I have shared the courses you have sent me in the past with other inmates who have been down for very long sentences. lots of people in here dont realize the oppertunity that this offers them when they start programming i think because of the stigma of being programmed and the bad reputation it has been given.
I talk to these intmates whose only purpose in life so far has been to play handball or bet on tickets ignoring the benifits of taking classes. usually they only take classes when their counselor tells them to to keep their points down and then they end up paying someone who teaches the class a few stamps to sign in for them so they dont have to go anyways. i became that guy for little while because i too thought to myself why i should gain these skill when i wont have the chance to utilize them for another 15 or 20 years.
It was when i broke out of that programmed thinking of i had to be a convict and focus only on the inside lifestyle and started to think of the fact that one day i would be free and would i have any skills that would apply to staying free. their is no pro handball curcuit, no spades or dominoes curcuit that that i could ever sustain income on in the free world. i cant get a job playing softball or flag football so really why would i choose to focus all my efforts on becoming the best at any one of these excluding all else in my life?
Once i break down the fact that we inadvertantly become programmed to deny what the BOP is trying to give to us through programs because we are jaded by the fact that we think the BOP and federal government has put us in jail. it was us ourselves who put us in this place and the programs in here are actually the way to have a slight advantage when we complete our sentences. i tell others to unprogram themselves from thinking that taking classes in here is only a necessity given to us by our counselor and is actually a bonus to us because they really dont have to let us learn anything at all. they could let us be bored and kill each other and put us on lockdown leaving us no chance at all of acting like normal human beings who want to further their education and capacity to learn things we would never have a chance to if we were free. to look at what is on the table for us as something positive even though we might not see how immediately but to look ahead and imagine how we might put these new skills to use in the future where it really counts.
Many on my fellow inmates have never graduated high school thinking the only way for them to get money is by illegal activities and the only future for them is to be locked up. where this programming came from i dont know but this is what i try to change in those i see who are looking for a better way in life. programming is everything and until we realize what we program ourselves to do certain things everyday because we are creatures of habit we will never break out of making bad habits for ourselves and keeping ourselves in bondage. my personal goal is to try to convey this messege to others that programming can be a good thing maybe the best of things if used in the right way that will bring us out of the gutter and on our way to flying high in success..
READ NEWSLETTER ARTICLE HERE: https://prisonprofessors.com/journal-entries/reforming-futures/
