Because of my time, I am better, stronger, and more knowledgeable than ever.
I was never a person who was wild or out of control, as some might say a person who would end up incarcerated. I was the last child of four, the baby of the bunch, and I was shy, quiet, and followed all my parents’ rules. Never would I do anything to step out of line.
I started to form, bloom, and grow into a spontaneous young woman and was no longer seen for my cute ponytails or funny laugh. I saw in the eyes of the world where lust and desire of men prey upon – with that, I became a woman battered, abused, then sexually abused, which came with verbal, mental, and emotional abuse. This led me to a life of wanting to know, feel, find, and be loved like the genuine love I viewed from my parents.
I searched but continued to find only the love or the answers that led me to all the negative things in the world: drinking, drugs, sex, and dysfunctional love. I have been incarcerated for 14 years of a 25 year sentence for this crime, which has been a curse and a blessing. I will be released in 2032.
My time has formed me into a caterpillar with a butterfly wrap. I have grown and become a strong advocate for myself and the voice for others who are quiet. Because of my time, I am better, stronger, and more knowledgeable than ever. I completed my high school diploma and 12-step job skills training and am now in my third semester of college. Remember what looks like pitch dark will always have a light shine brighter than ever. You have to believe you are, you will, you can shine bright – AJ.
