Cohort: 3
Why did you decide to apply to NPEP?
I joined NPEP for a formal educative experience. Since the beginning of my incarceration, years ago, I have been dedicated to educating myself by reading anything and everything I could get my hands on. I am most excited that NPEP allows me the chance to get an education from great professors and from a prestigious university.
What does being a part of NPEP mean to you?
Being part of NPEP means the world to me! It sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. My entire family is proud of me now. I had a goal of pursuing higher education upon re-entry, but I never would’ve imagined going to a school like Northwestern. This has completely exceeded all of my expectations.
What has been your favorite NPEP reading?
My favorite reading so far has been Jennifer Lackey’s “Punishment and Transformation.” We have all heard moral or economic arguments, but it is so refreshing to hear someone critique the inherent epistemic irrationality of the U.S. criminal justice system.
What is something you would like others to know about you as a student?
What you should know about me as a student is that my last graduation was in kindergarten. I didn’t walk across the stage for eighth grade or high school graduation. This is partly why education and graduating with a degree mean so much to me.
What is a fact about yourself others might find surprising?
I hope to exercise my entrepreneurial skills and bring about change and minimize the negative effects we have on this planet as it applies to climate change.