Week 20

Week in Review

Monday February 13, 2017

Class today was a bit unusual. Normally, everyone would have had Toastmasters, but since everyone has completed all 10 speeches we went in for a bit of a fun day. The class started working on a new Coat of Arms, which has a character of your choice with your face on it. We will be putting one of the two Coats of Arms on the servant-leader wall and giving the other one to our family members at graduation. Toastmasters coming to an end is a monumental point during Phase Two, showing us how close we are to graduation. PEP, however, does not end there. Some would say that this is the point at which the program truly begins, because it is then that you can begin to invest yourself fully toward building up your brothers. For some, graduation will be the first time that they are able to see their families in several years.

With the final event coming up, many of us are getting together in order to fine tune our pitches. It is great for brothers to be able to dwell in unity together and all trying to help one another win. Looking back at the past several months in this program, we see how far we have come in our transformation, and it shows us that there is hope. PEP does work, if you work at it. We can all see the change and so can our families. Thank you to everyone who has made our progress possible! God bless!

Cameron G. (a.k.a. Sweet Nahla from the Lion King)

Tuesday  February 14, 2017

Today was an exciting day. It all started at 4:25 this morning as we went to chow for biscuits and sausage. When we returned to the dorm a few of the guys and I sat down at the tables to study for our vocabulary test out of the Crime and Punishment book. Then the officer came in about 6:30 to turn on the news for us so we were able to watch some news before we headed to class. Alfonso S., Anthony J. and I have to attend a class called CHANGES, and that means we are getting closer to going home. While in the CHANGES class we were able to study a little more. Afterwards, we returned to the pod and waited a few hours until we headed to the PEP classroom. There was a lot excitement because this was going to be our last test to take before graduation. After test time, peer educator Jessie F. walked up to Anthony J. and handed him a homework slip because on his last test he forgot to write his name on the paper. That means he now has to write his name a thousand times. We then commenced to watch art history videos until class ended. As we headed back to the pod it hit me that we can finally relax a bit for the first time in months, and it sure felt good. I wonder what type of PEP job I will get after graduation?

Anthony H. (a.k.a. Sweet Energizer Bunny)

Wednesday February 15, 2017

Gami J. called out Phase Two a little after 8 a.m. so we could finish our Coats of Arms pictures today. I kept mine simple. I placed some foam stickers of my initials and wrote a few words on it. I used a picture of Mighty Mouse for my Coat of Arms because Mighty Mouse is one of my many nicknames. When I finally finished it was close to lunch time. For lunch we ate baked chicken, which tasted quite good. After lunch we all returned to our respective dorms because the door to the PEP room was locked. My brothers and I played a little chess before heading back to the PEP room. We began working on our shirt that will be placed on the teddy bear we will be giving to our siblings and children on our graduation day. At about noon some of our brothers headed to the computer lab to fill out the funny awards worksheet.  Once I completed the funny awards ballot I headed back to the PEP room to finish the shirt I had started earlier in the day. I did not finish everything on the shirt but I accomplished a lot today. I practiced my pitch a little bit and went to recreation later that night. That was our day today.

Joshua G. (a.k.a. Sweet Valley Girl)

Thursday February 16, 2017

We are currently on a three day medical lockdown on J-Pod. There has not been much to do now that we are only two weeks away from our Business Plan Competition event and graduation. I have been rehearsing my pitch repeatedly. Gami J. came to our dorm and gave us our final test on the Crime and Punishment book. We all did great on the test because my brothers are committed to studying and helping each other. I believe that someone from my pod will end up winning the Business Plan Competition.

Other than the one test we took, there has been little to do. We are accustomed to staying quite busy. My brothers and I have been exercising and doing burpies, and it is killing this old man. I have been focusing on preparing for my release as I have only two months left to serve on my sentence. I am preparing myself physically, mentally and spiritually.

This will be my third time being released from prison and I know that my spiritual enemy is at the gate waiting for me, so I must stay grounded in my values and principles. We look forward to what tomorrow brings. God bless you all.

Brian G. (a.k.a. Sweet Gillette)

Expressions

When I came back from breakfast this morning, I could not return to sleep so I started reciting my business pitch. I am done making adjustments, however I wanted to add a little more to it. I said my pitch four times and did well all four times. I am confident and ready for the Business Plan Competition.

Today was different for me because I was able to receive training in the media department, which is where I will be working once I graduate. I utilized the Corel Pro Studio Software, and I must say it was pretty exciting as l learned how to do a pray out. It was crazy because I have not been able to use a computer in a long time. I stayed in the computer lab until 2 p.m.

After I came back from the computer lab I recited my pitch once again, but this time in front of a few of my brothers. We have a sign-off sheet and must have six signatures a day, meaning you need to say your pitch at least that many times. As my day ended, I sat in my cell and meditated a little. I thought about my day and the things that I could do better to be of service to others. I realize I am truly blessed, and I am thankful.

Angel H. (a.k.a. Sweet Minnie Mouse)