We share our lessons with thousands of people in jails and prisons across the United States, as well as through our website. Many participants write to us on their own, expressing gratitude for the hope and guidance they’ve found in our courses. While the images on this page are AI-generated, the messages themselves are published exactly as we receive them—unedited and authentic.
JESSICA ANZALDO
Today I had an opportunity to meet with Michael Santos because he came to Aliceville to speak to some of us. I
got to be in the audience because I am apart of the Peer Support Mentorship here at the prison.
This morning, he spoke about his journey through the federal system and shed light on how it is his passion to
help and advocate for prisoners. I already knew a little about his story because I read his book. His story makes
me question: what I am doing here with my time? I am now reflecting on my daily schedule more because I want
to be mindful of this time I have to work on myself. Before I came to prison I asked a couple of people what kind
of advice they had for someone who was heading to federal prison on a 15 year bid? The best that I received
was: that I had all the time in the world to learn anything and everything on any subject that I was interested in,
but never had time before to give the energy to. This goes hand in hand with the message that Michael gives us.
With that in mind, I called my family today and I told them that I wanted a tirgonometry/pre calc. book sent in. I
also want a book on how it is applied in real life. In high school I remember taking the class and being fasinated.
That was so long ago and I am intersested in revisiting it. I am on this mission to expand my mind with the high
concepts of mathematics.
This afternoon The Peer Success Team had a training seminar in the gym. I was a trainer at the table "Parenting
From Prison." I got to lead a group of women in a special "Think Tank" meeting where we bounced around ideas
about what we do to parent from prison. It is not always easy, especially when we mothers are sometimes kept
from having a relationship with our child or can only have one when the other parent thinks it is ok. This is where
we are and everyday we have to deal with the separation that it tears upon our soul to be separated from our
kids. I know that I am going to use any pain I have and turn it into something beautiful one day.
I am going to use this time I have as a motivator to propel me successfully foreward. I want to get out one day
and have my children be proud of me. I want to get out one day and show my family that I do have it in me to live
up to my highest potential. I mostly want to get out and succeed because I know that I have it in me.
