Better Able to Forgive

My name is Samuel Roberts, also known as ‘Shakey.’ 

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I’ve been on a lifelong journey in the Florida Department of Corrections. I’m at the tail end of parole-eligible inmates. They say that forty years is the magic number — the key to freedom. At this time, I’ve got forty years on the head. 

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I’ve attended as many self-betterment classes as I could, but the Trauma-Informed Correctional Care (TICC) class has taught me a lot about myself. 

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I’ve been able to apply the breathing and pausing exercises during encounters with others. I’m better able to forgive — not just others — but myself. 

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I now understand that many things that happened to me throughout life were not my fault. I now have a better outlook on life and I’m ready to show the world that I am worthy of freedom. 

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Thank you all for the time and energy you’ve put into helping me become a better person.

 

— Samuel “Shakey” Roberts 

 

I See That I Can Change

DC #318287 

“Thank you Mr. Johnson for bringing light into my world. 

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I now know that before I react to a situation I need to pause and then respond. If I don’t change my thinking, I will be destined to return to prison. 

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Now I have more tools in my toolbox to help me in the new life I am being given. I’ve learned from the class why I do the things I shouldn’t do. 

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I can now see that I can change. I am not a lost cause. 

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I hope and pray that you continue bringing this opportunity to others again and again.

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— Jon Faulkner 

 

Awareness Creates Choices

By participating in Life to the Brim, I’ve taken to heart what I’ve learned. 

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First, I discovered that it’s not my fault that I adopted a negative lifestyle in my teen years. Generational curses can affect our lives, but the only way for them to stop is for someone to break the cycle. 

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I never met my biological father growing up. When I was ten years old, I finally met him, hoping he would be happy to see me. Instead, I heard the words that haunted me for years: 

‘I don’t have a son. Get out of here.’ 

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That moment stayed with me for most of my life. 

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Through this class I realized that the pain I carried wasn’t my fault, and it wasn’t something I had to carry forever. 

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I learned about triggers, awareness, and self-talk. Awareness creates choices. 

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Today I make different choices when I encounter difficult situations. 

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I am a new creature in Christ, and wherever God places me is where I am meant to be. 

The generational curse stops with me. My children and my children’s children will know their lives are blessings from God.

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— Phillip Stafford

 

I Learned to Forgive Myself

My testimony is simple when it comes to the TICC class. 

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This journey empowered me with the information I needed to progress further into my life. I’m where I need to be right now. 

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The things I’ve been through in life were not my fault, and understanding that allowed me to lift the weight I had been carrying for years. 

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I learned to forgive myself and forgive those who passed generational pain down to me. 

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Forgiveness is the key to overcoming the negative things we’ve been through. 

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Today I have self-control. I can recognize the signs when something isn’t right. I’ve been empowered with tools to control myself and respond to situations in a healthier way. 

I can now handle the trials and tribulations of life much better.

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— Timothy Mace 

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Identify My Weaknesses

My name is Antonio Carter. 

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First, I want to thank everyone for being here. It takes real people who truly care about others to take time out of their lives to help someone else succeed. 

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The TICC class helped me in more ways than one. 

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It helped me identify my weaknesses, especially when it comes to being a father to my eighteen-year-old daughter. 

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Not only can I identify those weaknesses now, but I’ve been given the tools to overcome them. 

I hope that I can break the generational curse that has been passed down through my family. 

This class helped me become the man — and father — my daughter needs in her life.

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— Antonio Carter 

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He is Not Fake

Mr. Johnson, 

I serve as the chaplain’s orderly here at the South Unit. My job is to let residents know about programs and encourage them to participate. 

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Something unusual happened when I began telling people about this class. Instead of me encouraging them, they started coming to me asking how to sign up. 

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That’s when I knew this class was different. 

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To be honest, the first time the class was offered I didn’t take it because of disagreements I had with Mr. Johnson. But when the opportunity came again, something changed. 

A young man asked me how I could encourage him to take a class that I wasn’t taking myself. 

So I wrote both of our names on the sign-up sheet. 

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I believe this class could have a powerful impact on the Department of Corrections. 

Mr. Johnson shared truth with us, and you can tell when someone is real. 

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He is not fake. 

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His authenticity and courage to be different are two ingredients that are necessary for success in life. 

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Thank you, Mr. Johnson.

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— Michael L. Smith 

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Opportunity to Think Differently

Before enrolling in the TICC program, I had no coping skills and no understanding of my past trauma. 

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Things would easily make me upset or angry, or completely shut me down. 

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This program helped me identify the problem and learn how to respond differently. 

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I went from being someone who couldn’t handle people’s attitudes to understanding why people act the way they do. 

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I also went from feeling broken inside because of my past to giving myself the chance to heal. 

The TICC program gave me the opportunity to think differently and the chance to change — and I’m taking that chance.

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— Nicholas Ortiz