Week 14
Week in Review
Tuesday January 3, 2017
We all woke up this morning, wondering if there was class today. We had a feeling that there was but there was a bit of confusion because of the holidays that just passed. Everyone got used to sleeping in, but today Gami J. came to the door. Ready or not, it was time to go to class. What happens when you’re gone from class for a while? Tests pile up, so as we walked in, all we heard is that we are going to get tested. Wow! – just our luck, but hey, we are here for a reason: to get committed and dedicated. We have a lot of work ahead of us. We are not just studying for our Chapter 12 test, but we are also getting ourselves prepared for our 7-12 minute pitches, and let me tell you this isn’t just a walk in the park. I can vouch for all of us: it’s challenging but, like Brian T. has said, “Stop it – just do it! We all have done it.” So we all know by now there are no excuses in life or in PEP.
Alfonso S. (a.k.a. House Mouse)
Wednesday January 4, 2017
Our little vacation time is over, and we are charging into the New Year full force. Exams, pop quizzes, and the last chapter of Living in the Village, a book about building your financial future and strengthen your community. The knowledge gained from the workbook will forever be a tool to help us in critical life lessons and everyday financial situations, so in true PEP fashion, we closed out that book with a pop quiz.
We have come to know here at PEP that the end of something good is just the beginning of a new path and journey. As we were closing Living in the Village, they were issuing us another book: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Like I said, our little vacation is over. With only two months left to graduation, we are well over the halfway mark. All of us in Class Extreme ‘17 are getting excited, and yet sometimes it seems like we just started with all this work and studying.
Today is a day when our class has computer lab where we learn Word, Excel and PowerPoint. We as a class have learned a lot of new things on the computer, including how to make slide presentations, charts, graphs and much more. And here our journey begins in the New Year. Only by the grace of God are we able to endure, for this is no easy task. If your sons are a part of Extreme ’17, we’ve struggled, endured, held on and kept our eyes on the prize. We will see you at the finish line!
Art S. (a.k.a. Sweet I Ain’t the One)
Thursday January 5, 2017
It has been a long journey to get to today. I’ve had ups and downs over the years, however I like to view the glass as half-full rather than half-empty. I have also learned a lot over the years, such as how to open my eyes and realize what really is important in my life: my family. It feels good to have all the support that I have from my two sisters and mother. PEP shows a lot of support for us too.
PEP has taught us so much over the past seven months or so. Since today is Thursday, we have Entrepreneurship class. Brian T. used to teach us but he is no longer with us. He was a good influence and a good instructor, but he has his own journey and has to follow his own path to better his life, as we must all do. Instead we had the privilege of having Mr. Bert S. himself instruct us today. I’m curious to see the difference in teaching and testing methods. Bert S. seems to have more experience in the entrepreneurship world. His brain must be full of experiences just waiting to be shared with us.
The test wasn’t too hard – if you studied, that is. All of us did though, because no one failed today. As a matter of fact, there were only a couple of people who made 80’s, and the rest of the test scores were all 90’s and 100’s. That goes to show that hard work pays off. That is another thing that PEP has taught us: no matter how hard the going gets, always keep pushing forward. It feels good to see the fruits of our labor.
Richard S. (a.k.a. Winnie the Pooh)
Expressions
I am getting myself ready for a pray-out before I go home. I am very anxious to be going home now, after recently receiving an F.I. and now awaiting my out date to appear online.
I have gathered a few of my PEP brothers I have befriended and asked them to say a few encouraging words that I can reflect on after I am released, just in case I need a little dose of reality to keep me on track and remember where I came from so I don’t come back to prison.
I got to go to the PEP computer lab today and compile a list of my personal favorite songs, as well as sound tracks with the knowledgeable Servant-Leaders that will be added to my pray-out video and a collage of 50 handpicked photos from events throughout my Phase Two experience.
I truly believe that I have gained a lot of valuable tools through the Prison Entrepreneurship Program that will now help me become a successful business man, and possibly even a serial entrepreneur in my future.
I learned so much more than I ever thought I could about myself, building personal character in the process which not only makes my whole family proud – they can see the changes I have made – but also helps me set an all-new standard in my own life that I will continue.
I plan to come back and graduate with all my Phase Two classmates on March 3rd while also having a handful of my family in the audience cheering me as I walk the stage.
Thank you, PEP, for instilling in me the needed skills to make a reality of my dreams.
Andrew S. (a.k.a. Sweet Jimmy Dean)