By Mark Power
I was born and raised on Fort Worth’s Southside. I attended Westcreek Elementary, Wedgwood Middle School, and in 1999 I graduated from Southwest High School.
While it’s a city that continues to grow and change, it still feels like home. The people, neighborhoods, churches, schools and communities that shaped me are still here. While many people eventually leave Fort Worth, I’ve always found my way back.
Growing up, I was exposed to both the opportunities and challenges that exist in any large city. I watched friends and classmates make choices that led them down difficult paths. I realized that if I stayed on the same path I was on when I graduated high school, I would get the same results.
Seeking purpose, structure and adventure, I enlisted in the U.S. Army. My first duty station took me far from Texas to New York. I proudly served my country for 10 years, including two combat deployments to Afghanistan. I learned discipline, leadership, teamwork and resilience. It also gave me a deep appreciation for the freedoms and opportunities many Americans take for granted.
My transition back to civilian life was difficult. The structure I had relied on for years suddenly disappeared. Over time, those struggles grew into addiction, poor decisions and eventually homelessness. Looking back, it is difficult to recognize the person I became. I found myself disconnected from my community and from the person I knew I was.
Through every challenge, two people remained my constant support: my mother, Donna Power, and my daughter, Shelby Power. Their love never wavered, even during some of the darkest periods of my life. When I couldn’t see a future for myself, they continued to believe one existed. Their faith in me became one of the foundations I rebuilt my life on.
Recovery was not immediate. It required humility and a willingness to start over. I learned that rebuilding a life happens one brick at a time and for me, education became one of those bricks.
I enrolled at Tarrant County College, uncertain of what the future would hold. What I found there was more than a school, it was a community that challenged me to become a better version of myself. I discovered my experiences, even the painful ones, could be used to help others.
Returning to college opened doors I never expected. What began as a chance to earn a quick degree became an opportunity to serve others. I became president of the Student Veterans of America chapter at TCC, helping connect fellow veterans with resources and support for success.
My involvement in the veteran community has continued to grow. I serve as a mentor through Tarrant County’s Veterans Treatment Court and have worked with organizations including Pathfinders, Liberty House, Valor Ranch and the Fort Worth chapter of the Project Management Institute. These experiences reinforced a lesson I learned through recovery; when people are supported and encouraged, their life can change.
One of the greatest honors of my educational journey came when I was recognized as Student of the Year by TCC’s Veterans Resource Center and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges.
These achievements mean a great deal to me because they represent far more than grades or awards. They represent transformation. They represent what happens when someone refuses to let their worst mistakes define their life.
Fort Worth has been the backdrop for every chapter of my life. It saw me leave as a young soldier. It welcomed me back as a struggling veteran. It gave me strength when I needed it most. The community here has helped me rebuild my life, one brick at a time.
Whether I am attending community events, volunteering with veterans, working in a garden, meeting with students, or spending time with family, I am reminded why I never left Fort Worth.
It’s grown tremendously since I was a kid, but the people here look out for one another, and that spirit has played an important role in my recovery and success.
Today, I am preparing to become a first-generation college graduate and continue my education at Texas Christian University, a campus I’ve admired ever since I was a kid.
My long-term goal is to use my experiences to help others overcome challenges similar to those I once faced. I believe our greatest purpose often grows from our greatest struggles.
When people ask me why I love Fort Worth, the answer is simple. This city is not just where I live. It is where I learned who I am. It is where I failed, where I recovered, where I found purpose, and where I continue to grow.
No matter where life takes me next, Fort Worth will always be home.
Mark Power currently lives in a Westside neighborhood, but recognizes Southside as formative to shaping who he is. He will continue his education in the fall to study social work at TCU.
Wedgewood
Total population: 53,958
Male: 50% | Female: 50%
Age
0-9: 16%
10-19: 14%
20-29: 14%
30-39: 14%
40-49: 12%
50-59: 11%
60-69: 11%
70-79: 6%
80 and older: 3%
Education
No degree: 14%
High school: 25%
Some college: 30%
Bachelor’s degree: 17%
Post-graduate: 13%
Race
Hispanic: 37% | White: 34% | Black: 21% | Asian: 4% | Two or more: 4%
Click on the link to view the schools’ Texas Education Agency ratings:
Source: Census Report
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