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I was one of those children forced into fighting at the age of 13, in my country Sierra Leone, a war that claimed the lives of my mother, father and two brothers. I know too well the emotional, psychological and physical burden that comes with being exposed to violence as a child or at any age for that matter.

I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.

Looking back, I think we were all quite mature, surprisingly responsible. In earlier wars, boys of our age had just gone off to raise hell or enlist or both, but we stayed dutifully at our desks doing tomorrow's homework.

Fighting injustice keeps you young.

I went through some real challenges growing up. I joined the Army two weeks out of high school when I was 17, and never looked back.

When I happened to get into school, I felt like I could approach it as aggressively as things in the military.

I went from being an ailing child to a public enemy.

Most of my young years were spent under the boots of the military.

The things I learned from the army - and I think it was a lesson for life - was how to work in unison with other people. How to take responsibility.