They came for me August 13,2008. That was the date I thought my life was over. I have never gone through this experience before and I certainly had no idea what my future was going to be for me.
I was 37 and I was very successful in my career. I had a beautiful wife, two homes and financially stable until the economy started crashing in 2007. I can’t pinpoint the reasoning why I did what I did. I don’t want to make excuses to justify what happened as I take full responsibility for my actions and prepared myself the best way I could for the punishment of my actions.
I went through the whole legal process not knowing what was going to happen as I just trusted GOD, the legal system and the public defenders to make the best possible outcome for me. After the whole process was over I received 20 years in prison to think about my past actions. Right then I knew I needed to make a change right now.
Once I arrived at prison I started to look at my options and to see what I could do to better myself. I admit it did take me more time to get accustomed to the prison life as I had plenty to learn about my new home. I saw the prison offered many types of classes so I took as many as time would allow so I could learn as much as I could. I thought by learning and keeping my mind active I needed to separate myself from my old self and work on my new self. During this time I kept thinking of what happened and why I was here in prison. My crime kept messing with me as I was mad at myself or doing this and I could not get it away from me. I was disappointed because I let my wife and family down and I knew an apology was not enough at the time. I had to prove to them I was going to learn from this and use this time wisely. Because of this I did lose confidence as now I was telling myself this is my new life and I have to accept the life of prison and the after affects of prison. I told myself that for 5 years and them something in me clicked and I went on a huge confidence rebuilding mission as I took more classes and also taught classes. I also started working at Unicor and that helped to gain my work skills back and also leadership skills to become a leader at Unicor. Now I was in control and not letting the prison control me telling me I was a nobody.
After some time in prison I started to learn how things are going to be. I started seeing how the staff treated us and the direction I could let this go or I just could give up and let prison take me over and control me. As the time went by I had to find my purpose in prison. Now is the time I define the direction that I go and it is up. Some days it was easy to do the plan and some days was difficult. I did have those days that I could not do anything but I never let it keep me down. I used those feelings to help me and I learned from that so I could be stronger. I’m ready to start over again.
I want people to see me now and not look at me in my past. I want to talk to them about my past so I can be transparent and educate the public on this life and how many can be reformed and come out of prison a better person. I am hoping people can see me for who I am now and how far I have advanced in my rehabilitation by overcoming this obstacle of being incarcerated and showing my success. I feel I accomplished this mission and I am ready to show accomplishment on the next mission life, being free from these bars.
Thank you
Marcus S. Hix
