From Solitary Confinement in Prison
to UC Berkeley.
“The qualities that get people into prison may not be so different from the ones that get them into college.” Those are the words of Danny Murillo, who spent much of his life in prison, including many years in solitary confinement. I found out about him while reading an article in The New Yorker, “Out and Up” by Larissa MacFarquhar.
Murillo was born in the United States in 1979. Both of his parents came from Mexico. At fifteen, he was selling crack cocaine. Soon after he was arrested for kidnapping, carjacking and robbing a drug dealer. He was tried as an adult and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. As a validated gang member, he was put in solitary confinement, where he spent five years from 2005 to 2010. To help rehabilitate inmates in solitary confinement, and to not lose their minds, jail authorities put a box filled with books in the cell. After reading mostly fiction books, he had a conversation with an inmate in another cell, who encouraged him to read other, more substantive books. Though he never finished high school, reading help him discover a world he never knew existed. After reading “The 48 Laws of Power”, he thought, “Yo, I’m gonna be a fxxxing smart-ass criminal. When I go home, I’m gonna set up this drug empire and I’m gonna fxxxing make bank.””. But then, he read about Zen Buddhism, which made him feel that he didn’t need money anymore. After reading more, he decided that he wanted to get out of prison and to stay out. To get credentials, he started to take courses by mail. Another inmate there agreed to tutor him with math. They worked for two hours after dinner nearly every day for nine months, while yelling back and forth to each other from their cells. After Murillo was released from prison, he enrolled in Cerritos College. Now, he is a student at UC Berkeley.
There he met another fellow who had a similar background. Together they decided to create the “Underground Scholars Initiative”, an organization, which helps people like themselves, who are still in the prison systems or released, to become educated members of society, and never go back.
Our brain is very powerful and flexible at the same time. You might have heard of the expression “GIGO” – garbage in, garbage out. I am changing this expression into different “GIGO” – good in, good out. Regardless where you want to be in life, it requires effort. You just have to make a decision. Reading books might help (especially if it is “42 Encounters in San Francisco”)
A while back, I made a decision to put together a photo-story book to help bring a smile to your face. This was quite an effort on my side. Your share is much easier. Just go on Amazon.com, type “42 Encounters in San Francisco” or my name and voilà, a few days later you will have it at your door. If you haven’t made up your mind, and still need presents for the holiday, please READ the reviews of some of my readers.
William Miller
“This little gem was a pleasure to read. I enjoyed the excellent photos of San Francisco accompanied with thoughtful commentary interspersed with pearls of wisdom. This would make a great Holiday gift for family and friends.”
Vivian Holley
“There is something in this little gem for everyone. It is whimsical yet serious, beautiful yet it’s our city – everyday. It is eye opening and most of all, Enjoyable!”
Enjoy and Share with a friend on Facebook.
P.S. I decided to share with four images that for various reasons did not end up in this book.
Do Not Keep Me As A Secret!
Smile And Please SHARE It With A Friend!
Cheers,
