Pursuing an education while incarcerated can sometimes seem both arduous and hopeless for a prisoner with minimal resources. Such an education is often earned through informal studies, institutional programs always in danger of budget cuts, and charity from family, friends, or organizations like the Prison Scholar Fund. Still, the accomplishments are immensely rewarding. My education in prison has literally been an awakening of the mind, certainly comparable to giving eyesight to the blind. In addition to the invaluable personal enrichment, I have developed research skills, honed a capacity for critical thinking, and regulatory exercised an ability to articulate a thought, an idea, or a civilized argument. Nurturing these qualities undoubtedly, facilitates life-building aspirations and confidence.

Getting this degree has been a fantastic experience. I would never have been able to get over here to do it if not for your Prison Scholar Fund. What has made it even more remarkable is that [Dirk was] commandeering much of it from behind prison walls [himself]. I’ve always been amazed with that reality. In my heart I’ve wanted to believe that I could assist PSF if I were released. But time after time I received set-offs from parole. Now [Dirk is] out and I hope to follow myself. I have been locked up 26 years. 26 friggin’ years. But my mind has found freedom. God bless you and the work set before you. That I am truly grateful to you for all you have done for me would be inadequate for describing my feelings.

Recently returned home!

PSF made it possible for me to pursue courses with degree bearing credits, something not available at the time within the confines of the prison, and for that I will forever be grateful to the organization as a whole, and Dirk personally… his personal commitment to foundation made my experience that much richer. The way that I choose to repay the favor is to make those credits REALLY count.

Education in prison has a way of centering a person, not just in terms of their doing time in a way that reduces violence or recidivism rates, although those things are important in their way. Everyone wants to have a place in society; we are social creatures, and are socialized to allocate our value and our worth in terms of our place. Those who live on the margins aren’t born knowing that they are on the margins. We aren’t taught as little kids that the opportunities of life in America drilled into us at school, in history and social studies, have nothing to do with us, with *people like us*. Only after coming to prison did I come to understand that the margins of a society exist for certain people and that I was one of those people. For those not affected personally by incarceration, they don’t think about how the social forces influence the lives of individuals whether they know it or not, and how people become empowered (or disempowered) within their social positions.

Through education, I’ve begun to comprehend that my position in relation to others and to global influences isn’t static, and that I have the agency not only to change my position, but to also affect change in my current community initially, and the greater community upon my release. One of the most valuable things about educating incarcerated people is that they learn that they can be agents of positive change within their own lives and the lives of their families and their communities.

Today, I’m pursuing my Associates of Liberal Arts and Science degree; upon completion of this semester (in which I’m taking environmental science and English comp), I will be 25 credits away from my goal, and this is just the beginning of my academic career. I will never be a traditional college student, but I believe that unconventionality in academic pursuit is essential to the vitality of academia, a way of walking through the world that can and has become removed from its potential to foster real change. The academic establishment for a prisoner can be an ecotone bridging between the world as a place of dysfunction as well as a site of resistance.

Recently returned home!

Across the nation, many prisoners are deviating from an institutionally induced state of stagnation which limits our thinking to the poorest quality of thought and traps our experience in fantasy or in a period that lead[s] us to prison. In every prison in the United States, dare I say, there are groups of men and women who are working to effect positive change in themselves and their environment. Oftentimes, they have managed to do so with the barest of necessities.

That’s why the work of the Prison Scholar Fund is so important. The men and women who have come to appreciate learning, who have become empowered by education are the very people that abandon their criminal behavior and utilize learning for productive citizenship. Additionally, there are others who have enough insight to be useful in contributing ideas for resolutions to some of the most pressing issues in our prisons and society.

Just imagine the difference in prisoners when the proper resources are available to those who desire to use them to their best advantage! Dirk [the PSF’s Executive Director] is a refreshing example of what a clear vision and a reformative purpose can accomplish.

I can honestly say that the Prison Scholar Fund (PSF) forever changed my life. In helping me to enroll in my first college course, The PSF served as the catalyst that allowed me to experience the enriching, mind-expanding world of post-secondary education. And with yet only a small taste of that experience, I developed an entirely new outlook on life and began to realize how corrosive and harmful the criminal lifestyle I had been living actually was. I no longer wanted any part of it. Instead, I wanted to become a more productive person and to help other inmates encounter the life-changing effects of post-education. Thanks to The PSF I understood what the Irish poet William Butler Yeats meant when he said that “[e]ducation is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” The old, irresponsible me had begun to burn away as I began to become a much happier, more constructive person.

