Being homeless is the hardest job I’ve ever had. Sometimes, it’s almost impossible just to keep your head up and stay alive. You feel like doom. That’s why I keep all of my worldly belongings. Because I’m materialistic, but only in that they’re a constant reminder that I can get back to the life I used to have. This, too, will pass.

There is no “look” to homelessness. That is one of the biggest misconceptions that anyone can make. Do not be so superficial as to forget about the reciprocity of the human condition. Most people assume that they are exempt from homelessness. No one is. It can happen to you just as it happened to me. That is one of the reasons I dress the way I do — I like to be a mindfuck. People look at me and they think, “you’re homeless? But you’re dressed better than I am!” And that is exactly the point. You are no different than I.

The typical, optimistic narrative about the plight of the homeless generally goes “From Homelessness to Harvard.” As you can see now, my story goes “from Harvard to homelessness.”

This story is in collaboration with our partner Downtown Streets Team