Prison Journalism: My life works in 12s

Prison Journalism: My life works in 12sWesley Leong was incarcerated at the age of 15 in 1996 at Pollsmoor Prison. He is currently part of Restore's research and reintegration project.

by Wesley Leong

11-04-2024 13:58

in Prison Journalism

Prison

Image via pexels

Over my entire life, I have had so many ups and downs in the situations I find myself in, whether in my personal, private life. I made the discovery, realizing that there is a special type of numerology at play. Things ALWAYS take a turn for either the worse or the better.

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12 Years Ago So, it's been 12 years since something really drastic happened to me. I won't mention too much in detail, but basically, it's 12 years on from then, so I am expecting something remarkable to happen this year, 2024! I know it will be something amazing, as I don't believe that life can throw me a curveball of the same degree twice. Something has to give.

My Personal Pledge I want to let you know that I will make a pledge that no matter what happens or transpires from this, I will change somebody's life around. Since the day I turned my life around, all I ever wanted to do was help another person establish the point of change in their life. It really is an out-of-this-world feeling, realizing the power that you possess and stepping out of the dark and into the light. THIS IS MY PROMISE!

Maybe The World Will Be A Better Place If the world's trillionaires or tycoons can sacrifice 1% of just one month's salary, did you know that the world can be a better place? Things like poverty and suffering will disappear; there will be nobody suffering, and certainly, I don't believe that there will be a huge influx of offenders.

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I believe one day we will accomplish what we have set out to do or, at the least, started the ball rolling in that direction of change. Just like I believe that the youth will have accepted the knowledge and wisdom, not to follow just what they see in their lives and community. Gangsterism and violence should not be accepted as a choice of life.

My life walk so far has not been one of glory; however, it has been a life of learning how life works on both ends. I also had the blessing of changing my life from a life of crime and gangsterism to a life of good and part of a new perspective. A perspective that I believe will help others not to live the life I did.

DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

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Should you wish to assist in the rehabilitation of former inmates and help put money into the pockets of those who have struggled to earn a living during and after incarceration, click HERE

RESTORE is an NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa, providing inmates at Pollsmoor Prison with restorative justice opportunities.

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