Socratic thinking helps us learn from asking questions. It’s an art that empowers us to find solutions to move through crises. In reading The Republic, I learned to think differently. By learning to think differently, I changed my life.
In 1987, when DEA agents arrested me, I was 23 years old, unprepared for what lay ahead. By the time I stood convicted and awaited sentencing, I found myself confined in solitary, a stark introduction to the consequences of my choices during the War on Drugs. While I had never been a dedicated student, my time in isolation forced me to confront the gaps in my character and education that contributed to my predicament.
One day, Officer Wilson handed me a copy of Plato’s Republic. I had no idea how transformative this book would be. Within its pages, I encountered the story of Socrates and his dialogue with Crito. Socrates, confined in a jail cell and facing execution, refused to escape despite the offer of support from friends. He believed in the principle of upholding laws in a democracy, even when those laws seemed unjust. His reasoning and courage inspired me profoundly.
Reading Socrates’ reflections on responsibility, morality, and principle led me to ask hard questions about my own life:
These questions sparked a turning point. Instead of wallowing in regret, I began building a solution, creating a three-part plan to guide my time in prison.
From The Republic, I learned the value of introspection and the importance of taking personal responsibility. Socrates’ philosophy of examining one’s life encouraged me to review every choice that led me to incarceration. By thinking deeply and asking open-ended questions, I could begin to see patterns in my decision-making and understand the opportunity costs of my actions.
This newfound clarity led me to develop my three-part plan for navigating prison and preparing for a better future:
These principles gave me a sense of purpose, transforming my mindset from victimhood to empowerment. I stopped blaming external circumstances and began focusing on what I could control.
The lessons I learned from Socrates became the foundation of my life’s work. They shaped my Straight-A Guide, which Prison Professors uses to teach others to make values-based, goal-oriented decisions. Through this framework, I’ve helped others recognize that success starts with defining it clearly, setting aligned goals, and taking deliberate, intentional actions toward achieving it.
For me, success meant earning back my dignity and becoming a contributing member of society. I wanted to demonstrate that the mistakes of my youth didn’t define me—that my response to adversity would. By staying disciplined and aligned with my plan, I earned degrees, wrote books, and built a support network that helped me succeed after release. It even led to my getting married inside of a prison during my 16th year of confinement.
Socrates taught me that regardless of where we are, we can always strive to influence a better future. The tools are within us if we choose to use them.
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How can you use the power of introspection and intentional planning to create a life of meaning and purpose, regardless of your current circumstances?