“How Powerful My Decisions Are”

I'm Ricardo Romero Flores. I have successfully obtained my GED and am currently enrolled at Mercy University. I am participating in the Parenting Program at Osborne and have undergone food service training. Additionally, I have eight years of experience working in a mess hall and have completed vocational training in General Business, as well as AVP levels 1 and 2.

Every day, we make several decisions, some of which are less essential than others. I'm an emigrant from El Salvador, and when I was 23 and immature, I made the worst decision that led to the lowest point in my life.

Obviously, I didn't realize how powerful my decisions were. I termed it a bad decision since I do not consider myself a "criminal," but I am aware of the implications of my actions. Now that I am 36 years old and have served 13 years in prison, I fully understand that our lives are determined by our decisions; a good decision can lead to success, while an unwise decision might lead to our deaths. Paradoxically, this harsh environment assisted me in removing the veil of ignorance that lay over my eyes. In 2016, I discovered an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that a wrong decision does not define me as a person.

After that, I began to make better decisions. I opened the door to education by earning my GED the same year, despite the fact that when I arrived in prison in 2011, I couldn't speak English. This success made me proud of myself, but I also felt I was capable of more. In 2023, I had the opportunity to engage in the MERCY university program. This training is assisting me in expanding my knowledge... but I know I can do more.

Now, as an educated person, I am confident that I deserve a second chance since I believe I now have the full capacity to make better choices. Furthermore, I believe that those who merit it should be given a second chance. For example, while incarcerated, I observed numerous students get their Bachelor's and Master's degrees; during this process, they were pushed to their full potential. They were pushed to overcome their doubts, worries, and limits. Being in this regiment allows us to gain a better understanding of what family, guilt, freedom, and empathy truly means.

We all came to learn something, and I discovered something new: HOW POWERFUL MY DECISIONS ARE.

Written by Ricardo R.