After a judge sentenced me to serve a 45-year sentence, authorities transferred me to a high-security penitentiary on the East Coast. My family was scattered across the country—my father, Julie, and her husband were in Seattle, my mother and her husband lived in California, and my younger sister Christina resided with her family in Miami. Being far from them, I had to carve out a path for myself.
The year I spent in solitary confinement had already shaped my perspective. While in that cell, I could breathe fresh air or see anything in nature. Once I got to the penitentiary, I could walk outside. A 40-foot wall surrounded the penitentiary, so I couldn’t see the horizon beyond the wall. But I could look up and see the blue sky, which gave me hope. By looking up, I got a sense of possibility, and I could feel grateful for what I had.
Inspired by the lessons I learned from the books Officer Wilson provided, I knew I needed to reach out to universities and begin working toward a degree. Education became a cornerstone of my strategy to transform my life.
After enrolling in school, I realized I needed a deeper connection with educated people to challenge and support me. Through Mark, a friend I made in prison, I learned about Bruce McPherson. Bruce was a professor from Chicago. I wrote an unsolicited letter to introduce myself and asked Mark to pass it along to Bruce. To my great fortune, Bruce accepted the letter and became a mentor and friend.
Bruce exemplified the qualities of a genuine educator. He didn’t expect anything from me other than my commitment to growth and development. He sent me books and quizzed me on what I learned, encouraging me to engage critically with the material. Bruce also edited my papers, painstakingly teaching me grammar and how to improve my writing—skills that did not come easily to me. To train myself, I used to set a goal of writing 1,000 words each day, and developing my vocabulary. Those lessons helped me feel as if I was making progress.
Eight years passed before I developed confidence in my ability to write. With Bruce’s guidance, I even co-authored a paper that a peer-reviewed journal published.
These small but meaningful accomplishments bolstered my confidence and validated the three-part plan that carried me through my sentence:
- Educate Myself: By writing and earning university degrees, I demonstrated my commitment to self-improvement.
- Contribute to Society: Through publishing my work, I felt as though I was giving back and proving my value.
- Build a Support Network: By connecting with Bruce and others, I formed positive relationships that reinforced my progress.
Bruce and I exchanged weekly correspondence throughout the first 16 years of my imprisonment. He celebrated my milestones, including earning a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. He introduced me to his wife, Carolyn, who also became a valued friend. Beyond academic mentorship, Bruce helped me build connections with lawyers who offered pro bono support in my efforts to gain freedom. When I married Carole in a prison visiting room, Bruce and Carolyn extended their friendship to her as well.
Tragically, Bruce passed away in 2003, during my 16th year of imprisonment. He never had the opportunity to see me outside of prison. Yet, his influence on my life was profound and enduring. I remain eternally grateful for the role he played in helping me understand the world and myself during those 26 years.
Building relationships with advisors like Bruce gave me a vested interest in staying out of trouble. I avoided disciplinary infractions because I feared losing the support of those who believed in me. Bruce’s mentorship not only made me a better thinker and writer but also a better person. His lessons and friendship are among the many gifts that helped me endure and ultimately succeed.
Self-Directed Learning Question:
- Who in your life might mentor or guide you, and how can you reach out to show them you’re serious about your growth?
