-Luqman, San Quentin State Prison, CA
Growing up my mom constantly told me my friends are not my friends. She told me this after I was dropped off by the police. See, me and my friends didn’t get together to play in our community.
I lived this way until I was sentenced to 38 years in prison at the age of eighteen. At one point I’d given up on life. Thirty-eight years is a long time. I should have listened to my mama. I later met a guy who convinced me to take a self-help class, which ultimately changed my life for the better.
It took me to come to prison to understand the problems I was dealing with inside such as my anger, low self-esteem, shame, and abandonment issues. Today, I am proud to say I surround myself around people who hold me accountable, who help me, who I trust, and people who care about others.
I have new friends mama, even though I had to learn the hard way.