Prison is a place where you lose a lot, but it can also be a place where you find a lot about yourself.
Finding yourself in prison
If I can tell someone what’s there when in prison, it is something many people look forward to. You get in when there are no more thoughts on the outside world, and now life is lived on the inside of prison. It takes you to a different level of life, and while it puts you down, it puts you in a place where you can find yourself again. My experience of being incarcerated wasn’t bad. I thought I should be left out, because that’s what I wanted. I tried to get out of prison and bring everyone out, trying to get myself out, but one thing that was never to be seen is the leadership position you always thought you should take, because you’ll be more than what you think you should be.
Life after prison
You can do better than before. When the prison systems end and you are out, you come to realise there’s more than being locked up. Do you do this when talking about being in prison? It takes me back to a time in my life. I struggle but also see life and how it plays out, what you’ve missed in life, and how you kept yourself locked up, not doing what you’re supposed to. Coming out, do the things you think you cannot do, and it makes you no less of a man.
I think there should be different experiences in prison. There are many ups and downs, but once it’s over, it’s all about knowing yourself and learning from it. We can turn back time and learn from our mistakes, making sure that when you are back in society, you avoid doing the same things again and just be the best.
The impact of prison programs
I talked with the prison research team, and we looked into how the programs inside the prison work. I think they are designed to help us understand and reflect on the impact of prison on our physical and mental health. These programs provide us with an opportunity to look inside ourselves and make changes that we need.
I’m not saying that if you do something wrong, you’re not responsible, but sometimes people end up in the wrong place, and that doesn’t mean that they cannot be changed. It can be difficult to find your way out once you are in, but it’s always worth trying.
Family and recovery
Being part of the sessions has been helpful because it makes you question the things that you value in life. My kids are always on my mind, and I want to make the right decisions for them. Sometimes we find ourselves lost, but that doesn’t mean we cannot find a way back.
I think going back and thinking about my past makes me think about how much harm I caused in people’s lives, and now I have some family. The reason I’m saying this is because I was always under the influence of substance abuse and did not see any reason or pain about what I did.
But today, I thank all the people for the support, and most of all, I thank Restore for playing a big role in my life. They made me look at life in a different way and value life more than what I did.
Should you wish to assist in the rehabilitation of former inmates and help put money into the pockets of those who have struggled to earn a living during and after incarceration, click HERE
This project in collaboration with RESTORE currently works with formerly incarcerated young men in the communities.
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