I didn’t set out to become a poet. Writing became part of my journey. A poem my mom gave me in seventh grade called Don’t Quit stayed with me throughout my life. During incarceration, writing became my release. What started as journaling turned into poetry, then books. Writing helped me survive and eventually grew into over 300 poems and multiple books.

I wanted to be a real example of change. Growing up, you become what you see, and I wanted to be what people don’t usually see. I want others to look at my life and say, “If he can change, I can change.”

My biggest motivation was never going back to prison. That fear kept me focused and disciplined every single day. My wife stood beside me through the final stages, helping refine the book, challenging me to sharpen my message, and pushing me to get it right. Anne, my editor and friend, stayed consistent with editing, guidance, and helping me build the website, making sure the vision came together the way it was meant to.

People don’t just make mistakes — we make bad decisions — and we all deserve a second chance. Prison does not rehabilitate people. Real change has to start from within.

I hope it shows that change is possible no matter where you come from or what you’ve been through. Your past does not have to control your future.

Incarceration strips away identity and confidence. When people come home, they’re expected to just figure life out. Reentry isn’t just release. It’s rebuilding.

I grew up playing basketball right in my neighborhood, sitting on the rails waiting for the older guys to pick me if someone didn’t show. I played from elementary school through college, and the court became my safe haven — a place to clear my mind and just be myself. It was also the one place where I could laugh, compete, and forget about everything else for a while.

I kept playing throughout prison and still play twice a week today. Growing up, I looked up to Michael Jordan, who will always be my favorite, and later admired LeBron James and the way he carried himself on and off the court. Basketball taught me discipline, structure, teamwork, and accountability. It helped shape the man I am by teaching me to follow rules, stay focused, and keep showing up no matter what.

Change is a daily decision. Your past may explain where you’ve been, but it doesn’t define where you’re going. I did the work — and if I can do it, you can too.