Cohort: 2
Where are you from?
I am from the South Side of Chicago. (Go White Sox!)
Why did you decide to apply to NPEP?
To be honest, NPEP is the best of the best prison education programs. And being enrolled means that there would be enriching, enlarging, and enlightening experiences that would follow. It is really exciting to meet all the people who make NPEP go (students, administration, professors, volunteers, etc.)
What does being a part of NPEP mean to you?
While I notice that the theme of community is forever present in NPEP culture, the theme of opportunity is what strikes a chord with me. This invaluable opportunity to not only meet people who possess the same curiosity as me but to push me intellectually and my will is what I cherish.
What has been your favorite NPEP reading?
I would have to say the article “Twelve Minutes and a Life” by Mitchell Jackson. It was published in Runner’s World in June 2020, and it was about the Black man, Ahmed Arbery, and his tragic death at the hands of two white vigilantes while jogging.
What is something you would like others to know about you as a student?
I wish other people could feel the intensity within me when it comes to learning. I love the process of absorbing knowledge, and I take my education seriously. But with that said, it’s a fun process that I thoroughly enjoy.
What is a fact about yourself others might find surprising?
I might surprise people with just how broad I am in learning. I know a little about a lot. As a matter of fact, my student nickname is “The Long Ranger,” as I have a long range of interests.