Highly Motivated Student I'm, Roddrick Mayberry, an incarcerated individual who is currently enrolled at DeVry University in the Field of Technical Management. Prior to my incarceration, I was a Starbucks store manager, property manager, business owner and an overall productive member of society. At the time of my arrest, I was only 3 credits away from graduating, so close that I was actually allowed to participate in the ceremony. Unfortunately, before I could complete the final 3 credits, I was arrested. My obvious focus was on defending my character and fighting for my freedom. My situation unexpectedly, resulted in me getting a life sentence. I had been out of school for 18 years before recently enrolling at DeVry University. Due to the time lapse, my program now requires 12 credit hours to complete. For so many years, I have been telling myself that I'm going to make finishing school my number one priority upon returning home. Unfortunately, I've been incarcerated for over 16 years and I don't have a foreseeable release date. This has made me realize that time doesn't wait for no one and if I keep putting off my goals then I'll never reach them. I originally chose the field of Technical Management because of my desire to stay up-to-date with technology and my passion to be in positions to lead and influence others. While many feel that incarcerated people are the rejects of society, I have been able to motivate others through my accomplishments. I have made it a point to not use my misfortunes as an excuse. When I initially set my goals, they were challenging because I had to work full time, manage my family life and attend school. These are common issues that have prevented many of my peers from returning to school as well. Many of them have told me that I have been an inspiration to them because, while prison presents even more barriers that prevent me from reaching my goals, it has not deterred me from moving forward. Since I have been incarcerated, I have started an online business and have also made it my priority to build a relationship with my son who was born after my arrest. I have never been free a day of his life, but I have worked hard to teach him that even when things don't go as smoothly as planned, you can always make the neccessary adjustments to reach your goals in life. I've demonstrated through my actions, that success and freedom are both choices. I could allow myself to use my circumstances as an excuse to not be a father or to not continue my education. Instead I choose to use it as my motivation to show my son and all the inmates that I encounter, that life isn't over because of a fall. You can either lay there and wallow in pain or you can get up and continue on to your destination. This situation has taught me things about myself and my character. Despite how many people in society may feel about people in my situation, I can make my life count for something. Nothing I do may not ever satisfy society or the parole board, but I can still put myself in a position where I have value. My circumstances makes me a statistic, another incarcerated black man. While this is certainly shameful because it does not represent who I am, I have made it a point to focus on ways that I can overcome the odds. I'm very active in my communications with my son, highly motivated as an entrepreneur and 100% dedicated as student. It's possible that I never get to use my skills in a typical working environment, but I'm at a place where I understand that college, not only prepares you for a career path, but it equips you with many transferrable skills that prepares you for anything you face in life. I plan to use my education to continue to encourage my son and others to meet their goals. If I can start a business in prison and finish my bachelor's degree then so can the next person. I'm learning to make my mountains my stepping stones. The bigger the challenge to reaching my goals the more motivated I am. Accomplishing the things that many people feel are impossible for me is my driving force. Nothing makes me happier than overly exceeding the expectations of those who feel my goals are beyond my reach.

Best Version of Me I've been incarcerated since 2006, over 16 years ago. Prior to my incarcerated I was a home owner and a Starbucks store manager. I always made education a priority in my life since no one in my family had ever graduated college or reached the level of success that I pictured for myself. I promised myself that I would be the one to set a new standard for our family and would transform myself into a respectable role model for my only son. Only 3 credits away from my degree, in 2004, I proudly walked across the stage at my graduation ceremony, not knowing that future circumstances would prevent me from actually receiving my degree. Eighteen years later, I'm reenrolled in school and highly motivated. Many of the people around me, in similar situations, have given up hope. They sing the same song I once sung about how I'll reach my goals once I'm home. I've been using my experiences to encourage other inmates to work towards reaching their goals now, so that they are better set up for success when that day does arrive. Time doesn't wait for no one. I've learned that, no matter the circumstances, you can apply the same basic rules of success. Standing at the starting point and visualizing or verbalizing your desired outcome won't get you there. While this may be a part of the process, it definitely won't get you to your destination. Destinations are reached by putting one foot forward and following with the next foot. I've continued to work towards my goals despite the challenges and barriers that try to prevent me from reaching success. I understand now that if I continue to put my goals and dreams on hold, then I'm always gonna be just a dreamer. I now use critical thinking skills to set high goals, believe in myself and to stay focused and committed until the end. Many people believe that incarcerated individuals are the rejects of society and don't deserve to live a quality life. I use their disbelief as my motivation and it encourages me to reach goals that I once viewed as challenging. I've learned that freedom and success are both choices. I have already accomplished goals like starting my own business. I plan to use the knowledge that I gain from school and my current circumstances to continue to help motivate other through my actions and accomplishments. I challenge myself to reach all the goals that I set when I was physically free, goals that I felt were no longer attainable. I realize in order to reach any goal it does not require a change of my process. As long as I'm making goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based, then I can apply the basic rules of success to achieving them. I am not limited by my past mistakes or misfortunes. I am not limited by my economic or demographic circumstances. I am not limited by the bars that my family has set for our future or by the bars that have kept me captive all these years. I am only limited by my belief in myself and my willingness to reach greatness. I have an uncontainable desire to not only reach levels of success that are far above what is expected of me as an incarcerated individual, but also far above the initial goals that I set for myself as a free man. Because of that desire, willingness and determination, I am a free. I am free to be the best possible version of me.

