I’ve used my time to self-educate myself in various ways including philosophy, physical fitness, and craft trades that I can utilize when I get out. I started programming in recreation and education programs the prisons offered when I first got locked up eventually signing up for vocational training and unicor.
Early in my incarceration, I met someone who told me the good advice to start programming as soon as possible not only to make it look good on paper for the managers and counselors when go to team but for personal benefits too. learning all these random skills not only kept me busy keeping my mind occupied, but I started to realize that even in the prison environment I could use most of these skills to support myself.
I am thankful for that person’s advice now that it has been about 18 years ago that is started programming early especially when I became eligible for the First Step Act because I immediately received the year off for programming credits. it also helped me in the long run because my family was not always there to help me financially and I had to do prison hustles that would not get me into too much trouble and I could do most of them because I learned a majority of them at reacreation hobby craft classes. now I can take that to the street and make things with my hands if to support myself and if I am good enough at it return the favor to that guy who gave me the advice so long ago.
I am also thankful for Mr. Santos for doing his part in my life by being a voice in the dark that guides me a little more towards freedom with the emails he sends me each day. some people in here don’t appreciate it. but I do.
READ NEWSLETTER ARTICLE HERE: https://prisonprofessorstalent.com/journal-entries/newsletter-1/
