John Ruffin describes the period when he was at a crossroads. He could continue down the negative path he was on — or he could change. He chose change and says, “Education changed my life.”

I was in the prison for three weeks when a prisoner killed his cellmate. Not long after that, there were rumblings of other things going on. Soon thereafter the Assistant Warden got knocked out on the prison’s yard. Apparently a gang-related hit.

Watching my fellow prisoners mutilating themselves, playing with their own feces, committing suicide or totally losing their sanity and humanity was heartbreaking.

This was a wakeup call and I made the decision that I will not allow prison to eat me alive!

The pressure of prison life forced me to choose between remaining in a destructive behavior pattern or getting an education to free myself from the prison industrial complex itself. Doing time, I’ve received two types of education; one about life and the other academic.

Education changed my life in prison for the better.

“A man with knowledge is unfit to be a slave.” -Frederick Douglass

Twenty-four years ago, I’d entered prison as a young, ignorant traumatized man, filled with anger and resentment. Faced with my own preconceived notions about prison, I’d utilized my anger to cope with my anxiety. However, my anger led me to some irrational decisions, which landed me in some serious disciplinary trouble.

As a direct consequence, I was transferred to the notorious maximum-security prison … Menard Correctional Center.

Menard was built in the late 1800s and has a vibe like the fictional prison in the Shawshank Redemption movie. I was placed in disciplinary segregation for two years. The noises the prisoners were making were mind numbing; the banging on the steel doors and bars, the yelling and screaming. Sleep came rarely.

An old-school prisoner once told me, “Although you’re in the pen, don’t let the pen get inside of you.” I took his sage advice to heart. My educational journey began with a self-examination. That made me cognizant of all the negativity I’ve contributed that impacted my community.

Holding myself accountable for my actions became a high priority. Dealing with my untreated trauma was necessary to move forward in a positive direction. My family was instrumental in my rehabilitation. During their visits and phone calls, my family often advised me to take advantage of every educational program the prison had to offer and to continue to fight for my freedom.

I took my family’s advice to heart and created an action plan. First, I surrounded myself with positive peer mentors who were smarter than I was and on the same positive path. They’ve showed me that with some effort, dedication, hard work and generosity of spirit, great things can happen for us.

These peer mentors taught me how to do time and not let time do me. Their lessons helped me avoid pitfalls that the prison possesses. They also educated me on the law and showed me how to challenge my conviction and sentencing.

Now I’m always doing something constructive with my time. I’ve attended college and attained my Associate’s Degree from Lakeland College. I also completed my correspondence courses and earned a paralegal certificate from Blackstone Career Institute. I’ve helped start a performance art program with the theme of  violence prevention at the prison. I took the initiative to educate myself on subjects not taught at the prison. With others, I started several Peer-led programs — on real estate development, how to start a music career and how to start a small business, and more.

I still have the inspiration to obtain Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree, but this is a work in progress. The Pinckneyville Correctional Center doesn’t have programs like those, but as I work my towards lower-security prisons, I will have the opportunity to attend Lewis University somewhere within the Illinois Department of Corrections.

In conclusion, to all the readers who have read this, continue to be inspired, to transform your life and know that “men move stone, before they move mountains.”

If you would like to assist John, to get involved in the campaign for sentencing reform or to send him words of support or be a pen pal, he may be contacted through email at http://www.connectnetwork.com under the State of Illinois, the Facility: Illinois Department of Corrections, and his name and DOC number: Ruffin, John, #K80541.

You may also send a letter to:

John M. Ruffin, #K80541

Big Muddy River Correctional Center

251 N. Illinois Highway 37

Ina, Illinois, 62846

The post How Education Changed My Life in Prison For the Better first appeared on Prison Writers.