This degree means I am no longer defined by my worst mistake. It represents proof to myself and to the world that growth is possible behind walls that were designed to prevent it. Earning an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts has given me vocabulary for my own experience and a framework to understand suffering, resilience, and justice in ways I never could before. It means I can sit with a difficult text, disagree with respect, and write a sentence that says exactly what I intend. More than a credential, this degree is my declaration that education is not a reward for good behavior; it is a human right and a path home.
My college experience has changed me profoundly. Before Mount Tamalpais College, I saw the world in binaries: right or wrong, guilty or innocent, us or them. But studying philosophy, literature, and history cracked me open.
I learned that a person can be both accountable and capable of change. I learned that my voice matters in a discussion about power, race or ethics; not because I have a degree, but because I have lived experience that theory alone cannot touch. I am more patient now, more curious, and far less certain of any of my own conclusions. That uncertainty is not weakness; it is the beginning of wisdom.
The challenges were constant and layered. Lockdowns that cancelled classes for weeks. The noise and unpredictability of the building’s life inside. Limited library access and the slow crawl of the interlibrary loans. The shame that whispered, I don’t deserve this. I overcame it by showing up anyway. I formed study groups with men who became brothers. I wrote papers in stairwells, searching for quiet.
When technology failed, we shared textbooks and read out loud to each other.
The faculty never treated us as less than other students; that dignity became a mirror where I finally saw my own worth.
Next, I look forward to integration; bringing my humanities mind and my coding skills into one life. The Last Mile program has shown me that technology can build rather than break. Now, with my AA behind me, I want to study computer science further, specifically human-centered design and ethical tech. I want to build tools that help returning citizens find housing, employment, and community. But I also want to keep reading poetry and history. I want to stay soft and sharp at the same time. As I move closer to release, I plan to enroll in a bachelor’s program, continue coding, and someday teach inside another prison. The degree is finished. My education is just beginning.
