Before coming to prison, I was a mess. I was barely holding it together. I had a form of PTSD because I had been a gunshot victim, and I wasn't getting any help. I was a womanizer. I tried to justify my actions by being honest with everyone, but I was excessive with my promiscuity. I was in an apprenticeship program, but this was at the height of the recession 2008 to 2009. So I was barely providing for myself, so my stress level was super high.
Even though I had been trying to change my life, I was living a street life. I had been involved in the gang life. Like I said, I'd been shot with a shotgun at very close range in my neck and jaw and dealing with the PTSD. On top of that, I had suffered physical abuse from my father growing up, although I still had a relationship with him. I was adopted at 2 weeks old by my parents, who were together until my father died in 2016. While I have two brothers and one sister, they are old enough to be my parents, so I grew up like an only child.
I was an honest person and loyal to a fault, even though I still had some criminal activities. I liked women and alcohol. In fact, I would say I was an alcoholic. These two things are part of the reason for my downfall. I was incarcerated at 30 years old to a life with parole sentence, and have served 14.5 years thus far.
While in prison, I have figured out what my problems or weak spots are. Identifying the issues is the first step. That led me to ask for mental health help. Through those sessions, I am on the path to be able to handle the stress of the everyday world. I've made plans, home plans, financial plans, and job and business plans.
To be honest having a life sentence and no release date has distanced me from those that weren't dedicated to a relationship with me. In a way, it can be seen as good because the ones that stayed are the real ones, and it got rid of the ones I did not need anyway. But it can get really lonely in here.
In 2012, I was baptized by First Baptist House of Prayer. I later became an usher and am now a deacon. I currently am a student in Georgetown's undergraduate program.
I dream of coming home to go see my mom and visit my father's grave and to see my godchildren, cousins and aunt. I’d love to finish my education by getting a doctorate, becoming a lawyer or eventually establishing a business. I pray I find a good thing in my wife. While I have no kids, I desire to be a girl dad. I used to travel with my mom and dad when I was a kid, and I want to do that for my family, before and after kids. I just want to be a good parent and a provider for my family.
Even though I had been trying to change my life, I was living a street life. I had been involved in the gang life. Like I said, I'd been shot with a shotgun at very close range in my neck and jaw and dealing with the PTSD. On top of that, I had suffered physical abuse from my father growing up, although I still had a relationship with him. I was adopted at 2 weeks old by my parents, who were together until my father died in 2016. While I have two brothers and one sister, they are old enough to be my parents, so I grew up like an only child.
I was an honest person and loyal to a fault, even though I still had some criminal activities. I liked women and alcohol. In fact, I would say I was an alcoholic. These two things are part of the reason for my downfall. I was incarcerated at 30 years old to a life with parole sentence, and have served 14.5 years thus far.
While in prison, I have figured out what my problems or weak spots are. Identifying the issues is the first step. That led me to ask for mental health help. Through those sessions, I am on the path to be able to handle the stress of the everyday world. I've made plans, home plans, financial plans, and job and business plans.
To be honest having a life sentence and no release date has distanced me from those that weren't dedicated to a relationship with me. In a way, it can be seen as good because the ones that stayed are the real ones, and it got rid of the ones I did not need anyway. But it can get really lonely in here.
In 2012, I was baptized by First Baptist House of Prayer. I later became an usher and am now a deacon. I currently am a student in Georgetown's undergraduate program.
I dream of coming home to go see my mom and visit my father's grave and to see my godchildren, cousins and aunt. I’d love to finish my education by getting a doctorate, becoming a lawyer or eventually establishing a business. I pray I find a good thing in my wife. While I have no kids, I desire to be a girl dad. I used to travel with my mom and dad when I was a kid, and I want to do that for my family, before and after kids. I just want to be a good parent and a provider for my family.