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Testimonial

“The Prison Education Project was probably my favorite structured extracurricular activity during my college experience – and I think it helped me as much or even more than it helped the inmates that I worked with. Once per week, I dressed in formal, conservative clothing and closed-toed shoes (without any metal pieces) and signed in at the California Rehabilitation Center or California Institution for Women. On the inside, I helped to teach elementary math, professional communication skills, and psychology (including addiction psychology and pharmacology) to inmates who were largely interested and engaged. There were sometimes behavioral disruptions, and continuity with individual inmates was sometimes difficult, but I always felt good about working there. I was able to help inmates get through material in preparation for their GED requirements, and saw some inmates who successfully obtained a GED. I learned the most when inmates contributed thoughts and personal reflections during class discussions. I got to know some of the regular attendees over time, and some shared stories about how they had come to their current situation. I found that many stories were relatable – often very human, with an unfortunate combination of difficult circumstances, sub-ideal insight, and bad luck. The inmates taught me a lot about being human, and as my relationships with them evolved I learned that there is an important difference between holding people accountable for their actions and blaming them in a personal way for their bad decisions – and that difference is compassion. Some five years later, I am entering my final year of medical school and continue to draw on this lesson as I care for patients. Always, the goal is to listen to a patient’s story without judgement or blame, and to meet that patient where they are with compassion. Years ago, I learned how to do this for inmates who sometimes had done things far worse than the drug use, bad habits, and bad decisions that often bring patients to the Emergency Department. I am grateful to the inmates from Chino and Norco who taught me how to withhold personal blame, because my future patients, friends, family, colleagues and I will continue to benefit from this for years to come.”

– Sidrah – Medical Student at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at CWRU

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