I am now halfway through the first step of Defy Ventures “CEO of Your New Life” curriculum. To get this far I watched eight video lessons, which I actually enjoyed. I think it was a good use of my spare time.
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Went out to the prison yard last night from 8 to 8:50pm and had contact with God! Looking up into the night sky, seeing the moon, thinking about how vast His creation and power is... Feeling the breeze on my face... Thinking about the benevolent force that answers prayers and encourages us to hold onto wholesome dreams.
Just completed my fifth week of practicum. My focus is on becoming the best counselor I can be. In my spare time, I'm reviewing materials on different counseling theories and thinking of what I can do differently...
Went to Mass. Walked laps around the track afterwards. On my second lap, I stopped to talk to one of the facilitators for the In-Building Self-Help Program (IBSHP). While we were talking about Defy Ventures' new program here at the prison, it started to rain.
Just completed the fourth week of practicum. Been learning something new every day, about putting counseling theories into action. Experience really is the best teacher.
Managed to complete (survive!) my first week of the practicum. It was exciting. When working with people in groups, every day is different.
My practicum begins today. The practicum is designed so that students like myself can get real-world experience of what an addiction counselor's work entails before starting a career in it.
Started reading a book by Asha Bandele, Something Like Beautiful: A Single Mother's Story, on my spare time. She previously wrote The Prisoner's Wife, which received lots of good reviews. This book is raw. It's hard to put down. She writes from the gut and tells us what it's like to be a single mother and married to a man in prison. Regardless of how extraordinary the man is and how true the love is, it doesn't guard women from experiencing some rough tests down the road.
I can't fault her for any of her decisions. Although I don't know her, I support women like her. As a man I've always wanted to have a greater insight into what the women in my life, from family members to my girlfriend, experience as they support me so that I could honor them for it. After reading Asha's book I appreciate much, much more the strength, sensibility, and sacrifice of all those women in my life. And I salute the author. Today we started learning about Law & Ethics. Our training is kicking up into yet another gear!
Today a good friend went to his parole hearing. Before walking out of the housing unit for the hearing, we formed a prayer circle around him. All of our hopes were with him, as he's one of the good guys. He's done a lot to help others. Now was our time to support him. I think he was shocked by the level of support that he got. Halfway through the prayers, the big guys started to cry.
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AuthorPaul Pommells has been an inmate of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for more than twenty years, and has learned much about himself, his fellow inmates, and where one can find the hope and power to change. Poetry Corner
Paul and other inmates & friends bare their souls in words here.
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