There is no secret to it. You just have ...it’s a necessity if you to do it and realize that no one’s going wish to be a success in the business world—so to throw anything at you and that they you have to overcome won’t always agree with you either. it...my various role Humor is good to have in order to models influenced me keep the audience’s attention. to be more outgoing. Get out there and do it. Melvin– Repeat-Attender Carl- Repeat Attender Carl—Repeat-Attender Love it. Public speaking can help everyone become more confident, suc- cessful and inde- pendent. Michael Galloway (aka Baby Simba) You have to overcome it by get- Uh….I was nervous at ting out of your comfort zone, us- ing the tools through PEP that first, then it got easier— allows you to grow. You got to my confidence grew and remember to have fun. I feel good about it. Yuniel Sanchez Scott Paz (aka Chino de Mayo) (aka Sweet Nay Nay) Servant-Leader I try to have a thorough understanding of the topic Breathe… before I talk about it. Patty Speak from the heart. Adam Sotero (aka Lollipop Kid) I started in Boy Scouts—not Speaking in front of a large When you’re nervous, there’s always crowd is a great feeling because going to be someone in the audience my strongest point. I still get that smiles. Focus on that person’s en- nervous but it’s one of those they’re there to listen to what you have to say. You have con- ergy and let it propel you forward. Re- member that it’s okay to admit you’re things that can take you any- trol of the energy in the room. where in the world. nervous and be transparent Anousa Phomsouvanh about it, it makes you more Charles Griffin genuine. You’re able to get (aka Duck Sauce) in sync with the audience be cause it’s something we can all relate to. Kelah XI By: Brandon Green and fruitless. Happiness is event-specific, joy is everlasting and not dependent on the moment. They explained that fun is doing some- When you hear the thing you enjoy without the detrimental effects of negative results. word fun, what thoughts come to mind? Is it an activity? A memory? Does it remind you of a certain person? Whatever it is, the journey For most of us, the fun we were accustomed to was born out for fun is rooted in the search for one of two things: Happiness or of selfish desires. This group of men discovered a whole new kind of joy. The Webster’s defines fun as: 1) Lively, joyous play or pleasure. fun that was born out of wholeness. Brian brilliantly said—If I can’t 2) A soiree of amusement—intended for pleasure. The etymology of have fun in life and I’m miserable, I put myself at risk of going back to the word fun dates back to the late 1600s to early 1700s. It was used the old life. God doesn’t want us to abstain from fun, He just wants to describe a hoax or a joke. With fun being one of our 10-Driving us to change the way we view fun and change the way we experience Values, it raises a question: What is the true definition of fun? fun from a selfish pursuit—to a selfless pursuit. Mike shared his three things he believes to be imperative for success and finding genuine On Friday, August 19th, the class of Famous Fall 2016 was fun: 1) Surround yourself with positive people; 2) Maturity.; getting privileged to welcome Brian Kelly and two guests—Mike Lion and older and wiser; 3) Tethering yourself to a good woman. I believe the Josh Jones. They came to speak about fun and help break down with key is also following these steps in that exact order. us the definition of fun. Brian is the In-house Prison Manager for PEP at the Estes Unit, as well as a former TDCJ inmate. Despite having a These three gentlemen coming to spend their day with us life sentence, Brian showed himself to be a and sharing wisdom and allowing us an op- vessel for God and, due to his incredible portunity to explore fun was a great bless- change, he was granted parole. Before going hree things he believes to be impera- ing. Their words and advice were biblical, home, he was given the opportunity to come what they had to say was rooted in the life tive for success and finding genuine that Jesus lived. We know that greed cor- to the Cleveland Unit and participate and T graduate as a member of class 21. It was this rupts and destroys, so we conclude the only final opportunity, before reentering society, fun: 1) Surround yourself with positive people; way to be free is to detach ourselves from which showed him how important the value all human desire until we withdraw our- of fun truly is. Once he was reacquainted with 2) Maturity.; getting older and wiser; 3) Tether- selves from the world in which we live. That the world on the outside, Brian met Mike and doesn’t sound like fun to me and I don’t be- Josh and formed a men’s group based on ing yourself to a good woman. lieve it is the path Jesus set before us. Jesus Proverbs 28:1. It was within this group that these three men really was accused of being a glutton and sinner. began to understand that fun is rooted in joy—not happiness. They He clearly enjoyed His life that He lived. He was chastised for not reinforced the need for fun in both work and personal life. They living a monastic existence. Even his disciples were authorized by shared with us of how the pursuit of happiness is often temporary Him to break the rules. Jesus was having way too much fun for the religious observers who watched Him with disdain; they seem to have been envious. Is it possible to be a genuinely good individual and indulge in the pleasures of life? Sometimes, we forget that God created the world for many pleasures and enjoyment. The Garden of Eden was a garden of pleasure—not of obligation. God put man into a deep sleep, took a rib from his side, and created woman. This was not because men didn’t have enough re- sponsibility, but because God saw how He could enhance man’s en- joyment of living. The scriptures tell us that God concluded that it wasn’t good for man to be alone. Laced within the concept of good- ness are enjoyment, pleasure and especially fun. We were created to enjoy God’s world, and the world was created not only to declare the glory of God, but to satisfy our desires and meet our needs. From the design of our planet’s atmosphere to the atoms of a cup of coffee, creation is here for our good and pleasure. As Brian, Mike and Josh shared with us, I realize that when we replace greed with generosity, we exchange a black hole of tem- porary happiness with a wellspring of joy. The goal isn’t so much to have less, but to give more. Generosity is the result of a life in the continuous overflow of fun. It is the exponential result of wholeness. The simple act of sharing their time and wisdom with our class, re- sulted in a morning of fun and fulfillment. I believe every man left the room that morning with a better perspective of fun and a clear vision of what it means to seek joy in life. XII grasped, what really matters, such as integrity, kindness, love and faithfulness? Often times, an individual is absolutely oblivious to the fact that they are physically infirmed until enlightened by a physician and offered treatment. And so, it is similar with a man’s character. We are ignorant to the existence of character flaws that can seriously impede our growth and shed ghastly graveyard light upon our cul- ture. A candid assessment by those who’ve perceived our actions and attitudes—can be an invaluable tool to our development. With objective outlooks and humility, we gain insight through our peer’s evaluation. We can fine-tune ourselves to coincide with the desired standard; what we aspire to achieve. PEP is undeniably a culture of its very own. This fact rings particularly true on the unit and within the dorms as we are intermixed with nonparticipants and required to lead by example without succumbing to temptations or demonstra- tions of negative behavior. We as men living between the wings of Moral character boundless future, must have in our deeds—a standard of distinction. is an evaluation of a individual’s stability and qualities. The concept The week of character assessment is always declared one of character can imply a variety of attributes including the existence, of the most uncomfortable times in the program. We are tasked or lack, of virtues such as empathy, courage, fortitude, honesty, loy- with the responsibility of looking at our brothers and pointing out alty and of good behaviors or habits. Moral character primarily re- possible blind spots to help them change for the better. Even when fers to the qualities that distinguish one individual from another. On that task is complete, the work is not done. For those that reflect a cultural level, the set of moral behaviors, to which the social group daily on their actions and behaviors, the assessment is really no sur- is accustomed to, can certainly vary.