Week 16

Week in Review

Monday October 15, 2018

We have worked so hard to be where we are today. This is the day that some of us gave our last Toastmasters speech. The improvement we’ve experienced when it comes to public speaking is truly amazing. Our families will be proud of all of the knowledge we’ve accumulated since we’ve been involved in PEP. Being able to have gained confidence so we may convey our messages in a positive instead of negative way is humbling.

As we’ve grown in this program, we have gained so many tools to help us become productive members of society. We are now equipped with so much more understanding of what it means to make correct choices in life. We’ve embraced PEP and its 10 Driving Values, and we want to thank all of the Servant-Leaders as well as the staff and executives who’ve helped us along our journey.

My brothers, we are almost at the finish line. Keep your heads held high and your chest poked out and continue to press forward toward a better future. To all of the families that have been by our sides through all of this: THANK YOU, you are LOVED BEYOND MEASURE. To all of our brothers past, present and future: we are PEP! – much love, loyalty and respect to all of you.

Ernest E. (a.k.a. “Professor Klump”)

Tuesday = October 16, 2018

PEP started the day off bright and early by calling out the Spring ’19 A.M. Leadership Academy and Men’s Life classes, hosted by Keith F. and Monte P. (a.k.a. “Chicken Man”). This gave us, the Fearless Fall ’18 class, much-needed time to study over our Chapter 13 entrepreneurship material for the upcoming test, which is on “Important Issues for Entrepreneurs.”

Right now, time management is essential for the Fearless Fall ’18 class, because we are challenged with multiple assignments and tests as we progress closer to our graduation date. At this point, our plate is full from the weekly Entrepreneurship course, to reading and testing on an 1866 iconic piece of Russian literature called Crime and Punishment, to finalizing our business plan pitches for the 8 to 10 minute presentation on Pitch Day. So Fearless Fall ’18, keep up the great work and stay focused, because we are all going to shine come Pitch Day!

Arturo C. (a.k.a. “Cuddle Chicken”)

Wednesday October 17, 2018

Today was a very interesting day for Fall ’18. We tested over Chapter 13, and man, it wasn’t easy. It may be that we are getting a little reckless because we are so close to the finish line. We also branched off into learning about how to buy into a franchise.  It was good to see our former CEO Bert S. (a.k.a. “Chocolate Truffles”) again, as he always does a great job conveying the information to us.

Today was also our first graduate meeting; you know what that means, brothers: graduation is six weeks away. Congratulations fellas, congratulations! It’s been an interesting nine months with this program, and the best part of it has been the brotherhood. Always remember, winners never quit, and quitters never win!

LaDarius H. (a.k.a. “Bad & Bougie”)

Thursday October 18, 2018

Today, we got to sleep in a little since we didn’t have class. This is a luxury, because usually PEP keeps us busy throughout the week with classes and homework. We had a test yesterday, so it didn’t hurt to take a day off from studying for our next test.

We enjoyed staying busy throughout the week because it helps time fly by; also, it keeps our minds distracted from things happening on the outside. However, sometimes it is good to have a free day. This helps us to refocus on what is important and gives us enough time to create a plan for the following week. So far, it looks like more studying for the next two (and yes, final two) tests.

Our time is almost up here, but what we’ve learned will stay with us for a lifetime. So whether you’re taking the day off and reading this or just glancing over it before you begin your next task, remember it’s what you do today that counts. So ask yourself, is what you’re doing today purposeful? Also, what is your purpose? Is what you’re doing today helping you achieve that? Good luck to you on your journey. Stay with it, Fearless Fall ’18, we’re almost there.

Colton P. (a.k.a. “Clint Sweetwood”)

Friday October 19, 2018

Today we woke up practicing our pitches and studying for our Crime and Punishment test. We are happy to be on the home stretch. We have two more tests left after today. One is on Entrepreneurship and the other will be on Crime and Punishment.

Even though it’s a competition, everyone is still helping each other. We have formed a real brotherhood here with one another. Who would have ever thought that it would happen? So many different backgrounds and nationalities coming together as one family with the same goals in mind: to succeed in life and truly change. We are all changing for ourselves and our families. We embrace change and look forward to our – and our brothers’ – future. The class of Fearless Fall ’18 is enjoying our camaraderie, and we are preparing to be better, productive men. We will lead courageously like God has called us to and make everyone proud and happy to call us family. We love you so much. Thanks PEP!

Edward K. (a.k.a. “Salt & Pepper”)

Expressions

“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”

~John F. Kennedy

Coming to this program required you to do something different than you’ve done before. It required you to take a chance and to have hope that something good would come out of PEP. Taking that chance required you to be courageous. With all this together, everything worked out, but it wouldn’t have happened without your effort. Now it is time to take the next step.

With graduation just around the corner, it’s now time to start thinking about your future. There’s an old adage that says, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” And since we are ex-felons, we need to have a plan.

If you need help with finding purpose and direction in your life, I challenge you to attend Keith F.’s mentoring class on Tuesday mornings. He will give you many tools that will help you along the way. It is imperative that we have a plan for our lives, and now is the time to create that plan. When we walk out these doors, there’s a very high chance that we will never make the time to think about it again.

In addition, for all the guys who are going to be here for a little while, it’s time to start thinking about how you want to spend the next however many months of your lives. Do you want to spend your time doing something productive, or do you want to master your dominoes skills for the next time you come back to prison?

Timothy D. (a.k.a. “Ren”)