My name is Ziyad Yaghi. I am 35 years old and have been incarcerated since I was 21. My parents are of Palestinian desent and I was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. To prepare for success after my release I maintain strong ties with family and friends and have built and maintain a strong support network. I read books to educate myself on a wide variety of subjects and try to enroll and complete every program the BOP makes available. The factors that led me to prison, as is the case with almost everyone in here, are: making very bad decisions, associating with the wrong people, not taking the good advise of elders, and entertaining unhealthy ideas. I held various jobs, but I would say the vast majority of the time I worked in pizza restaurants with some time in construction painting. I don’t have any kids. My plan when I am released is to get a job, any job available, to be able to have an income. Enroll in college, and if I haven’t completed my associates degree upon my release, than to complete that. Go to trade school to be an electrician and to work on completing a bachelors degree as well.
