Re-Entry Curriculum Student Handbook Dear Student, How many of us TRULY prepare for that big homecoming day? We’ve missed our family, we’ve missed the friends and the good food and fun. However, how many of us have actually taken the time to prepare for a successful re-entry? How many of us even think about that? The sad reality of it is that most of us really don’t. Most of us walk out without a resume, without social skills, without a foundation to build on or without the proper mind set to engage in a world that is not always willing to be so accepting or open to our backgrounds. I’m here to tell you, as a guy who served a sentence of more than 10 years, it is hard, without a doubt, hands down…it’s very hard. I discovered there are no free hand outs and believe me I received 20 no’s before I got ONE yes. This is the harsh reality you’re returning to and it doesn’t help to have a felony. With the cards already stacked against us, wouldn’t it make sense to come up with a game plan BEFORE you walk out? Having said all that, how do we set all this in motion? Personally, I had to ask the obvious questions: Was my life worth the investment? Did I believe my life was worth taking the last few months before release to pull away from the crowd and prison politics and actually work on ME? Looking back, I hadn’t realized how much time I wasted on absolutely nothing. Think about it! If you’re reading, what types of books are you reading? This is not to say you can’t have “leisure” time, but HOW much? And what do you do with the rest of your time? If you hang around with a crowd, is anyone in that group making you a better person? Going forward in life required that I take life seriously. Remember, every day is an opportunity to build on your life out here. Don’t let the opportunity pass you by. Take it from me; it’s easier to do the work inside than to wait until release. Prison is what you make of it; it can be an institution of confinement or an institution of preparation. There is no other time like right now…what type of prison do you live in? Before you answer that question take into consideration your family, your children, your victims, and your future. I did, and it has made all the difference. Respectfully, Frantz Beasley President/Founder AZCOMMONGROUND Served 14 ½ years Table of Contents Chapter 1 - Self Awareness ........................................................................................................ 1 Values .......................................................................................................................................... 2 What Do I Value In Life? ........................................................................................................... 3 Budgeting My Values ............................................................................................................. 4-6 My Early Values ........................................................................................................................ 7 Values and Behavior ................................................................................................................. 8 Values Conflict .......................................................................................................................... 9 *Uncle Mort Leaves You Money .............................................................................................. 10 *Specific Values ...................................................................................................................... 11 My Beliefs .................................................................................................................................. 12 Perception and Belief ......................................................................................................... 13-15 My Personal Belief Assessment .............................................................................................. 16 Roberto’s Story ....................................................................................................................... 17 *What’s His Belief? ............................................................................................................. 18-19 My Goals ............................................................................................................................... 20-21 Terry's Story ....................................................................................................................... 22-23 Goals in my Lifetime ........................................................................................................... 24-25 *Goals and Objectives ............................................................................................................. 26 Needs, Wants and Desires……………………………………………………………………….. 27-29 Need, Want or Desire .............................................................................................................. 30 Desire Chart ............................................................................................................................ 31 My Personality .......................................................................................................................... 32 Introversion/Extraversion Personality Type ............................................................................. 33 Are You Right-brained or Left? ........................................................................................... 34-37 *It’s Me ............................................................................................................................... 38-42 My Learning Style ..................................................................................................................... 43 Learning Preference ................................................................................................................ 44 The 4 Maps …………………………………………………………………………………………45-47 Learning Style Inventory ..................................................................................................... 48-56 *Your Best Learning Environment ........................................................................................... 57 CHAPTER 2 - Expectations ...................................................................................................... 59 My Expectations ........................................................................................................................ 60 Bill Gates................................................................................................................................. 61 Unexpected! ............................................................................................................................ 62 All I need to do is? .............................................................................................................. 63-64 *Expect ................................................................................................................................... 65 Parole Expectations .................................................................................................................. 66 Conditions of Supervision and Release ................................................................................... 67 Parole Officer Expectations ..................................................................................................... 68 *Housing Recommendations ................................................................................................... 69 (*) Designates Optional Exercise CHAPTER 3 - Resource Gathering ........................................................................................... 71 Identification ............................................................................................................................. 72 Information .............................................................................................................................. 73 Important Documents .............................................................................................................. 74 Getting Information .................................................................................................................. 75 Personal Data Sheet (PDS) .................................................................................................... 77 *Gathering Information ............................................................................................................ 78 Housing ..................................................................................................................................... 79 Where….from Here? ............................................................................................................... 80 Should I live on my own? ........................................................................................................ 81 *Roommate / Family Living Agreement ................................................................................... 82 *Community Placement Investigation ...................................................................................... 84 Transportation .......................................................................................................................... 85 Transportation…………………………………………………………………………………………..86 Getting a Driver’s License ....................................................................................................... 87 Public Transportation