A new chance at life... I am so
blessed to have this opportunity to re-define myself and live a life worthy of
remembrance. The vast majority of my friends that have traveled the same road I
did have either died, or are spending the rest of their lives in prison. This
blog will not be about my past, but about the current path I am on; to gain an
education, to build a career, and to find a new way of living. In order to
understand the relevance of my current journey, you must first understand a bit
about where I am coming from.
Imagine life in a 9x12 cell. The concrete
walls pressing down on you, suffocating your will... a constant reminder of
your failure as a human being. The only time you are allowed to leave your cell
is when the doors slide open and you are told what to do and when to do it.
Once these doors open, you must constantly be on your guard, looking over your
shoulder, always ready for the imminent threat of violence. This is how I have
spent the vast majority of my adult life. I was recently released from a five-year
sentence; my third time in prison. My whole life has been a struggle. During
the short intervals of “freedom” in between prison sentences, I have battled
with depression, anxiety, addiction, and homelessness. I never believed that I
deserved, or was capable of success and happiness. A couple of years ago I came
to a turning point in my life. I had a five-year-old son out there that needed
his father. I knew that if I was ever going to have a chance at a successful
life, I was going to have to take charge of my life and start making some
better choices. I began to throw myself wholeheartedly into the rehabilitation
process.
Durring my last prison sentence, I
completed my Associates degree . I also completed chemical dependency
treatment, parenting classes, and several behavior modification classes. I also
completed a one-year graphic design certificate. For me, art was always a way
to escape from my troubles. Only recently have I discovered that I could
actually make a career out of it. Along the road to achieving my graphic design
certificate, I was introduced to the intriguing possibility
of becoming a graphic designer.
With a year left on my prison sentence, I
applied for, and received a scholarship from The Post-Prison
Education Program. I applied to, and was accepted by WSU Tri-Cities, where I am
currently enrolled and working towards a degree in Digital Technology and
Culture. I plan on achieving a double Bachelor's degree in DTC and Fine Arts,
then continuing on to a Master's of Fine Art. From there, I plan to open my own
design company. By owning my own company, I can avoid the unnecessary
complications that potential employers may have with my felony record.
Along the path towards achieving higher
education, I have learned that education does not just teach you how to earn a
living, it teaches you how to live. After spending a lifetime running away from
my problems, I now view the challenges and problems I face as an opportunity
for growth and accomplishment.
In order to, in some small way, repay the
kindness and help I have received, I wish to help others of a
similar background find a new way of life. One of the first steps I have taken
towards this end is to write a monthly newsletter, which is sent to prisoners
currently engaged in seeking to transform their lives through the power of
post-secondary education. It chronicles my experiences transitioning back
into society and specifically, my experiences as a student at WSU Tri-Cities.
By providing a history of my struggles and triumphs, I hope to give insight,
perspective, and advice to others planning on taking a similar path.
This Blog will be a supplement to the
monthly newsletter. My hope is that other ex-convicts transitioning back into
society can view this blog and know that they are not alone in their struggles.
Perhaps they can learn from my mistakes and avoid some of the same pitfalls I
experienced and benefit from a record of what I found helpful and useful
in my own journey.
I was released from the Washington State
Penitentiary on November 24th, 2014. What follows is the first installment of
"Smokin Joe's Monthly Newsletter", mailed out in the beginning of
January 2014, followed by the second installment, mailed out at the end of
February, 2014. My goal is to, first of all, become more punctual in the
production and distribution of this newsletter, and second of all, to grow and
progress in using the graphic design skills I am learning in school.
By reading this blog, you should be able
to view my progress as an artist, designer, writer, student, and
citizen.
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