In my heart these achievements, blessings, and life-altering changes I accredit to the kindness and generosity of The Prison Scholar Fund. Without their having believed in me and their having afforded me the opportunity to take part in the college experience, my life would have likely continued down the solemn, shallow path of despair and destruction that is the criminal lifestyle. Do not mistake me; I am not claiming that today I am a model of inspiration–I still have unlimited room for growth. However, I am now a markedly better adjusted, well rounded human being thanks to the road The Prison Scholar Fund help open for me. Their compassionate actions epitomize the sentiments of the nineteenth century writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe when he said, “Treat a man as he appears to be and you make him worse. But treat a man as if he already what he potentially could be, and you make him what he should be.”

I haven’t given up on trying to better myself. I am glad this window of opportunity is opening up for me, and I can’t wait to take full advantage of it.

Vy’s commitment of his education is clearly reflected in his stellar academic performance. His coursework covers a broad range of fields, like accounting, finance, computer programming, business planning, writing, and marketing. This has given him a diverse skillset which will allow him to make a positive contribution to his community in a variety of different ways.

Recently returned home!

This accomplishment will not erase the mistakes that I have made but I believe that it will go a long way towards showing the world that I am working hard to stay on a new path. 

It is not often that people in my position with my criminal history really feel like the world wants to help us. At least that is how I have felt. Your program is no small gift to those of us that you are able to help. I look forward to being able to give back as soon as I am able.

Dawn sees her education as a platform to give back to her community as a sign of gratitude for a second chance. She hopes to do so by working with marginalized and vulnerable populations, thereby opening up doors for them like the Prison Scholar Fund did for her.

Recently returned home!

I feel fortunate to have this time in my life to develop into the person I was envisioned to be. I have discovered so much about myself. Not stuck in my past, but making conscious decisions with my goals in sight, I continue to realize more and more about myself and the world around me. I have learned to always do my best, to always believe in myself, and to not take myself too seriously. As long as I learn from every mistake and experience, I will continue forward. I am growing and changing every day and have realized one important thing: I am in a constant state of evolution. All that I have ever dared to dream is within my grasp.

Traci’s education is in Human Services, which will allow her to make a direct, positive impact on her community. She is grateful to have come across the Prison Scholar Fund, as the organization offered her the opportunity to reinvent herself in all facts. Traci is determined to use the resources offered by the Prison Scholar Fund to meet her academic and professional goals.  

Education has been a lifeline for me since I entered prison. I always believed if I knew better I’d do better, so I’ve felt a huge drive to get as much education as possible in order to get out better than I came in. The last thing I want to do is get out and return to my old ways which is why I needed an education to have some new ways to lean on. I’m all for whatever’s best for the Prison Scholar Fund’s continued support of inmates like myself as well as the completion of my own personal goals.

Marcus considers his education to be a true blessing, as it can serve as a platform for him to explore new opportunities that life has to offer. With the help of the Prison Scholar Fund, Marcus is completing coursework in psychology and sociology. He is looking to pursue a career in youth counseling and community development. Marcus is a great example of how education can empower someone to take full advantage of a second chance.

 
My priorities have changed since I first arrived to prison and today are focused on furthering my education and achieving my lifelong goals. The loss of loved ones has finally brought home to me the idea of ‘not taking life for granted.’ I can utilize higher education to help with the progression of all the programs I’m currently helping to build. Having a greater level of education will help me create educational opportunities with inmates at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center that otherwise they might not have had. I aspire to seek a higher education to share with others the knowledge and ideas I have discovered within this harsh existence.

Cisco is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Management. The Prison Scholar Fund has empowered him with an education that will allow him to obtain a career in marketing, sales, or management. He considers a post-secondary education to be his second chance at fulfilling his potential. 

The reason I have decided to pursue a higher education is because I’m tired of coming to a correctional facility. I didn’t want to feel limited in my career or self-esteem. I’m a single mother with growing boys. Clothes, food, and other needs require a good paying job. I need a higher education to meet those requirements. I’m disciplined, ambitious, and focused. After finishing my education, I hope to accomplish employability and/or own a law firm. I would like to advocate for people’s constitutional rights. With this, my children will be surrounded by a positive, influential role model because of my interactions with other associates in my profession.

In Darla’s eyes, education is a symbol of freedom. The Prison Scholar Fund has provided her with an opportunity to break career stereotypes that are associated with her gender, ethnicity, and nationality. Darla believes that her Associate of Arts in Business will help her do so.  

Education has been important to me since my freshman year of high school, and I have never stopped schooling since then. Throughout my incarceration I have sought ways to earn a college degree but was always impeded by a system that was indifferent toward rehabilitation. This scholarship is much more valuable than the financial assistance – it is the place where I can begin to restore my credibility. I am overwhelmed with emotion because I have never received any award that is based entirely on merit.

Gabriel attained his degree from Imperial Valley college, which is located in California. His coursework covers disciplines such as Spanish, business, finances, and psychology. The Prison Scholar Fund has helped him overcome his past and flourish as an educated citizen.

