I realized that while my body may be confined, my mind and spirit didn’t have to be. I have been able to challenge myself in many ways, manage my emotions better, and begin healing the brokenness deep within my soul.
Just because we are physically confined doesn’t mean we have to be mentally confined. I was sentenced to three life sentences and an additional eight to 20 years for a murder conviction. During this time, I felt hopelessness, loss, and anxiety. At one point, I became so depressed that I attempted to end my own life because I felt utterly helpless.
Stripped of my liberty, power, and identity, I believed I was destined to die in a seven-by-nine-foot cell with only a toilet and a sink. For years, I carried deep shame about how I had to live, and I carried deep anger.
Then, in 2017, I found purpose through the National Lifers Association. It helped me discover light and hope within myself and others, and it taught me how to forgive and be forgiven. It has allowed me to channel my passion for women and our rights as human beings. For years, I was both physically and mentally confined, but they changed that. I realized that while my body may be confined, my mind and spirit didn’t have to be. I have been able to challenge myself in many ways, manage my emotions better, and begin healing the brokenness deep within my soul.
Once I am released from prison, I plan to open a nonprofit organization for youth because I have seen so many young people come through these walls, losing themselves, just as I once did. I want to be a guide and mentor for them on a different path, showing them they can achieve anything they set their minds to. I also plan to advocate for public reform and work to reduce recidivism by mentoring teenagers. By visiting women in similar situations and mentoring youth I plan to inspire others to overcome their circumstances. Thank you for reading my story.