How to Convince a Peer to Attend College Going to college is one of the best decisions you can make. Very few things in life give you a better advantage in being successful than a higher education. Education is the keys to success in life. It opens up doors to a brighter future. Countless amounts of research projects have been conducted and resulted in positive findings for the benefits of advanced education. Generally, people with higher educations make overall better informed life decisions and career choices. College teaches you skills that help you to perform better in your career paths and in your general life. College prepares you to survive in an ever changing society by equipping you with the most up-to-date knowledge of the newest technologies, laws, and processes. College helps you to discover the best methods for researching information, retaining knowledge and fully understanding a subject. You not only learn how the find relevant and useful information, but you also learn how to use critical thinking techniques in order to apply the information to your daily life and to get the most out of the information you find. College not only prepares you for a specific career path, but it opens your eyes to a broader employment market and exposes you to career paths you may not have previously considered. It helps society as a whole by developing you into a more productive citizen. People who graduate with at least a bachelor’s degree typically make about $25,000 more annually than people with just a high school diploma. In addition to more money, those with a higher education tend to have a better quality of life. They are more satisfied with their career decisions, more likely to have health insurance and more likely to make education a priority for their kids. Research has shown that educated people read more to their kids and are also more likely to exercise and perform in volunteer work or community events. Educated people are also less likely to commit crimes. College puts you in a diverse environment where you regularly interact with other knowledgeable students and well informed instructors. This professional environment creates an experience that helps students to thrive in group settings and improve their social and team building skills. This setting is similar to what one might encounter in a real work environment and better prepares individuals to perform transferrable skills and professionalism at higher levels. While most people don’t work in their field of study, many of the teachings at the college level prepares students with the knowledge, skills and self-efficacy needed to be successful in our modern world. Not everyone gets a free ride in life. A college education gives you the keys to success and is the driving force that puts you a step ahead of others in both the workplace and in society as a whole. Don’t forget your keys.

I have been incarcerated since 2006, over 16 years ago. Prior to my incarceration, I was was a home owner and a Starbucks store manager. I've been volunteering as a chaplaincy aide for 7 years and also operating a small business for 3 years. In 2004, I was 3 credits away from finishing my Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration on Information Systems. Due to changes in my program, I'm currently 12 credits away from completion. I attended my graduation ceremony, but did not receive my degree before receiving a life sentence. I spent years fighting my case with hopes of coming home to complete my degree, a goal that was always at the forefront of my mind. Many people around me, in similar situations, have given up hope. They sing the same song, I once sung, about how I would reach all of my goals once I made it home instead of striving to reach their goals each day so that they are set up for success when that day does come. Time doesn't stop for anyone but, no matter the situation, the same basic rules of success apply. You'll never reach your goals in life by standing at the starting point, visualizing or verbalizing your desired outcome. While this may be a part of the process, it definitely won't get you to your destination. Destinations are reached by putting one foot forward and following with the next foot. I have continued to move forward despite the challenges I've faced. I understand now that, if I continue to put my goals and dreams on hold, I'll always be just a dreamer. Now I use critical thinking in my everyday life and apply the ABCs method of goal setting by setting high goals, believing in myself, caring and committing and making specific goals. This is my recipe for success, for raising the standard for my son and for proving people wrong who have doubted me. Many people believe that incarcerated individuals are the rejects of society and don't deserve to live a quality life. I use their disbelief as my motivation. It encourages me to reach goals that I once viewed as challenging, even when I was physically free. I've learned that freedom and success are both choices. I plan to use the knowledge that I gain from school to help me improve as a business owner and to become a more productive member of society. I set goals when I was physically free, goals that I had, at one point, felt were no longer attainable. I realize now that in order to reach my goals, it does not require a change of my process. As long as I'm making goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based, then I can apply the basic rules of success to achieve them. I am not limited by my past mistakes or misfortunes. I am not limited by economic or demographic circumstances. I am not limited by the bars that my family have set for our future or by the bars that have kept me captive all these years. I am only limited by my belief in myself and my willingness to reach greatness. I have an uncontainable desire to not only reach levels of success that are far above what is expected of me as an incarcerated individual, but also far above the initial goals that I set for myself as a free man. Because of that desire, willingness and determination, I am a free. I am free to be the best possible version of me.