Prison Is Not a Prison

When the doors first closed behind me, it felt like my life had ended. The silence was heavy, the days painfully long, and the walls seemed to whisper that I was trapped forever. But with time, I began to see things differently. Prison is not always a prison in the way people imagine; it can also be a mirror. A place for reflection. A space where you are forced to ask yourself, "Who do I want to become after this?"

Being incarcerated does not have to mean the end of the world. For some, it can mark a new beginning, a chance to rebuild, to grow, and to rewrite their story. Within those walls, there are opportunities to learn skills, embrace discipline, and prepare for a future that once seemed impossible.

Take Jose, for example. When he first entered prison, he believed he had lost everything. But instead of giving in to despair, he signed up for the cooking classes offered inside. Day after day, he practiced, experimented, and discovered a joy he had never known before, the joy of creating something with his own hands. Yet freedom brought new challenges. When Jose walked out of those gates, he quickly learned that reintegration is never easy. The stigma of having been to prison followed him everywhere. Finding a job was almost impossible. Doors closed in his face before he could even prove himself.

But Jose’s story did not end there. The culinary skills he had gained inside became his lifeline. With the support of a family member who believed in him, he started a small food business. What began with simple meals shared among neighbors gradually evolved into something more substantial. Today, Jose owns a thriving restaurant, employs people who, like him, need a second chance, and mentors young people so they don’t repeat his mistakes. His journey teaches us something vital: society has a powerful role to play in helping former prisoners reintegrate. If we choose to stigmatize them, to deny them opportunities, we risk pushing them back toward the very paths that led them to prison in the first place. But if we extend a hand, if we provide support, education, and jobs, we open the door for transformation

Not everyone inside those walls is guilty of the crimes for which they were convicted.Prison can break you, or it can build you. The choice starts with the individual, but it does not end there. Society must also choose: to judge, or to give people a chance to rise again.Because even behind bars, wings can be found, and with the right support, they can carry someone higher than anyone ever expected.

Joanna Adams