Dear student editor,
I am writing this letter in hopes to better and further my education through your school.
As you can see, I am currently serving time for my crime in society. Upon serving this sentence I dedicated myself to teaching myself GED and discovered writing is a talent I never knew I had. Due to the penal system, after you obtain your GED the system does not allow inmates to further their education to a collegiate level. I am self-teaching because of the overcrowding, and because of the need for schooling the penal system is short on staff. I choose not to let this discourage me in obtaining my GED or stop me from expanding my writing. I have a strong will to succeed but no family or friends to share my new change and outlook on life because of this time I’m serving.
“Out of sight, out of mind” is what I’ve become. I spend my time studying and writing my third novel. I have no one in society to help push me forward with my writing, in my studies and trying to become college material, or just to say, “hello, we care.” I don’t ever plan on coming back to prison or following the wrong path I once chose. I am a young man with a strong will to progress, but I am in need of someone willing to help me. I hope you could find it in your heart to publish this letter in the campus paper so I can grab hold of a helping hand. I know the students can help me in furthering my education and writing. I know they wouldn’t mind helping the unfortunate. I hope to hear from the students or campus; I need someone to reach out to help me fulfill my dream.
I thank you for your time in this matter.
-Arron A. McClain, Clinton Correctional Facility, P.O. Box 20001, Dannemora, NY 12929