Category: Feature of the Week

by Dago I was given a second chance and quickly messed it up. I didn’t learn from my mistake — the mistake of riding around with guns while risking my freedom, either for the protection of myself or my folks.   The judge and the rest of the world think of us as bad people trying to hurt others, but that’s really not the case. We continue doing the same things any normal person would do, such as going out to eat with friends, or going out to places around town. But we always decide to put our second chances at risk by

by Richard “Chooch” Angulo  Sitting in prison for nine years has given me a lot of time to reflect on my life. I often find myself returning to the way things unfolded. Why this, why that…more times than not, I want to be given a second chance, a do-over.  My story begins in Southern California, a small town forty miles East of Los Angeles. My parents, both Mexican-American, were blue-collar workers who worked hard to put a roof over our heads and put food on the table. The life my parents modeled for my brothers and I was reflective of the life they

by Jose H.O.P.E. means Healing Of People’s Emptiness. In the Bible, it says to forgive yourself and Christ will forgive your sins. Hope means second chances that you collect and deserve. I’m filled with hope and second chances.  This essay is for the people like the Declaration of Independence. It’s only different because those who feel lonely don’t feel free. Those feelings should change with the powerful meaning of hope and forgiveness. Hope will heal the person’s soul, body and mind. Forgiveness will clean out the sin of the blood, which will let you be cleansed out like the Holy Water. 

by Lisa Strawn Second chances should be a mandatory part of everyone’s lives. As a kid I loved to write and it was my favorite subject in school. Truly, now my writing has changed me into a truthful, grateful, person some fifty years later. In prison being transgendered, my writing has helped so many transgenders to see the beauty in their freedom. Being able to celebrate who you are everyday is something I embrace everyday.   Life experiences that I have faced have given me a second chance to say it’s okay to be who you are, even in a men’s prison. I believe that we

 by Jesus, Santa Cruz Have you ever been in any kind of situation when someone or even yourself is asking or even begging for a second chance? I’m pretty sure we all have at some point in our life. We all make mistakes that we will regret at some point. I have, and I’ve been in so many different kinds of situations where I’m the one asking for another chance or for forgiveness.  The most common situation that we all have as humans is in relationships. This situation can happen to us at any time, and more than likely it will

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