Daniel Varley

I served 8 years and 3 months of a 10-year federal prison sentence. About halfway through I had an awakening, a realization that the prison system was not helping me or those around me. I was lucky enough to have a family member pay for me to take correspondence classes at LSU. I received a Certificate of Human Services the week I was released, obtaining a 4.0 GPA.

After being home for one year I enrolled at an online state university, obtaining my BS in Psychology. I immediately continued with my education and graduated with an MSW, with not quite 4.0 GPA, but happy with a 3.96. Having done this, I was able to pass the state licensing exam to become a Licensed Master of Social Work.

I now have a job that I know I would not have without an education. A job providing direct care clinical services to formerly incarcerated returning citizens for an outpatient clinic at Yale University. Glenn Martin says, "those closest to the problem are closest to the solution, but farthest from resources and power". I believe education helps to lift us into positions where we can influence those with resources and power.