A Turning Point in My Life
Dailey had the entire school watch. The name of the movie
was Martin Luther King Jr. Watching this movie made me
want to be a quintessential black American. I wanted to
say: “I, too, have a dream of getting my GED.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a benevolent African
American who was a clergyman, activist, and leader in the
American Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King traveled all
around the world using the power of words and acts of
nonviolent resistance, such as protests, grassroots
organizing, and civil disobedience to achieve seemingly
impossible goals. Dr. King risked his life so all Americans
can be free. I made a lot of mistakes in my past. I always
thought my skin is my sin. I knew change was needed in my
life. Watching the movie on Dr. King motivated me to want
to get my GED. It made me realize he opened doors for
African Americans, so we can learn how to read and write
to become doctors, lawyers, motivational speakers, and
writers. If it wasn’t for Dr. King having a dream I wouldn’t
be here today in this classroom reading, writing, and
working hard to get my GED. It’s my dream to become
successful in my life. Black history changed my life for the
better because of Martin Luther King Jr., a benevolent
African American. His dream motivated me to get my GED.
Crystal Gary is a student at Dunbar Community School. Her teacher is
Anna Franta.
Prison: A Turning Point in My Life
Though I would not know it for several weeks after my
arrival, prison has become the turning point in my life.
Prison has been my wake up call. Prison has not been a
bottom to crawl out of. Rather, prison has been a stepping-
stone onto a new foundation of becoming the woman I have
always wanted and have been called to be. Prison has given
me time; time that I more than needed to get right. Prison
has given me time out to focus on myself, my recovery, and
my relationships with God and others. Time to stop, time to
see, time to listen, and time to learn. Prison has been the
beginning of my walk on a new path; full of hopes, dreams,