing you have ever done?
• I don’t know if I’d call it evil, but there’s one thing that still haunts me. There was a time when I pushed one of my younger siblings away because I was overwhelmed, feeling like I couldn’t handle everything and I just needed a break. They came to me for support, and instead of being there for them like I always had, I snapped and told them to deal with it on their own. I felt like I was carrying the weight of the world, and I took that frustration out on someone who needed me. It wasn’t right, and even though I apologized, that moment still eats at me. I never want to be that person again, but it’s a reminder that even the best intentions can lead to mistakes when you’re stretched too thin.
Do you have a criminal record of any kind?
• I’ve had some run-ins with the law, mostly when I was younger. I got into a few fights, mostly in high school, when people pushed me too far by talking about my family or making fun of my situation. I wasn’t always good at controlling my temper, especially when I felt like someone was crossing a line. There were a couple of incidents where I was arrested, but they didn’t lead to anything long-term. Thankfully, I had people in my corner who helped me avoid anything more serious.
When was the time you were the most frightened?
• I would say the first time I seen my mother overdose.
What is the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you?
• The most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me was when my mom showed up to school high. I don’t think she meant to, it’s just that when she was using, she wasn’t always aware of what she was doing. I was in the middle of class, and the door swung open, and there she was, stumbling in, barely able to hold herself together. The whole class went quiet, and I could feel every pair of eyes on me. She started rambling about something, and I had to rush to get her out of there before things got worse.
If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why?
• If I could change one thing from my past, it would be the way I let my anger control me, especially when I was younger. I spent so much time hiding behind jokes and letting my temper flare whenever someone crossed a line about my family. I let those moments define me for a long time, and it held me back from building better relationships or even just finding peace within myself. Looking back, I wish I’d known how to deal with my emotions in a healthier way.
What is your best memory?
• My best memory is from the time when I was in college and I finally graduated. It wasn’t just the ceremony or the diploma, but the feeling of having made it through everything. I was surrounded by a few of my siblings, who had come to watch me walk across that stage, and it was the first time in a long time that thing felt normal.
What is your worst memory?
• My worst memory is the day the social worker came to get me while I was in elementary school. I remember waking up and finding out that things were bad enough that they were taking us away. They separated me from my siblings, and I had no idea when I’d see them again.
