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A Fresh Start for Me and My Son

After beginning her Buddhist practice amid addiction, anger and health struggles, Claudia Tate, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, discovers hope, a new family and a new direction for herself, her teenage son, Jalen, and his friends.

February 5, 2026

Transformation—Jalen joins SGI-USA with his mother by his side at the New Orleans Buddhist Center, June 2025.

World Tribune: Claudia, thank you so much for talking with us today. When did you start practicing Buddhism?

Claudia Tate: I began practicing near the end of 2024, at a time when I felt completely worn down. I had been struggling with addiction since I was young and carrying years of anger and hurt. I knew something had to change because the way I was living just wasn’t working anymore. I met Gary “Smitty” Smith through drug court, where he works as a counselor helping people like me get back on their feet. He saw me through all kinds of struggles, and at some point, we became friends. It was when I fell badly ill and could hardly go on that he encouraged me for the first time to chant. Even when I pushed him away or didn’t want to listen, he didn’t give up on me. He kept checking on me, calling me, reminding me that my life mattered and that things could get better. That steady encouragement really opened my heart.

WT: What was chanting like for you in the beginning?

Claudia: The first time I chanted alone in front of the Gohonzon, I just cried. It felt like everything I had bottled up for years poured out. But afterward, I felt calm, like I could breathe again. That peace surprised me. I hadn’t felt that kind of quiet inside myself in a long time. I realized I didn’t have to stay angry or hopeless forever. I could actually change. That feeling made me want to keep chanting and see what else was possible.

Jalen and Claudia attend their local discussion meeting, June 2025.

WT: What was it like becoming a part of your local SGI community?

Claudia: The members were incredible. From the first meeting, they treated me like family. Nobody judged me or asked about my mistakes. They just welcomed me. People called to check on me, came by to visit and encouraged me when I felt weak. Sometimes they simply listened. That meant more than anything. I wasn’t used to people showing up consistently. Their faith in me helped me build faith in myself. I started to feel like my life truly mattered.

WT: You also shared the practice with your son, Jalen. What was happening with him then?

Claudia: I was scared for him. He had a lot of anger, just like I did. He was hanging out with the wrong crowd and getting into trouble. As a mother, that broke my heart. I didn’t know how to reach him. So, I told him about chanting and invited him to try it with me. I figured if it helped me, maybe it could help him too. And in 2025, he began to practice this Buddhism.

Young men’s and men’s leaders visit Jalen in Baton Rouge, La., January 2026.
Jalen with men’s leaders after the discussion meeting.

WT: What changes did you notice in him once he began chanting?

Claudia: It was like a light switched on. He started calming down and talking more openly with me. He stopped hanging around kids who were getting into trouble. Now he focuses on schoolwork and basketball. He studies with his friends and wants to do well. He’s on the honor roll, and he’s proud of that. Sometimes I come home and he’s already chanting on his own. At other times, he asks me to sit and chant with him. Those moments bring us closer than ever.

WT: We’ve heard his friends have become involved too. How did that happen?

Claudia: It happened naturally. His friend Dion comes over almost every day. They chant together, then sit at the table and do homework. Other boys started coming by and asking what we were doing. They were curious. After watching for a while, they tried chanting too. Now sometimes I walk into the living room and see three or four teenagers chanting or studying together. Instead of being out late or getting into trouble, they’re safe at our house. Our home has become a positive place for them, and I’m grateful.

WT: You’re also facing health challenges. Has your practice helped there?

Claudia: Yes, very much. I’m on dialysis, and it used to leave me exhausted for the rest of the day. Now my treatment time is shorter, and I have more energy afterward. I can cook, shop and take care of things without feeling completely drained. Chanting helps me stay mentally strong. Even on hard days, I feel like I’m fighting forward instead of giving up. That strength gives me confidence that I can overcome anything.

WT: How would you describe what this practice has given you overall?

Claudia: My goal is just to keep chanting and keep practicing. I want to get better at it and really go deeper with my faith. I’ve seen what it’s done for my life already, so I don’t ever want to stop. I want to keep improving myself—my health, my mindset, everything. I feel stronger now, like I can actually handle things instead of giving up.

I want to be there for my son and keep guiding him the right way. Seeing him do better in school, chanting on his own and staying away from trouble—that means everything to me. I just want to keep supporting him and helping him grow into a good man.

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