“Mistakes have the power to turn you into
something better than you were before.” Anonymous
The
seeds of change are inside every person. The willpower to change, grow, thrive
and blossom is a personal choice.
I used to be baffled whenever I heard somebody
say that “people don’t change,” but then I understood that those who make such
comments are projecting their own self-imposed limitations and insecurities onto
others.
Notes from The Pen, by Jacob Keiter, is a
collection of essays and poems about the days of his life in prison. He wrote most
of these essays while he was in Schuylkill Federal Correction Institution in
Pennsylvania. Drugs and alcohol had led him to make bad choices that landed him
in jail. The circumstances of his arrest are described in the book.
His arrest was a turning point in his life;
he committed to become the best person he could possibly be. Amid the despair
of the situation he found himself in, he drew strength and hope from his wife’s
love, and both turned to their faith to move forward.
“As I
sat in a jail cell I began to reflect on the decisions I made that led to the
situation at hand. After my mind was fully cleared from the drugs I was finally
ready to let that lifestyle go. After a few weeks of sitting in a cell I was
granted pre-trial bail to attend a therapeutic community. Immediately after I
completed the program I was indicted by the federal government.”
On January 18, 2018 he had to self-surrender
into prison. It was one of the toughest days of his life:
“As my
wife drove me to the facility, we held hands the entire car ride, not wanting
to let go of the present in fear of what the future may hold.”
It was interesting to read about the effects
of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prison system. Jacob was thankful for the fact
that he was offered the vaccine soon enough, but he was also shocked to learn
that many inmates refused to get vaccinated; they did not trust the vaccine.
Conspiracy theories spread like wildfire in the prison setting. Eager to follow the CDC guidelines, Jacob was
disappointed that others did not care to take the necessary precautions,
risking the health of others.
Jacob
cultivated various talents during his stay in prison. Unlike other inmates who
spent time watching TV, he preferred to write regularly and he endeavored to
strengthen his emotional, mental, physical and spiritual health. In doing so, he
supported others as well.
In his book he mentions that there is a kind
of established racial segregation in the way inmates are expected to interact
with each other, and I feel he could have elaborated further on this issue to
delve into the repercussions of this.
Jacob worked for an electronics recycling
factory 40 hours a week. There is a special program that allows inmates to
develop work skills for successful re-entry, and he excelled at it. Even though
he only earned 1.15 dollars per hour, he valued the experience and expertise he
gained from it.
What makes his style of writing so
compelling and engaging is his honesty. I think this story will inspire others
to make good choices to rebuild their lives. Every reader, regardless of their situation, will feel the warmth of hope in the message he offers.
The four years he spent in jail were not easy, but they became the foundation of his wisdom and resilience. From the vicissitudes of prison life, he forged a new path, one that would enable him to become the best version of himself.
Throughout his ordeal Jacob always counted on his wife's love and steady support.
At the time of his release his words convey how his appreciation for freedom had
acquired a new dimension:
“I will
no longer take for granted the little things that make up my daily life. I will
appreciate every second spent with my wife. I will cuddle my rabbit until she
has had enough and kicks away from me, and I will soak up the fresh air around
me. I have a newly found high appreciation and a new personal meaning for the
word ‘freedom’. As of today, everything I’ve been preparing for officially
begins. I can finally be the friend, brother, son and husband that those who
love me deserve for me to be.”
