GROWING FAST

The little boy's life was really starting to take off now though, because he was about to enter the "real house," the "big house,' and not the one that he saw mom and dad in every morning. He received all of the rewards for the choices he made in his life. He wondered if it was all worth it. Was it worth it? That's a good question. I'll answer that for you- being in prison is one iof the most miserable places a person would ever want to be in. Nothing you could have is worth one night of being in prison. The "slick" or "cool" about being in prison. The "slick" or "cool" ones are "out there" with their families and friends, NOT SITTING IN PRISON LOOKING DUMB. I say, "looking dumb" because that's how you're going to be looking. Being away from your parents and your family will hurt you more than anything you could imagine. Just think about someone telling you .when to eat, .when to go to bed, .if you didn't get your G.E.D or high school diploma, they make you go to school, .if you want to go to the store to buy some food or hygiene stuff, they only let you shop only once a week.
It gets better than that, because you will be around some of the nastiest, greediest, dirtiest, disrespectful, uncaring, unfriendly, and murderous people in the world. That's most of the people in these places. All of the things that you see on TV and in the movies about prison are true. People get stabbed, busted in the head, and get into fights over little or nothing. You can lose your life over a "book" of 42 cent stamps (stamps are money in here.) I know it sounds crazy, but that's prison life and it's real. There is negative tension around you most of the time and you can get into any gang you want to and go to the place of nowhere! That's what you get out of the prison life.
The biggest thing about all of this is that you still have the try to make choices in life despite all of that negativity. Because that's what you're going to get when you make it to the "big world" (of "big house" or whatever you want to call it), it's a negative place to be. So, if you come here because of your choices, don't think you're coming to a happy hang-out house with your homeboys. When you get around most of your homeboys, if you don't have something to give them, they usually act like they don't even know you.
I gets better than that! If you like working, it won't be a problem finding a job, because they will MAKE YOU (yes,make you) work, and the pay is not all that bad- 12 cents an hour. THIS IS THE REAL DEAL OF PRISON LIFE. The one second it took to make a bad choice can get you this kind of life. Is it worth it? I'll let you decide. I know this- the little boy wishes he could turn back the hands of time and make his choices over again! The little boy of our story missed being a child. He just many people along the way....parents, family, children,and friends, as well as other families. He tried to grow up too fast, going out there and trying to "get life," but life doesn't work that way, it comes to you in due time.
The little boy is now a grown man and a grandfather. He knows that every child loves their mom and dad, but what about him? The grown man hasn't seen his parents in person for 20 years all because of the choices he made in his life. Sadly, he will never get to see his father. His father passed away in 2008 at the age of 78. His mom is still holding on at the age of 80. He feels so sad and hurt sometimes. He does miss his mother an that hurts him so much he can't even put it into words. It hurts him because he hurt them because of the choices he made in life to get himself where he is now- prison. He loves mom very much, but he can only call her on the telephone. Is that what he wants? no, but the choice was his. The man know that other boys and girls have the chance to be something in life. You can make him proud for being better and smarter than he was or you can go to prison like him and join the dumb-dumb club.
PART 4........EDUCATION
"EDUCATION"
This one of the most important steps in our life. To be successful in life, you need an education. Without one, your chances of being successful in any way are slim to none. One thing about life is -WE HAVE A CHANCE TO BE ANYTHING WE WANT TO BE IN LIFE. With an education on your side, you could be the next president Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. Whoever or whatever you may want to be in life, the sky is the limit.
Growing up as a child, school can be fun. As time goes on, it starts to get a little harder and the fun is gone. That's when the negativity starts to set in, because some children start to feel the same way. Once the fun of learning leaves them, what do you do? It all starts with what your parents taught you.
Everything in life is not east, so use your brain and ask yourself, "will this choice benefit me?" The result of good choices and an education is a career, less problems and less pain in your life. So, we need to find ways to keep school fun and enjoyable, so it will be successful for you. Don't forget- THE FRIENDS YOU HANG AROUND WITH NEED TO BE THE POSITIVE ONES. If you are willing to put in the time, keep focused, and stay positive, YOU CAN'T GO WRONG. Friends with a positive attitude are the ones you need to keep in your company. Any other kind of friend will take you downhill, trust me. If you don't believe me, they have a room in the "big house" for whoever wants to go down the negative road. DON'T BECOME A NUMBER, that's all you will ever be to them. Everything you wear in prison will have your id number on it, not your name.
