I am serving a 22-year non-violent drug charge at a camp in Illinois. I have struggled with addiction most of my adult life. I was raised by my father. I have a sister who is my greatest supporter. I am lucky to have her in my life. This is not my first time in prison. I was able to stay sober for 7 years after my first incarceration while I got my associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology. Then my parents passed away in 2012 and 2014 and I chose to use instead of dealing with my grief. Eventually, I started selling to support my habit which led to this charge in 2016. I made a lot of really bad choices. Having a long sentence has been the biggest challenge of my life. The first two years I was a mess but since then I have buckled down. I remember that I wanted to get to a camp and 6 years later I have finally arrived. During my 6 years, I have never received a discipline report. I have completed many programs such as the PAWS dog training program, and 2 years in the Horticulture program and I worked at a Unicore also. I have also completed over 30 different classes in the two other Institutions I have been transferred to. I am currently enrolling in a college program here at Pekin to get a Degree in Business Management. I have met many wonderful people and I am trying every day to work towards bettering myself so I can have a productive life when I am released. I am excited for this opportunity to be a part of this program.
