-Freddy, San Quentin State Prison, CA
As a kid growing up and hearing stories from other classmates and seeing their family show up and cheer them on, I thought I was completely different. It made me sad to not be normal as I saw my classmates and friends.
Growing up in foster care, I had to make up stories to sound normal in front of my peers. I finally got a family member to show up for something I did in a positive way. It felt good to see my cousin see me dancing and having fun in a good way, while in prison and being in that moment.
Even though I am doing this life term, my cousin Lexi came and saw me and was there. It was something that I longed for as a child growing up different in the foster care system. I got that sense of being normal and not different at the age of thirty-three years old. It felt good.