P2CP Testimonials
WHAT OUR OTISVILLE P2CP STUDENTS ARE SAYING:
“Being in the P2CP program has changed my life. Being around my classmates, in and out, has made me want to become a better man and take life more seriously. College has opened my eyes to different avenues. I know this is crazy, but I look forward to the long study hours when I enroll, because I know I’ll be fulfilling a life-long dream.” ~ Robert
“When I received my acceptance letter into this program I literally cried. I cried because education has been the trajectory toward my rehabilitation. Education is not an option; it is my new way of life. I can’t wait to get out and go to John Jay College. I thank all the students for taking on this project and seeing beyond my current residence and seeing me for who I am, and for the potential John Jay student I intend to be.” ~ Kenneth
“These sessions have been instrumental to my personal growth. These men and women who have taken time out of their lives to interact with us, to help in the shaping of ideas and attitudes without being condescending, have been a blessing.” ~ Theron
WHAT OUR JOHN JAY STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT LEARNING EXCHANGES:
“My time in the P2CP has taught me that if you show people you have faith in them and that you know they can do well, it unleashes a drive that they may not have realized existed within themselves. Without hesitation I can say that this has been the most rewarding and eye-opening experience of my academic career. Who knows? Maybe one day I can help expand the program or even help to create others.” ~ Eileen
“Throughout the learning exchange, I sat in a classroom filled with intellectuals, a setting that was completely identical to my daily classroom lectures in college. My learning exchange experience was exhilarating. In one day, I have learned as much as I would have learned in half a semester.” ~ Todd
“Throughout the discussions I kept asking myself, ‘How did these guys end up in this place?’ I cannot explain it, but when it was time to leave and I walked out that room, something in me felt very different. There was a mixture of excitement, a newfound understanding, and inspiration. It felt great being there contributing something to helping these inmates who seem to want a new change if given another chance.” ~ Patrick
WHAT OUR P2CP FACULTY IS SAYING:
“My semester teaching English 101 in the Prison-to-College Pipeline has been the most rewarding I have had in over a decade of college-level education. The students were stupendously motivated, intellectually hungry, and passionate about knowledge and self-improvement. They came to class armed with studied opinions about the texts; they valued the environment of free-flowing ideas and were eager to challenge themselves, others and me. At the close of the semester, I was both pleased and proud to give out the highest, well-earned grades I have ever bestowed on any college class. I can honestly say that the last day of class was harder for me than it was for them: I did not want my semester of teaching these model students to end.” ~ Professor Baz Dreisinger, Associate Professor of English
“From the beginning of our conversation the inmates showed an intense curiosity supplemented by astute comments and the kind of enthusiasm only the best learners exhibit. What became clear was that their life experiences gave them a capacity and depth of understanding rarely found in traditional college students. By the end of the session I realized that these students were not only exceptional readers and thinkers, but poised to be serious contributors to society.” ~ Professor Richard Perez, Assistant Professor of Latino/a Studies and English
“Teaching in the P2CP program reminded me of one of the fundamental reasons I became a teacher in the first place. My experiences also confirmed for me what I continue to know to be true, despite so many of the naysayers who warned me against teaching in a prison: That the classroom is a sacred space. Despite the inequity in our relationship, inquisitiveness, hard work, self-discovery, and a willingness to be self-critical were shared, and I was grateful to be included in that collaboration.” ~ Professor Jean Mills, Assistant Professor of English