Being in prison can leave you feeling hopeless, demoralised and, at times, lacking in self-belief. I know this from first-hand experience as I have been on an emotional rollercoaster, searching for something positive to give me hope, focus and a true sense of purpose. Education has helped me in so many aspects of my life and I have been on a learning journey since the day I decided to re-engage with education. The word ‘journey’ is key because it allowed me to create a real change in my life. That change did not happen overnight, it came about by me setting goals and putting 100% effort into studying. I set myself goals which subsequently led me to completing a number of educational qualifications.
Completing this work gave me a sense of pride, purpose and self-confidence. I completed Arts and Languages with a Distinction, which is something I am really proud of. This gave me the motivation to pursue a degree in Business Management (Economics). I am now in my third year of studying and the assistance and funding I initially received was instrumental in reigniting the flame I had inside of me to study and achieve. At first I was apprehensive about studying at university level, especially from the confines of a prison cell, however it soon became apparent that having something positive to focus on was the best escape mentally and physically given my circumstances.
Studying has not only given me a sense of purpose but has also given me important skills which are transferable, such as perseverance and problem-solving which I can use in everyday life as well as on my education journey. I was given the opportunity to learn and achieve and I grabbed it with both hands. Education is about much more than reading and writing. It is about growing as a person and using the knowledge we have attained in order to better our own lives and the lives of our peers. It is more important than just an ending; it is about the journey… our failures as well as our successes.
It is my long-term goal to become self-employed post-release and now I feel that I have the tools and skills to achieve this goal, regardless of my past. Education has given me a second chance and I hope it will do the same for my peers. The journey I have been on has made me believe … I believe I have a purpose … I believe I have been given a second chance … I believe education is the key and although I am incarcerated, education has unlocked my mind.
Being in prison can leave you feeling hopeless, demoralised and, at times, lacking in self-belief. I know this from first-hand experience as I have been on an emotional rollercoaster, searching for something positive to give me hope, focus and a true sense of purpose. Education has helped me in so many aspects of my life and I have been on a learning journey since the day I decided to re-engage with education. The word ‘journey’ is key because it allowed me to create a real change in my life. That change did not happen overnight, it came about by me setting goals and putting 100% effort into studying. I set myself goals which subsequently led me to completing a number of educational qualifications.
Completing this work gave me a sense of pride, purpose and self-confidence. I completed Arts and Languages with a Distinction, which is something I am really proud of. This gave me the motivation to pursue a degree in Business Management (Economics). I am now in my third year of studying and the assistance and funding I initially received was instrumental in reigniting the flame I had inside of me to study and achieve. At first I was apprehensive about studying at university level, especially from the confines of a prison cell, however it soon became apparent that having something positive to focus on was the best escape mentally and physically given my circumstances.
Studying has not only given me a sense of purpose but has also given me important skills which are transferable, such as perseverance and problem-solving which I can use in everyday life as well as on my education journey. I was given the opportunity to learn and achieve and I grabbed it with both hands. Education is about much more than reading and writing. It is about growing as a person and using the knowledge we have attained in order to better our own lives and the lives of our peers. It is more important than just an ending; it is about the journey… our failures as well as our successes.
It is my long-term goal to become self-employed post-release and now I feel that I have the tools and skills to achieve this goal, regardless of my past. Education has given me a second chance and I hope it will do the same for my peers. The journey I have been on has made me believe … I believe I have a purpose … I believe I have been given a second chance … I believe education is the key and although I am incarcerated, education has unlocked my mind.
