My name is Haley Garton, im 25 years old and from the small city of Alvin, TX. Im currently serving a 12 year sentence on Conspiracy to Import Methamphetamine. If I could describe myself I would say that I’m resilient, observative, a task-master, extrovert, and optimistic. I’ve been told more than a few times that I’m something like a sponge, soaking up from life’s lessons and experiences all that could beneficially serve me and those around me as well. On that same note, I would like to say that I have an immaculate way of flipping every negative situation into a positive one which has helped me survive through life’s curveballs.
Growing up was not my favorite phase of life. Those memories consist of extreme poverty, domestic violence, loneliness and constant instability. I actually realized while writing my bio that the only stability I’ve ever received in my whole life thus far is that which I’ve gained from prison. I’m forever grateful for this. As a little girl and the oldest of 5 children in a broken home, my only thoughts were how I was gonna live life differently as soon as I was old enough to do so. I was so exhausted of never being full, smelling like cigarette smoke, wearing mom’s hand-me-downs, and never having enough money for things such as school projects and supplies, extracurriculars, field trips, school lunches, etc. Though it was difficult, I like to think mom did her best with what was given to her considering that 2 of the 5 children were her biological nephews whom she adopted from my even more unstable aunt. My mother had a good heart and good intentions but at the end of the day, you don’t know what you don’t know. She would send me to a woman I’ve grown to call my grandmother (actually a long time family-friend) from time to time over the years and at mawmaw’s house I’ve never had to worry about financial stress but the only thing different was I felt like a burden. In a home that was not mine, with people who are not my family, although they treated me with nothing but love and care, I couldn’t seem to have the best of both worlds which trained my young brain to believe that life could never fully be enjoyed. I’m now here in a medium-security prison to say that I had it wrong all along and it absolutely can.
I’m now coming up very soon on completing my 4th year down incarcerated all together. 2 1/2 of those awaiting sentencing in various holding facilities and 1 year and 4 months in FCI Aliceville Women’s Prison. It wasn’t all rainbows and glitter how I thought it was gonna be when I arrived. After slipping into an addiction to K2, going into a deep depression and nearly losing hope not only in myself but in life, God’s grace and strength and 1 good friend arriving from county made me realize that I AM valuable. This gave me enough initiative and motivation to stand up tall again. You see, when you’re in an environment where the majority of staff in prison could care less about the breath you breathe and you have 1,500 women surrounding you with their own problems (half of that number silently praying on your demise) it’s difficult to see the light anywhere, let alone in yourself. And since I am a product of my beautiful, broken mother; this is where we come back to – you don’t know what you don’t know. I am grateful to say that again, with God’s grace and divine planning I have just recently completely flipped my life around in the span of 2 months just by investing more time in building myself, staying aware of the company I keep, trying to make the best of 24-hours, allowing life/God to do what it does best and am blessed to call one of the most amazing women i’ve met in my life, Celeste Blair, a mentor. My mentor. Within such short time of knowing her I have gained so much intellectually, physically and spiritually. Just as a flower needs the Sun for nourishment, we can say that she has been my shining sun in this dark place preparing me for the greatness that she see’s in me and has now instilled in me to see in myself. A couple of activities I currently partake in are being trained to be a gardener by the best and an active member in the Peer Success Program spreading awareness of positivity and mentoring other women to be their best as well (which is a program created by my mentor I would like to add) and still in the works of creating a positivity podcast at the moment.
To end my biography I would love to add that I’ve never been this happy in my life. Positive thoughts make all the difference in daily life and I now wake up with a purpose to change the prison system, change my outcome, change lives and most of all change the world. Little by little. One step at a time. I used to dread waking up because quite frankly, I used to see no point in living here any more but now I dread going to sleep anticipating what the following days adventures and lessons may hold for me. If I could see myself in the future, free and at home when and wherever that shall be, I envision myself giving back to the community in every way possible, teaching people how to work for themselves, how to save and use money, cultivating the children, mentoring in geographically disadvantaged areas like the many ones I’ve grown up in, advocating for changes in the Judicial/Prison system, joining my mentor in saving the Earth, building dance studios and more recreational opportunities for the barrios/hoods around the world but most of all with the knowledge and discernment I have gained and continue to gain through this amazing process we call life, I aspire and just can not wait to be the mother that my daughter has always deserved, to free my family from every generational curse and to spread God’s light that has always been inside of me. Thank you kindly for your time. I salute the divinity in all of you. May God bless you.
