|
A day which will live alongside me and my family, as a day in terms of demonstrating many assumptions others had made in the past, wrong. For me and my family it was a day that five years of unyielding graft and learning came to an end, and the prize was this day, the 23rd July 2009. The day of my graduation from the University of Leeds.
Not in my wildest dreams, 10 years ago would I have envisaged graduating from University. It is bewildering what one can achieve when you set yourself a goal in life. My past was terribly significant in terms of motivation. All those hours I sat in police and prison cells had motivated me. All those times I recollected the terrible things that had happened, to me or others, certainly motivated me.
To have accomplished this attainment is also a way to throw two fingers at those who believe criminals are unable to accomplish much, or change their ways. I and many other ex-offenders are the proof that habits can change and certain behaviors can also be changed, and challenged.
What I and other ex-offenders have achieved, proves the criminal justice system is wrong in the way it punishes; yes all criminal offenders should be punished for their wrongdoings. However, they should not then be in a system which destroys them and their aspirations for a better life and a better society.
My graduation day was not yet my acceptance into society, as I have written in previous blog articles, I am excluded from the 'protection' of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, given to those who have made mistakes and by their efforts are welcomed back into society through the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act legislation.
My graduation was not the end of the challenge, but the beginning of the challenge ahead of me, the challenge to change perceptions, the belief that there is no hope for those who have made mistakes or chosen an alternative path, a life of crime.
The most important message goes out to those who are offenders or ex-offenders trying to walk the straight line; you can achieve, you can succeed where others tell you, you can't. The reward is much greater than any amount of swag, you could possibly steal, what you achieve in terms of education, not one person in the world can take away from you.
Knowledge and the achievement of gaining knowledge and using it, will give you the feeling that no drug, no money, no material goods will ever give you.
I just want to say to my family, a big thank you for their support and love, they have given me. Our reward was that day on the 23rd July 2009. I love you all so very much.
My first tentative steps to gaining a degree - please click |