All my life I underestimated the value of education. It wasn’t until my daughter started college and began to share her experiences with me that I understood how an education can transform a person’s life. Discovering that I could not only learn new things but also excel in my studies has inspired me to seek to further my education. I believe my life experience with where a single wrong choice caused me to spend my entire adult life behind bars can help others turn their lives around before it happens to them. If I had someone to teach me the critical thinking skills to make different choice, I could’ve taken a different direction.

Tony wants to study Psychology in college, so he can become a counselor afterwards. He wants to help steer people in the right direction so they can achieve their goals and fulfill their purpose.

I realized I have my whole life ahead of me, and that knowledge is power. In the process of taking college classes, my low self esteem turned into a healthy self-esteem. As I prepare for society, having a college education will be a huge benefit to me. I am a very disciplined and a kinesthetic learner, and study every evening.

Tammy hopes to use her higher education coursework to get into drug and alcohol counseling. Following a period in this role, she would like to take the entrepreneur’s journey, and wants to start an organization that trains and socially prepares shelter animals to serve as companions for senior citizens or disabled individuals. These careers will allow her to have a diverse yet meaningful impact on the people in and outside of her community.

I have decided to pursue a higher education at this point in my life because I am the only one that will be able to take it to the next level. In 2010, a good friend showed me that I can better myself and could one day rejoin the community. I want to make something of my situation and show all of those people who doubted me that I can and will succeed. College is going to open my eyes to a wide variety of things that I can and will use in my lifetime. Teaching me how to learn is what I need, and focusing on a field that I want to learn about is going to aid in the process.

With the help of his Bachelors in Business Administration from Adams State University, Austin hopes to move through a variety of careers, such as being a franchise owner and real estate agent. He is thankful for the opportunity provided the Prison Scholar Fund to start his life fresh again.  

 
If it were not for prisoner education, the country would be in deeper trouble. I believe the citizens of our beloved country are beginning to realize that locking up criminals and throwing away the keys is not working. Giving those who are willing to rehabilitate a chance to go home educated, with a viable skill or trade and able to earn family sustaining wages is key to ending that revolving door of prison. I cannot express enough what education in prison has done for me. It has opened my eyes to the world we live in and furthermore, it has defined the man I am today. “If you think education is expensive, try the cost of ignorance.”

Jeffrey is hoping to become a certified welding inspector, and is currently taking classes to prepare himself for the certification exam. He later hopes to go into civil engineering, and is grateful for his newfound ability to provide value for society.

As it stands now, I am on the verge of publishing an entire series of children’s books as an opening to my career – a simple beginning for an unpublished author. But it is hard for me because I am hardly established, among several things. I am a naturally talented writer, but that’s the problem; I’m naturally talented. Like a musician who plays by ear, I don’t know the academic notes, nor do I have a solid academic background of which to place my career credentials on. I don’t have the socially respected training to make me a real author. This trade requires schooling, especially for an inmate to prove a certain stamina and trust to accomplish.

Kent is excited to finally have the educational background and preparation that will give him a higher level of credibility as an author. He hopes to continue writing to spread meaningful and memorable messages to his audiences.

In Texas, it is unpopular to suggest state funding for college courses at a time when the general education budget is taking huge cuts. The cost effectiveness of reducing recidivism through education notwithstanding, using tax money for high school teachers’ salaries has more appeal than increasing the prison budget. I’m not sure how the two are related but one thing is clear: citizens are wondering whether there should be prison education at all, much less college courses. I consider myself doubly lucky to have completed an associates degree. Without the Dirk Van Velzen Scholarship, I probably would not have completed my coursework.

Charles’ coursework spans across numerous disciplines, such as communications, natural sciences, computer programming, and psychology. He believes that education is an empowering tool for people to achieve their goals and dreams.

I will find an institutional job, but whether it’s a teaching job remains to be seen. In the mean time, I look forward to being closer to my family and friends.

Jeromy started off his educational journey with the help of the Prison Scholar Fund by receiving a Bachelor of Science from Adams State University. Because of his desire to specialized in a particular field, he went on to pursue (and attain) a Masters in Business Administration from Arizona State University. He remains a consistent donor to the Prison Scholar Fund, as he wants other incarcerated individuals’ lives to be reignited by education like his own. His education allowed him to reflect on his place in life and give more value to the meaningful relationships with his friends and family.

 
Post-secondary education means the world to me. I do not want to waste this time, I want to make something of myself that goes beyond just passing time. I want to leave this prison with the tools to be a success story, not a statistic. I value this opportunity and it is life changing for me. I am willing to work hard, study long hours, do what it takes for this time to be used to change my life. This opportunity will provide me with a future that is nothing like my past. I will leave this prison with a higher education and a better version of who I was. In order for there to be change, I have to make the change.

Jenny’s major field of study is addiction and substance use disorders, with additional coursework in writing, communications, and psychology. She hopes to use this education to help people overcome their past choices and find their place in society.