Category: Javier Page 3 of 4

1. What efforts are being made to help the 500~ people who received life sentences before the Supreme Court Rulings and are still serving them? While 1,000 have been released, are efforts being made to help incarcerated people? Or is the focus now on preventing more from being added into the system?
2. What progress are you and your Law-Students making in assisting youth offenders who might be seeking parole consideration since the News Article?

One of the impactful things noticed in the video was the level of freedom given to the residents. It makes me feel disappointed that we are unable to interact with them for the project, as despite all the fences that’d need to be crossed in order for it to occur, it still seems like it is more geared towards rehabilitation and steering them back onto the right path, rather than punishment. Like the article mentions, an emphasis on rehabilitation rather than punishment alone.

Albeit writing this late, the majority of my consensus and thoughts were detailed in my extensive Class Notes. As recalled in class today, one of the interesting points I noticed was how much more they could’ve written and what a broad spectrum of possibility their lives had of material that could’ve made its way into the book but was held back– for either length constraints or mistakenly glorifying experiences.

I thought Terrence to a certain extent was intimidating at first, but soon understood that it was simply his passion over the project. His interactions with Bryce and Kaylee’s questions certainly brought to light the significance of the project in his eyes, and although the tension certainly broke near the end due to the questions asked and bringing laughter, it was a valuable learning experience from all of the guests.

The novel “Writing Our Way Out” culminated into an interesting experience. As mentioned before, it retains a true darkness that is much more serious and much more uncomfortable than the usual style of darkness involved in my normal kind of books. This is because of how based in reality, how the events were actually reality, they were memoirs who shaped out how characters used to be. I found that the overlaps, even as they approached and wrapped up their stories became exceedingly interesting– how Naji and another found religion, how there were those who found recovery in their families, and how there were those who didn’t have a happy ending- how many of them still come back to Dr. Coogan to visit and discuss with him.

Naji’s story intrigued me the most. His story started out different than others- having experienced the love and warmth of a mother, only to lose her suddenly and have his whole world change. It draws back to the earlier notion in the novel that emphasized along the lines of why Black men love and appreciate their mommas, even if in certain cases they weren’t the most kind. But the depth of his story goes further. Thrown into a life riddled with harsh treatment and abuse by his grandparents (which eventually comes full cycle when Naji ends up taking care of his grandmother). Even as he escapes, he is inevitably sent back to her.

As he seeks affection and love, and after finding it in substance-abuse, in order to pay for that lifestyle and resorting to stealing– he finds himself incarcerated. Within this incarceration, he ends up finding faith in Christianity- observing but then disdaining Islam and joining the 5% faith. This element of contemplation actually spurred on a desire for knowledge and growth. Eventually he would convert to Islam after an awakening experience. After that, he was released and began building a life.

Naji’s story stands out to me because of the personal role that faith played in turning his life around. While I cannot say I have had such a dramatic transformation or such faith of steel, the element of belief, and self-understanding that shaped him and drove him forward was powerful. He wasn’t the only one whose faith saved him, but he was the one that stood out the most to me.

The novel “Writing Our Way Out” – is definitely a different kind of book than the kind that I am traditionally used to. My usual genre of books tends to be Fantasy, and while they may have dark themes or elements, or graphic scenes- there comes a level of profoundness and also seriousness and tension that arises when it is framed in a sense of a “biography” or “memoir.” Knowing all of their stories, to the current point, makes one think about how at large, it isn’t so commonplace for majority of people’s lives, but for many, it is. Even harder for others.

I’ve been fortunate to have had an environment where I’ve been able to be free of the struggles that they experience. But the overlap in their stories, whether it be struggle in family lives, violence, substance abuse, sexual harassment, and “the streets” – its striking because many of their experiences occur in their YOUTH for the most part. Every day was a fight or struggle, even if they didn’t realize it or not. Even if they were blind or “throwing” themselves into it similar to the fishbowl analogy. Even if they caught themselves up in “embracing” the lifestyle.

I did find interesting, was Dave’s stance through it all. He asks them eye opening questions that really promotes self-reflection in a way that many of them comment upon having never been touched upon. “You’re the only person whose asked that…” “Never thought about that before…” – and the extent to which Dave goes in order to keep in contact and meet with them, even as they are pulled in different directions adds an impressive layer of commitment. Each of the Prisoner has their own stories, and while they aren’t exactly trying to justify their actions- they are trying to open people’s eyes and also not only turn their own lives, but also the lives of others around. Some of them embrace this novel-writing story with full throttle, while others take their time in coming around.

After reading the Portfolio, albeit falling asleep several times during my session due to Sleep Deprivation, it adds an additional depth into how I look at organizing my structures. It was also in a sense familiar, and it redefined my idea of what a portfolio is. When I thought of a portfolio, I thought of it simply as a collection of art works, or in the financial context– never before could I have imagined that the definition could extend to writing entries, short stories, and other variety of documents and materials- or that it could be used to gauge growth and development.

When reading it, I thought back to earlier this summer when I started journaling. I’d think and organize it in a rather structure that emphasized self-reflection, about how to make tomorrow better, self-criticism, and although I never had it peer reviewed like it mentioned some portfolios were- I began recognizing during my journaling that the tone and subjects had significantly developed and shifted. They were initially started as a coping mechanism for what was emotionally a difficult time, and I recall when I mentioned that when days would feel like “a 3… a 4…” several times in a row shifted towards “7… 8… 9” on various occasions. Although still different from the essence of the Portfolio book, the book itself woke me up to how writing can be used to demonstrate growth and change.

In terms of the articles, I found them also interesting. They were coupled with a few naps in the library, but as I read through them- the additional depth especially in terms of the fire and observing it calls back to this summer as well, where I had personal talks at the fire with my dad with bonding- but also to when I would sit at the camp fire with friends. It also raised interesting questions for me over technology uses.

One of the successful experiences I had in making / creating / achieving something as a group would have to be my Eagle Scout Project. My project’s first stage was to scrub and wash a wood-shed, which is a component of the Oakley Farmhouse, a historical site dating back to the 1600’s. Afterwards it was freshly coated with a layer of white paint and primer, specifically chosen so that the farmhouse would be able to endure for future generations to come back and see the site. Additionally, there was a need to move several raspberry bushes growing along the shed to a secondary location on the property, so that they might be closer to the community garden. The historical site itself is home to several local historical groups and is used for wedding venues on occasion as well as a variety of other tasks. Besides the general up-keep of the site, the project also serves to supplement Elizabeth Oakley’s wish that the farm be preserved and saved for later generations to experience the farm. The project went at a faster pace than expected. Part of it was that we had a few more people than expected, who were very productive, which helped in terms of the rate. People who came along were very useful and compliant, quickly acting out upon my delegated orders. The scrubbing process went well, especially with the extra buckets brought along. When the preparations for handwashing and scrubbing became evident, using buckets from home, we filled them with water and added the algaecide. This allowed the team the team to work on multiple points of the wall and could be applied at the same time by different groups. The overall teamwork of the group went quite well in terms of chemistry, and the efficient and hard-working nature of the group was a big contribution. The moving of the bushes also went well and was completed by the time the scrubbers reached that side of the building, allowing them to continue uninterrupted. Although it was a group activity, it was an activity in which the presence of a designated leader in charge of delegation and management was essential.