E037 - A Rebel's Dance With Dmitriy Kozlov

Dmitriy Kozlov was 13 years old and tired of being rejected. For years, this young immigrant from Soviet Russia felt the sting of abandonment and rejection from one person after another. Bullied in school, dismissed by teachers, without a father in his life and unable to lean on his ever-busy single mother for emotional support, young Dmitriy gave in to his anger and began a dance with rebellion, swaying with that dance through dangerous times, self-discovery, and ultimately on to a new stage of success. Desperate to belong somewhere – anywhere – Dmitriy joined a gang. For a while, he felt like he was part of a community, albeit a dangerous one. “They got me into a lot of trouble,” says Dmitriy, “but they gave me a sense of belonging.” That sense of belonging didn’t last long. One day, his own gang turned on him, leaving young Dmitriy close to death. When authorities ignored his pleas for help, Dmitriy realized no one believed he was worthy of much. The realization ignited something within him. Turning his pain into purpose, Dmitriy focused on proving everyone wrong about him.