IT'S UP TO YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE. Don't take short cuts in life, because they don't pay off! Some things in life are hard for us, and we have to give in a little, BUT NEVER GIVE UP. As long as you keep a positive attitude, and keep fighting, you have a chance at a good life. Always keep in mind that THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR YOU, and you can go as far as you want to. It's up to you, because YOU CONTROL YOUR OWN DESTINY. So get out there and make your parents proud of you....you owe them that much!
The little boy that you have been reading about is me, Antonio T. Barnes, (a.k.a. Bird). I've written this little story about my life because i want the young child reading this to be a better person than i was and to make better choices in life. I hurt my parents very deeply, even though they have taught me to be 10 times better than the choices that i have made in life. They did their part at home with me.....the rest is on me. For the last 22 years I've been paying for the bad choices I've made in life. Did i know better? Of course i knew better, just like you know better. But the hurt goes on from me to my parents to my family, children, friends, and other families.
I am a good person. I'm fun, loving, caring, and all the rest that goes along with being a good person;n, i just made some bad choices in life. Because of those choices i have to pay the price for the choices i made. I was sentenced to life plus 3 years in prison for my brim -conspiracy to commit murder. I had one big problem and knew better. I looked up to the WRONG role models, and that's where i went wrong i had the best role models in the world rightly in from of me every day - my parents, but i looked to others instead my parents taught me the RIGHT things and the RIGHT choices to make in life, the rest was on me. I was looking to the streets for my role model and i got all the wrong things that go with the streets.
If you're in those streets, I'm here to tell you- YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO GET OUT OF THEM. This story is REAL and prison is the prize you have waiting on you. It is a might mare. Trust me, I've been there and I'm still here even after 22 years. I get to see the parole board in less than a year. What that means to me is i get to see if they will possibly let me go home to be with my 80 year old mother. God willing, they will give me a second chance at life. If they do and I'm allowed to do so, I'll be going to schools and girls and boys clubs so i can share my story with young people. The other thing that could happen is that there is another plan for me and i don't get out of prison. If so, i have to live with their decision and i will continue to try to help the young guy behind these walls! As you have tead, when i was younger, Istarted hanging with the negative crowd in school. I knew better, but i just wanted to fit in. I started "playing hooky", and before long, i started to not like school, because it wasn't fun anymore. Since i didn't go, i lost out on a child's education, it should have been one of the best times of my life. I have "gotten my house in order"- meaning my head. It took me coming to prison to get an education.
I can proudly say that I've gotten an education and I'm still getting it. It might be in prison, but i can proudly say that i have mine and can produce them as well.
I have received:
.my G.E.D., .E.P.A. license under the clean air section 609 mo tore vehicle E.P.A. 608 technical, . HVAC levels 1,2,3, and 4 licenses, . carpentry license levels 1 and 2, construction craft laborer one, . Residential Carpentry 1 and 2 under the national center for construction education and research affiliated with the university of Florida, .serve safe certification, food protection manager certification examination by the national restaurant association, .I have certification in handling of bio hazard waste disposal and blood-borne pathogens clean- up and i am certified to handle the blood spill clean- up kit and the disposal of same, by the university of Texas medical branch at Galveston, .I'm certified under occupational safety and health training course by the U.S. department of labor, .I'm certified in soldering under mile standard 2000, .I was certified under the napoleon hill foundation in 1990 as an instructor and i teach "keys to success, 17 personal achievements", .I have recently graduated from a culinary arts program.
Culinary arts is a trade that i truly love. I must stop here and thank my teacher, instructor, and mentor- Chef David Bishop. Chef Bishop gave me the inspiration to continue to do something i really love and i excel in- baking and cake decoration. He deserves a very special thank you for showing me anything i needed and helping me, any way he could. He has always been there for me. Chef Bishop encouraged me always and often told me, "it might be your calling." I can proudly say that i got my certification from century college in culinary arts and restaurant management. I look back over the years that have passed and i never thought in a life time that i could have achieved the things i have. I guess that goes to show you, IF I CAN DO IT,after the life i was into, ANYONE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE! This is something i have wanted to do for many years now, and i had to be honest and truthful with other and myself. The meaningful thing is having your own "house in order" before trying to help others. I can honestly say that "my house is in order," and i can help others make the right choices. I pray that whoever reads this comes away with something positive and "does it better than i did." That's how you can make me proud of you. Always remember- "THINK BEFORE ACTING." Follow this one simple bit of advice, and YOU'LL WIN IN LIFE EVERY TIME.