September 28, 2012 —By leela.chantrelle I was recently talking to one of my friends that I used to volunteer with about how much she missed going to Cayuga Prison. I know, this doesn't seem real, or reasonable, but for someone who has spent any amount of time in a Cornell Prison Education classroom, it is the truth. Last semester, I kept a diary of my time at Cayuga, a medium security prison, and this semester I find myself finally at Auburn Prison, the "real" deal if you will. Everything from the guards, to the 40 foot wall, to the barbed wire is proof that this prison is a maximum security prison. However, once you get inside the classroom and get to know the students, it's hard to view them as inmates. That being said, I can't describe how it feels to walk across a huge yard listening to thousands of inmates screaming out various things at other CPEP instructors and I. The first time I walked through it this semester, I had to force myself to tune it out. Being a TA in this program is not about judgement but simply about helping people learn. From being harassed on a 3 minute walk through the yard to my class this Wednesday, I've fallen in love with this program. On Wednesday, my amazing instructor let me lead discussion. Little did I know how rewarding the experience would be. We started out with the question of how to participate in discussions and ended up giving each other motivational speeches. One student said he felt nervous talking, and about 15 of the students praised him and made him acknowledge how his presence changes the discussion. My instructor and I have managed to take a group of men who barely know each other and barely knew each other by their yard names, and turn it into a tight knit community. On the drive back from Auburn, I was high. High on the idea that these men didn't even know how close they had grown. People say it's impossible to create camaraderie in a prison. Well, I challenge that idea every Wednesday night in our classroom. I have never felt so sure of my dream to become a college professor, and I strongly urge anyone who likes teaching or even just helping to consider applying to CPEP. I know my life will never been the same now. AND LETS BE EXCITED BECAUSE The fall informational meeting is October 3rd at 430 in McGraw 165! http://cpep.cornell.edu/_Home
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