Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 29.41/42
We welcome back you readers to another great double dose edition of the one and only The Beat Within. Yes, people, this week, you guys are privy to some great writing from our contributors young and OG’s, and you won’t be disappointed. It’s OT again giving you guys the message of the day, message of the week or message of the month. Once again, I’m going to give you my perspective on the slew of our writing topics. First off, by the time this publication reaches your hand it will be close to Halloween. Many of us grew up, trick-O-treating,
Continue ReadingA Broken Immigration System
-JJ, San Diego “A broken immigration system means broken families and broken lives.” -Jose Antonio Vargas Yes, a broken immigration system does break families. If a woman’s husband is deported and they have children, she often has to work and cannot take care of her kids because she relies on her husband to provide for the family. The immigration system fails to recognize that many of these families are hardworking and just trying to live right. They allow people with criminal backgrounds in but don’t give hardworking individuals a second chance. They also don’t seem to acknowledge that Hispanics work
Continue ReadingSpread Your Wings
-JSM, Sonoma What I would tell my younger self is to enjoy school, be involved in the community, and to be yourself. I would tell myself to not be scared to choose a path in life as long as it’s a good, successful path. Go on forward, and don’t be scared to face your fears and challenges. One last thing I would tell my younger self is to make wise choices, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or take another step forward to better yourself in any way. Don’t be scared to spread your wings.
Continue ReadingDeveloping a Healthy Life Plan Helps Me
-Johnny Rodriguez, Stockton, CA Developing a healthy life plan helps me stay the course of my personal short and long term goals. Realizing that I am responsible for a realistic healthy life plan empowered me to be accountable and not circumvent my accountability or responsibility for my healthy life plan. Healing my mind of ignorance and the spirit of indecisiveness lets me think out a realistic plan, especially more than one addiction to manage my recovery cultivating my sane judgment and not deviating from reality. Becoming educated was key within drawing upon healthy mental insight to think out a plan
Continue ReadingWe Are All Unique
-Ricky Kong, San Quentin State Prison, CA “Every single year, we’re a different person. I don’t think we’re the same person all of our lives.”-Steven Spielberg So true! My body takes longer to recover, I am getting wrinkles, and white hair starts filling my head. I don’t look the same! The way I think, and value has changed. I am not the same person, as I was yesterday. As a human being we are evolving physically, mentally, and spiritually. We never stop learning. In each moment of our lives, we face many challenges and opportunities. These moments allow us to
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Volume 29.39/40
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 29.39/40
Welcome readers! To another fantastic double edition of the one and only The Beat Within. We are still going strong getting the issue out to you all, as quickly as possible every other week. First of all, I would like to extend a warm embrace to all you participants that are a part of our writing community, from all the editors, volunteers, typists, teachers, counselors, and to all the participants both youth and adults that step up to the plate speaking your truths, week in and week out. This is to all of you that make The Beat Within happen.
Continue ReadingSharing What I Got
-A, San Francisco One thing that makes me feel good about helping is when I help my friends while we are locked up. If I’m able to get something from the staff, I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. I like to give something to my friends. Even if I’m not very close with someone, I still like to share what I got because at the end of the day, even though some people are going through more than others, we are all in a similar situation while we are locked up. Everyone is going through something. Whether it’s some
Continue ReadingHoping for Another Chance
-JR, Albuquerque How my life changed after coming to JDC was it all happened so quickly, like in a blink of an eye. The day when everything happened, that’s when I started fighting for my freedom. The first few months here were stressful, overthinking my situation. The food in here is horrible. I’m barely getting used to it till this day. After one year still here, I am waiting to go home to have freedom and to spend time with my family. I will never give up to get a second chance in life. Day by day, I try to
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