Week 21

Week in Review

Monday August 28, 2017

Here at the Sanders Estes Unit our day typically starts at about 4:00 a.m. with whatever study material or book we are reading at the time. We get about a half hour to an hour in the dayroom to study before breakfast. Luckily for the Pristine Class of 2017, we are less than a month away from graduation. Most of us are finishing up on our final pages of the novel Crime and Punishment. We also have a final test to take on Tuesday over the vocabulary words form the book. After breakfast it is back to studying and also repeating our 7-12 minute pitches to ourselves over and over so that we have it down to a “T.”

We are all preparing for our Business Plan Competition which is right around the corner for us. At 7 a.m. we headed to the PEP room to practice delivering our pitches in front of the class. Afterwards we watched two series about art history which is both exciting and informative. Once that was over with many of us went to the computer lab to type up business plans and create PowerPoint presentations. In my housing area we have decided to do a Toastmasters class for the Phase I participants to assist them with becoming more effective public speakers. When Toastmasters was finished, we went to lunch. After lunch many of us utilized the spare time we had to exercise. After all, in order to make any major contribution to society, we must be at our best physically, mentally and spiritually. While class continues on, we continue to study and prepare ourselves for the things to come. Most of us have religious or educational classes that we attend later in the day. There are many classes that are offered to us that help us to better ourselves, so we like to take advantage of the opportunities that are provided. We always stay ready to keep from having to get ready. 

Reginald L. (a.k.a. Beetlejuice)

Tuesday August 29, 2017

We woke up around 9:00 a.m. and began to study for our last test over sections five and six of our Crime and Punishment reading assignment. Our In-house Manager, Gami J., arrived around 12:30 p.m. to call us out to the PEP room. We broke the ice in the PEP room with everybody dancing. We then settled down and took our test. After all the tests were collected we were congratulated on approaching the finish line and graduating by our Peer-Educator, Jesse B. Jr. (a.k.a. Lemon Head) and the other Servant-Leaders.

We then settled down to watch a film on American History and the mass production of steel by Carnegie. We then prayed out and returned to the dorm where we discussed our upcoming graduation for a while. Soon we began breaking into various groups, each doing various types of exercises. After dinner, we celebrated PEP brother Andrew P.’s birthday in “PEP style” by contributing items by donation for our brother. A card was passed around and everyone was able to sign it. Once every signature was on the card someone yelled, “PEP, we have a birthday!” The birthday boy was put in the center of the circle. We presented him with his gift bag; we asked him how he wanted his Happy Birthday song performed, which we did to Drew’s satisfaction. We are one more day closer to graduation. 

Oliver L. (a.k.a. Charcoal)

Wednesday August 30, 2017

After a long day at education class, I sat down with a couple of my brothers and asked for some advice so I could put my mind right. This is what I love about PEP: it has given me all of the tools for me to succeed in every way, and to put my mind and feelings into a right perspective. It has also put a lot of individuals who think like me regarding providing the best possible future for our kids.

We have been practicing for our Business Plan Competition (BPC). Everyone in Phase Two, plus graduates and a couple of Phase One men, gathered to help judge our performances as we recited our pitches. It worked really well, for the simple fact that we put all this effort into action so that we can give our best pitches to the BPC judges. I believe PEP is a really solid program with a great foundation and family values. This program had helped me in every aspect, from finding myself to communication skills with my family to wanting to succeed for my loved ones (especially my kids). I’m really looking forward to re-entering society with my PEP brothers’ support and other tools to help me succeed and make a better life without putting my freedom and my life at risk.

Every day, we routinely gather up for pitch practice, accountability groups, or maybe just a one-on-one conversation with a PEP brother to talk about our day. Another way we like to study is in our study groups in preparation for our tests. We believe all of this we do related to our 10 Driving Values – holding ourselves accountable; how to deal with pressure; how to surround ourselves with people who care for us – will help us continue to improve with constant practice so that when we get out to the real world’s problems, pressure and negativity, we will know how to handle it. I am really grateful for every opportunity that God gives me. We take every opportunity seriously so that we as brothers can succeed in life. I am a PEP participant who is really grateful that PEP helped me realize that we are human beings in need of a true second chance (which for many may be a legitimate first chance).

Thank you, PEP brothers, for changing my life around. I will hold myself to a higher standard and be successful in the world for my kids and for PEP, because they believed in me. Thank you.

Carlos L. (a.k.a. D.J. Khaled)

Thursday August 31, 2017

Today was a great day in class because we do not have any more tests and we are getting closer to graduation. I believe that when my brothers and I graduate it will open a new chapter in our lives as we continue to learn and understand more about ourselves. Some of the things we learned today in class were practicing how we are going to be walking at graduation, as well as our seating arrangements during the ceremony. We practiced it at least five times but I think we did well, even though we had a few glitches. By the end of the rehearsal we all had it down pat, but we were still informed we will have many more chances to practice. This was a big accomplishment for me because I have never done anything like graduating or walking down the aisle for anything, but this is well worth it, thanks to the Prison Entrepreneurship Program. We also practiced our pitches in front of the class. The pitch panels are a great thing for us, and they show me what hard work is about and that all the extra practice can and will make us strive for perfection. This whole venture with PEP has been great, and it showed me I can accomplish anything if I keep pushing forward. Nothing in life worth having comes easy – it takes hard work and dedication.

Juan M. (a.k.a. Pawn Shop Thug)

Expressions

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” – Mark Twain

Our ideas about education are being rocked. Major companies are moving away from a focus on SATs, GPAs, brand name schools and paper credentials; instead they are looking at how does this person think, solve problems, lead and handle failure.

I reflect back on how “learning” took place when I was coming up. Years ago learning took place in school with one teacher responsible for my class. The choices after high school were clear. If you wanted an “education” you went to the place where they controlled additional information, which was college. It was clear that college graduates had more access to knowledge and information and ultimately got better jobs and income. Thus, if you wanted a better job and more income, you had to go to college and get a degree.

But what does that look like today? College has become big business with dormitories, libraries, and sports stadiums for support. More students are necessary to carry the ongoing cost of these institutions. The standard of excellence has oftentimes been lowered to attract and keep more students, thus the unique value of a college degree has diminished. Also, our access to privileged information has changed dramatically. Today many people if not all carry some form of a device with them that provides instant access to the entire compilation of human knowledge, and also allows us to communicate with the intellectually advantaged. We have access to the abundance of stored and daily developing information. No longer is it a unique privilege to have access to such information, and no longer is it necessary to study and memorize what is so instantly available.

Education in its broadest sense is any experience or accumulation of knowledge that has a formative effect on the mind, spirit, character or physical ability of an individual. Continual learning is the key to continual living. If you stop learning you have effectively stopped living. We are presented with opportunities every day to learn and improve ourselves. And that improvement opens the doors to new work, career and business applications. Going to college does not determine whether or not you are “educated.” We each must take responsibility for our own education and be prepared to prove our competence as a result. “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education,” and I feel that no one else should either.

Jimmy M. (a.k.a. Grandpa Urkle)