An Essay: Prince
My time spent as a student enrolled in higher education throughout my incarceration made me the successful person I am. I learned many things about myself as a student in prison. The journey was extremely tough and rigorous, yet well worth it.
When I learned about the opportunity to continue my education while incarcerated, I was beyond ecstatic. I was attending St John’s University at the time of my arrest. I knew what college was about, unlike many of my prison classmates. Before my arrest, I was a junior at St John's majoring in Psychology. I loved the campus life, but I had many distractions. I should have been paying more attention to my studies instead of attending many parties, playing basketball, and hanging out with girls. Over time, my grades dwindled and I was on academic probation. Since I was on an academic scholarship, I had to increase my grades or I was at risk of losing my scholarship.
During this period of academic turmoil is when I committed the crime that led to my arrest and incarceration. I enrolled in college during the second year of my sentence in Cape Vincent Correctional Facility with Jefferson Community College. At first, I was afraid about the challenges of higher education in prison. I wondered how I would be able to do research on my assignments and pass without access to the internet, a computer, or a laptop. As I attended classes, I noticed that research in prison classrooms conducted differently than on outside campuses. The great difference was that the professors in prison worked extremely closely, one on one with students to do research since the students did not have adequate access to technology to do it themselves.
As time went on, I noticed that I was getting exceptional grades. I was slowly becoming one of the top students in the college program. During my first semester in prison I realized how blessed I was for this opportunity. I noticed that I did not have all the distractions in prison that I had on the outside. There were no girls in prison, no parties etc. I was able to easily focus and lock in. Another major difference is that I realized I had so much on my shoulders and so many responsibilities while in college outside of prison. For example, I had two jobs, two daughters to support and feed, a sick mother who required assistance and attention, and a relationship with my girlfriend. I was a very busy man. In prison, I had less burdens. I was clothed, fed, and bathed by the state as I was focusing on my studies. I had no bills in prison. No rent, cable, internet, car note, or anything of that sort in prison. That was a great feeling, a huge relief, to focus on my education.
I noticed that going to college in prison gave me the chance to really excel and push myself like never before. I made it to the President's List my first year in college. By the end of my second year, I was top of my class with a GPA of 3.9. An accomplishment I never in my dreams thought I would achieve. I loved my college experience in prison very much.
The professors in prison also varied from my experience with professors on the outside. The professors I had in prison always went above and beyond to ensure I understood the subject and assignment. If I did not understand, they always took their time to explain and break things down. I felt like my professors on the outside could not care less if a student understood anything in class or not. I left prison with just one academic year remaining to satisfy the requirements for an Associates degree in Individual Studies. I made a promise to myself, while walking out of the prison a free man, that I would finish my degree. I told myself that I would use the tools I learned in prison to make sure I continued getting awesome grades outside of prison.
I became great at managing my time with family, and always making enough time for my studies. This resulted in me graduating top of my class in 2019 with excellent grades. I ended up making the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, which I am very proud. I loved my college experience in prison. It not only helped me stay out of trouble but also taught me life-changing tools. For instance, time management, which I was horrendous at before my incarceration. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity, which helped me change my life. I am now a very successful businessperson.
