Tyone Brangman was in and out of trouble with the law as a teenager.

In his 20s he was unemployed, bouncing from friend to friend’s house and doing little with his life.

Then it hit him — it was time to make a change.

The 28-year-old walked in from off the streets and asked Bone Fish Bar & Grill owner Livio Ferigo for a job. Over the past five years he’s worked his way up from a part-time dishwasher and kitchen porter to one of the restaurant’s most popular waiters.

His inspiration for doing better? His three children.

“When I first started out working at Bone Fish, I would see Livio with his kids. It showed me that I want to be a great dad too,” Mr Brangman said.

“Of course I want to own my own business one day and have my own goals set for the future, but the most important thing is to be there for them.

“Now I have money saved so that anything the kids need I can give it to them. It’s not like before when I was staying on different friends’ couches and had to ask people for things.”

He said his ultimate goal was to save enough money so that he could send his children to college.

“I don’t want them to live the life I have lived or see the struggles I did,” he said.

“I don’t want them to go through what I went through. I want them to have a mommy and a daddy there because I never had my dad — and that’s not an excuse. It made me stronger and better and now my kids will never have to deal with that.”

One of his greatest regrets is robbing an elderly woman of her purse at age 16.

He’s had to live with the consequences of his bad choices, but persevered thanks to Mr Ferigo’s belief in him.

“I’ve changed ever since I got this job and keep getting better and better,” he said.

“I never turned back to where I was. I am taking care of everything I’m supposed to be now.

“I don’t have to ask for anything any more. I’m just happy. I am also proud of myself because everyone else is proud of me.

“I never would have thought five years ago that I’d be here right now.”

Mr Ferigo said he gave Mr Brangman a chance after hearing how he wanted to turn over a new leaf.

He watched as the young man did even the most menial of tasks — like washing toilets and scrubbing dishes — to his best ability. He never missed a day at work — even on national holidays like Cup Match.

“This guy makes people feel like they’re a million bucks so for me as an owner that makes me feel wonderful,” Mr Ferigo said.

“I think for me the best part is that he’s someone who didn’t have the easiest road in life. He didn’t have a place to live or even have his own bank account, but I’ve seen an amazing transformation from then to now.

“He pays his own rent now and takes care of his kids.

“I have so much trust and respect for him that it feels good inside,” the restaurant owner continued.

“For me it’s not about the money. It’s about when someone’s mom comes to you and says ‘I want to thank you for changing my son’s life’.

“It’s about when you go to sleep at night you feel good because you helped someone who needed it and they gave it back to you with fantastic work.

“He could even become the manager of the restaurant one day.”

There is currently an in-house competition at Bone Fish to see which staff member can get the most positive comments from customers.

The winner wins a trip to New York City — right now Mr Brangman is in the lead.

“When I see my kids growing up it’s the same feeling I get when I see Ty doing very well,” Mr Ferigo said.

“He works day and night and when he says it’s time to go away to see my kids to take care of them I give him the time off because it’s an honourable thing he wants to do.”

Mr Brangman said it feels good to know he’s doing well at work.

Customers thank him all the time for his service — some even give him a hug before they leave.

He’s most happy about getting a second shot at life.

“I think a lot of people need a second chance, but they also need to have the self-discipline,” he said.

“They have to have [as] their mindset: ‘I’m going to put in this hard work and it might not be easy, but it’s going to push me further and not keep me stuck’.

“I went into the job with a mindset that I want to achieve more and become the assistant manager or the manager.

“One day I want to say to Livio ‘You can go rest’. I want to take over as a Bermudian, build up the menu and help people — that’s my goal.

“I want to show people I can do it because no one in my life thought I could. I didn’t even think I could, but if Livio has faith in me I’m going to do it and I’m not stopping for anyone.”