At first, it was all strange. Not having to make contact calls to the halfway house every few hours, not having to go back to a chaotic house of girls, still constantly looking at my watch out of mere habit. However, in many areas, nothing has truly changed. I began full time employment 2 days after my release, so jumping into work and other responsibilities hardly gives me time for true freedom. I'm good with that though- in fact, more than good. I am grateful as can be.
Sometimes, it all seems like a distant memory now. But the entire experience, just like any other experience in my life, has molded me into the person I am today and therefore will live with me for the rest of my life. I currently work for a federal program called TRiO here at Rutgers University. I am currently the program/tutoring coordinator of SSS (Student Support Services). My department offers all kinds of academic support to students of low-income first generation backgrounds. From tutoring, to workshops, to coaching, to financial assistance, to something as simple as encouragement and support to excel in higher education as well as preparing for the future. First working here part-time while in the halfway house as a tutor and academic coach, my eyes were opened to matters that never previously crossed my mind. And I believe that has mainly to do with something I've seen during my incarceration. In fact, I know that's the case.
In all years prior, I always took education for granted. It was something that was simply mandated in my family; and like anything else that my parents pushed upon me in the past, I didn't appreciate it fully. However, having all of the possibilities taken from me in a heartbeat and being exposed to so many individuals who never had the same chances and opportunities I did growing up, made me value it so much more. So many Americans are so judgmental of the prison population. But how can you say that if you were brought up in a neighborhood where the life of crime was the norm, and at times the only way to survive, that you wouldn't end up at the exact same place? For many, higher education isn't even an option to them. And if it is, it sure as hell isn't as easy compared to someone from a rich town with the best teachers and the best support out there. Yes, a lot of people make it out. Look at Obama, right? That's the exception though, not the rule. How can we help make it less of a struggle, and more of an available option... So that others wouldn't feel as if they had to resort to a life of crime, or that their lives are meaningless and hopeless...
My goals right now? Continue this job that I love so much while attending graduate school and working towards doing something with educational policy and fighting inequalities in the education system. Obama said that during his administration, he wanted to help make America more educated in comparison to other countries... This can't be done if you neglect majority of Americans who are from low-income backgrounds. Colleges around the U.S. are continually increasing tuition at a more rapid rate than ever, making it harder and harder for people to afford higher education. Not only that, but they are admitting less and less students that require financial aid. Even state universities like Rutgers are beginning to admit more students from the upper middle class and becoming an "elite" school where money is the driving factor. How can our economy improve if the rich keep getting richer, and the poor keep getting poorer?
I don't know how I got from incarceration to education, but I strongly feel that the two are highly correlated in many aspects. There is a program at Rutgers called "The Mountainview Project" (MVP). This program was founded by Dr. Roden years ago, who is a history professor here at Rutgers and was also the man responsible for assisting me in my re-enrollment at Rutgers so that I was able to finish my degree here. The program is growing rapidly and the purpose is to serve as a bridge from the correctional system to formal education as means to reduce recidivism. Since my department works closely with many of the MVP students, I have come to get to know them and truly take pride in what the program stands for as a whole. MVP is currently a part of trying to help get each and every prison in New Jersey connected with a 2 year or 4 year college program, to offer hope and that possibility of a different life through education for the formerly incarcerated.
I think I'm getting off track here. My apologies. I can get quite caught up on those topics.. It does offer to you a little bit of what I've been thinking about since my release, though. My focus is clear as ever. Same mentality as before though: one step at a time. I'm just living life day by day.
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