Week 12
Week in Review
Monday June 27, 2016
Today seemed kind of long for at first but it actually turned out to be an okay day. Today was our Toastmasters class, and it made my day due to all the funny and serious speeches my PEP brothers shared with us. Everyone, including myself, has progressed in various ways for the better. I see new and improved characters day after day. I never expected everyone to change so tremendously in such a short amount of time. Speaking in public is one of the things people fear most, and that’s why it’s a big part of curriculum, along with dancing in public and some other things. Yet it is now amazing to see the confidence my brothers have in delivering their speeches. Well done, my brothers!
PEP has bettered us all in many aspects – but we still have a long way to go. It isn’t over yet, but I’m sure my peers surrounding me are going to make sure all of us make the best of it while we’re here together.
Trevon R. (a.k.a. Sweet Shaneenae)
Tuesday June 28, 2016
Today we covered chapters 14, 15 and 16 in the Living in the Village book. The book is about personal finances, how to improve and fix your credit and proper ways to invest in stocks and real estate among other things.
After class, in K-pod, we made a really big cake for some guys who are going home this month. We’ll miss them but wish them much success in their future endeavors. We pray that they’ll continue to live by our 10 Driving Values. Good luck guys, from all of us.
Phillip R. (a.k.a. Sweet McLovin)
Wednesday June 29, 2016
This morning started off with a surprise as the breakfast menu was changed to coffee cake. This is good stuff – I wish they would serve it more often.
The day started with Phase I being called out to class at 7 a.m. It is really a treat to see the new class come out of their shells and get comfortable. Those of us now in Phase II find this humbling, as not too long ago we also were in those same chairs as skeptics, fresh off our old units. We’ve come a long way on the PEP journey, and let us hope that the new class embraces the program as we have.
Phase II had our entrepreneur class a day early. As always, Brian T. had a chapter test ready for us to take right after we had count. All in all it was a short class, which gives us time to prepare for our Integrity Selling event tomorrow.
Mark Anthony R. (a.k.a. Sweet Caramel Kettle Corn)
Thursday June 30, 2016
The excitement is here: today has arrived! Today is Integrity Selling day. What do we expect? What will we be asked? We are anxious as we enter the classroom.
As we waited for the panel to arrive, we watched an American History video. Soon we heard commotion in the back and all heads turned, and we saw that they were here: David, Steve, Ray and Vanessa. Let the teachings begin!
The exercises were great. The laughter was great. The constructive criticism was great (harder for some, but still constructive).
Some asked, “Why do we need this?” Some may have had their feathers ruffled as sometimes the panel stopped them mid-sentence to ask them why they would say this or that. The panel was sometimes no-nonsense. But the point was driven home: sometimes you have only a few seconds to make a sales pitch and an impression, to keep an audience with a prospective client you’d better get it right. The world can be harsh and abrupt. One just had to understand that these four individuals came to help us succeed and not fall flat on our faces. We had to remember they came to mentor us, tutor us and make us better men. That they gave so freely of their time says a lot.
To see David, who did 11 years in prison and is now a millionaire give so freely of his time, we’d be fools not to listen to what he had to offer. And he and the others had much to give.
The day was filled with excitement. I had the privilege to sit and have lunch with David. I gained an even greater insight into selling through our conversation. He said, “I know I’m tough, but you must be able to deal with and handle the truth.” To break one down to teach and build us all back up in the end was the success of the day. David and the team accomplished this goal.
Days like this I love, treasure and absorb, knowing it will help my brothers and me once we’re released.
Andrew R. (a.k.a. Sweet Oompa Loompa)
Expressions
Another productive week of June went by at the Estes Unit. With Phase I participants still arriving on the Unit, there is an obligation for those of us here to embrace and demonstrate to them the PEP brotherhood’s love and make them feel welcome as they begin this new chapter of their lives.
Monday started off good. Some brothers from the recent Elite 16 graduate class attended our Toastmasters in the afternoon. They watched as we worked on our speeches and Toastmasters skills. We have all come a long way with the program. Everyone is showing growth and the desire to succeed in life.
Tuesday morning Phase I attended their morning session. They started with a Robert Lewis video then had discussion groups and other lessons. Our Phase II class prepared for our personal finances class. Brian T. led the class and taught us a great deal pertaining to business and finance. Brian does a great job leading the class but sometimes (and he’ll be the first to tell you so) he gets a little sidetracked. Suddenly we go from talking about finance to food to soccer or another subject dear to his heart. We now yell, “Squirrel!” (in reference to Clifford, the big red dog) to get him back on subject. We learn but also have some fun too.
On Wednesday we normally attend computer lab to work on our Excel or other Microsoft assignments or do some market research for our business plan. This Wednesday was different as we had class to prepare ourselves for our Integrity Selling day. A couple of my brothers and I were chosen to present a summary on chapters four, five and six from the book. We started out with Michael N., Daniel A., Mark R. and Sayasone P. giving us a well-structured summary on the introduction through chapter three. Daniel C. and Fred M. gave the summary for chapters four and five while Mike T. and I did a short skit about integrity selling to the class on chapter six.
Thursday morning the Phase I brothers took their first “bucket list” test. Our class turned out in the in the afternoon for our entrepreneurship class. Before we started reviewing our next chapter the emcee, Dallas H. announced, “Everything under your seats, it’s test time!” We had to take two tests. One was on entrepreneurship and the other on the 10 Driving Values. Overall the class did great.
Friday we had the day off. It was a productive week for us in the Prison Entrepreneurship Program. We’re blessed to be part of the revolution!
Ivan R. (a.k.a. Sweet Disco Sisters)