I've been combing through some of my old posts and thought I'd share this one again.
It's as if I feel his pain.
Observation Date: September 4, 2009:
Not often—Hell, who am I
fooling? Never before… at least not like this—I’ll get a GED Essay that tugs at
thee ol’ heart strings. Most prisoners prefer the bland essay format of topic
sentence, supporting statements and conclusion told without conviction or
emotional honesty. What you’re about to read is based on the following
question: Discuss an opinion you once held that has now changed. Without
further introduction (and slightly edited) here’s one prisoner’s narrative
essay:
At one time I wanted kids. I had a little girl and I loved her with all my heart. We would do things together. Although she was only 4 years old when she died, she was my life. I didn’t realize until I had lost her in a car accident how much I’d miss her. She and my wife were hit by a drunk driver coming home from a family reunion that I was supposed to attend, but didn’t.
After her death, my wife and I did not get along. We were fighting all the time. I guess I fell out of love with her. Over a period of time, I just didn’t want the hassle, I just didn’t want to invest my energy in our marriage. I didn’t want kids any more. I just couldn’t handle it all.
I wanted to be by myself and do what I wanted to do and without the hassles. What I had always wanted in life I found out I did not want anymore. Now I’m happy I have no one, which is better for me in the long run because I’m messed up myself.
Update:
This prisoner is still in my classroom struggling to earn his GED. He passed
his Language Arts Writing Exam as well as the 3 reading sections (Language Arts
Reading, Science, and Social Studies). He is scheduled for a retake in Mathematics.
He is doing quite well. He has good days and bad days - don't we all? I often
see him standing in the med-lines when I return from lunch.
At one time I wanted kids. I had a little girl and I loved her with all my heart. We would do things together. Although she was only 4 years old when she died, she was my life. I didn’t realize until I had lost her in a car accident how much I’d miss her. She and my wife were hit by a drunk driver coming home from a family reunion that I was supposed to attend, but didn’t.
After her death, my wife and I did not get along. We were fighting all the time. I guess I fell out of love with her. Over a period of time, I just didn’t want the hassle, I just didn’t want to invest my energy in our marriage. I didn’t want kids any more. I just couldn’t handle it all.
I wanted to be by myself and do what I wanted to do and without the hassles. What I had always wanted in life I found out I did not want anymore. Now I’m happy I have no one, which is better for me in the long run because I’m messed up myself.
8 comments:
I worked at a group home for while with a staff member who failed her GED three times. She was functionally illiterate and educationally challenged in other ways, yet she was authorized to pass out meds to the residents and was an exemplary care giver in every way. She was a baby who had a baby with natural maternal instincts, I guess. Maybe your student prisoner will find his niche, too.
Hitting close to home. Thanks for sharing.
Puddin Head
Sometimes even in the hardest of souls there is yet a trace of humanity.
... and sometimes the hardest of souls are not the prisoners and are incapable of showing a trace of humanity.
Wrenching. I'm glad he is still working forward.
JR. Only because they have become engolfed in their narcissism. Nothing or no one else matters. Years of building cocoons. The fuck you what about me generation is upon us. Huck
Hope he is on the next group of testers.
The real deal. MW
It's good you're there to help people like that.
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