Author: mpau@thebeatwithin.org

by Dakota What is a chance? A chance is a opportunity that is given by someone. Chances can both be use for good and for bad. Chances also can be taken for granted. We all have a moment in life where we wish we could take something back. We all have made mistakes. I personally think everyone deserves chances. I think someone could get a to better their life. I have gotten many chances in my life. I have never taken one. I am in Chaves County Detention Center in Roswell, New Mexico, because I used my chances in the

by Xavierre Allen Most of us in prison have looked back on our lives. Some with regret, some with sadness, some with anger. In looking back on your own life, have you ever come across one point in time, one thing or another, one action you did, or turn you made, even one fleeting second where you realize, ‘that was it’? That is where everything changed, nothing was ever the same after that. You had an epiphany where you come to the realization that the decision you made at that moment changed the path you were on for better; or most times, for

by Eduardo I came into the world crying and fighting. I really had nothing but my mom since a little kid. I grew up holding so much pain and anger inside me. I always felt like I didn’t fit in. I felt alone, like I wasn’t meant to be in this world. My only memory of my pops was of him abusing my mom. I grew up hating him and promising myself that I would never need him in my life.   After he left us, all I remember is the struggle my mom had to go through just to pay

by George “Mesro” Coles-El All my life I heard about second chances. “This person has a second chance at life…that person earned a second chance to prove their worth…The other person gets a chance to change the world…” I am heartened by the idea of a second chance and pray it is not squandered.  However, I have never been given a second chance at anything. What I mean by that is every time I have had a chance to do a thing like work a dream job or present great work, I usually miss the shot, and can never try

by Suada  Mistakes are something that everyone has. They are part of life. Mistakes are how we learn. Nobody has ever lived a life where they never made one mistake it’s simply impossible. Some may be more serious than others, but in the end, they are all errors and nothing more. That rolling grass hill, the sun shining above, little bluebirds are chirping. You walk along that bubbling stream with your best friend. You turn to say something, open your mouth, it is too late. It just slipped out. You said something you didn’t mean to say. All of the