by Tekia R. Huger-Burton, LBSW
I want to suppose that I grew up in an honest, well-rounded household with all of the love, care, and emotional help wanted to thrive. I bear in mind my mother at all times telling me that I could possibly be something I needed to be, as long as I attempted and at all times was the most effective at no matter I made a decision to do. These notions resonated with me all through life, in good and dangerous occasions.
Throughout my elementary years, I used to be always on the respect roll, examined for the mentally gifted class, made it by means of rounds of spelling bees, and even examined into the second finest center faculty, lacking the #1 faculty by three factors in math. Then, sadly, my father died after I was 9 years outdated and beginning center faculty. My grandmother informed me, “You modified. You grew to become darkish since your father’s demise.” Though I had no clue of what she meant on the time, wanting again, I can see the developments that started my spiral.
I used to be a single teenage mum or dad by age 15. I dropped out of faculty within the tenth grade, started experimenting with medication, and frolicked with all of the flawed crowds. By 18, I used to be launched to the prison justice system (CJS). Life as I knew it gave the impression to be over, as a result of having a prison file—particularly one with felony convictions—creates a lifelong stigma. The invisible bars of a prison file shut so many doorways and prohibit the entry wanted to outlive.
So as to add to my record of unlucky obstacles, I misplaced my mom after I was 25 years outdated, and she or he had three teenaged kids at the moment. I raised my siblings together with my daughter. I dropped the ball in some unspecified time in the future. A minimum of that’s how I felt. I began utilizing harsher medication that despatched me by means of the CJS once more like a revolving door. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than I knew that this was not the life that I needed or the life that my household would have appreciated for me.
I selected to combat at that time in my life, and I’ve been preventing ever since. I fought urges to make use of. I fought to take the robust highway. I fought to clear my title. And extra lately, I fought for the chance to take the social work licensure examination.
No matter my preventing, I had a label that will hold me from getting jobs, even after receiving a suggestion. As an illustration, I used to be interviewed for the 2nd-Third shift by a workforce of 4 individuals, and earlier than I left, they determined to rent me on the spot. I used to be sincere about my previous. They despatched me for urinalysis, which I handed, they usually agreed that whereas they had been nonetheless interviewing, they’d begin me on first shift as a lead-technician. To cite them, “You’re precisely the kind of particular person we need to interact with our purchasers.” I labored for 9 hours earlier than human sources knowledgeable me I couldn’t hold the job.
I additionally recall working for a name middle after I lived in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. I appreciated my job, my high quality assurance was 99%, and I might typically work 12-hour days. It was time for the spring semester, so I talked to my supervisor about taking day off to return to high school. He defined that I didn’t have sufficient time to request a go away, however I may put in two weeks’ discover, and he would rent me after I got here again in Could. He did rehire me with out hesitation. I bear in mind sitting by means of the week-long coaching reciting the closing script, as a result of I by no means forgot it. That following Monday, the eighth workday, I used to be referred to as into the workplace and informed that they needed to let me go due to my prison historical past. I pleaded that nothing was new and mentioned that my background was the identical because the final time I labored there. He informed me that the corporate had new house owners, and it was out of his fingers. I left with my head down, and I cried as I walked residence.
The oppression didn’t cease there. I had an identical expertise whereas pursuing my training in social work. I graduated Summa Cum Laude within the BSW program however was requested about my prison historical past to attend the identical faculty for the MSW program. I didn’t keep quiet in regards to the query on the College’s graduate faculty utility, and due to that, I now intern as a Analysis Assistant with the Clear Slate Initiative.
Despite the fact that there have at all times been bumps, potholes, and typically sinkholes in my path, I by no means gave up heading towards the path of betterment. Some ways can result in the specified vacation spot, and I’m a testomony to that. With the help of co-workers, scientific supervisors, and professors who helped me strengthen my voice and platform alongside the way in which, my objectives seem in nearer vary now. Whereas the group didn’t volunteer to rebuild as they do with a twister’s aftermath, I discovered that I needed to accumulate my community of help. I stored in contact with these in positions the place I aspire to be. I need to emphasize the laborious work and self-navigation that I used to be doing already. I used to be decided to make it, regardless, however they determined to develop into my allies and help me when individuals noticed that in me.
I additionally returned the favor by inspiring these coming behind me. I’ve labored with individuals who use medication for near 10 years now, and my new purpose is to show future social work college students whereas opening my very own restoration home for ladies with older kids. By my years of labor, I met and related with individuals who noticed the most effective in me, supported my progress, and empowered me as I navigated my new lifestyle.
Some advocated on my behalf and used their place and standing to help me in my endeavors. They took the time to assist me notice my price and helped me perceive my full potential. These individuals didn’t stroll in my sneakers, however they cared sufficient about my state of affairs to assist me do one thing about it. If you make connections like that, you maintain on to them, and in paying it ahead, I might be an ally and advocate for others.
Then, some noticed me as an undeserving ex-con. They didn’t care to permit me to be an asset to their group, and for years, that very idea made it really feel like I lived in a world with invisible bars. Regardless of being “free” from the jail cell, there have been so many issues simply out of my grasp that made me really feel like I used to be nonetheless in jail.
I meant to offer a message immediately. That message is that all of us have a previous. It might assist us work out a greater future, but it surely ought to by no means get in the way in which of evident progress. For those who really feel hindered or a barrier or unexpected pressure pushes in opposition to you, I urge you not to surrender. As an alternative, combat an excellent combat and accumulate some allies alongside the way in which. You’ll by no means understand how far you’ll be able to go should you give in to the established order. It’s by no means too late to develop into an ally, to assist another person attain their vacation spot.
Equally vital is my message to those that hold us down or maintain us again from reaching our full potential. It’s not too late for you, both. Simply as individuals with a prison file deserve a second likelihood, so do the people who find themselves not keen to permit us to develop into higher individuals. Once more, it’s not too late so that you can develop into an ally.
This story is just not solely my story. It’s the story of too many individuals who made errors. I relentlessly fought for myself in order that maybe they must combat rather less.
Tekia R. Huger-Burton, LBSW, is a devoted lifelong learner. She is a complicated standing MSW scholar at West Chester College. She has a ardour for serving to individuals transition from laborious to secure occasions.
