a day in the life of a formerly imprisoned student
Nisey Love-Payne
– Staff Writer –
Inmate # 1155517, former incarcerated student, Mark Blount Jr. can still recite his assigned number five months later.
For three years, he was no longer known by his name but by prison issued identification number. “In prison, no one knows you for the name given to you at birth, just a number or a nickname. “
Relying on the Metro bus system for transportation does not hinder Blount from completing tasks; the bus he was riding on was causing him to run late for the interview, photo shoot as well as for his first class. So what does he do? He gives the bus driver a piece of his mind.
“I have a slight temper and I do not tolerate foolishness, people have to get to work and school and they cannot be late because of you, bosses and teachers don’t understand when you’re late,” Blount said.
Blount prides himself on his unique style of dressing in his two to three layered shirts, pre-washed jeans and sneakers, naturally curly hair, sectioned off into semi-twist and said his “uniqueness is what makes him differ from others” all the while displaying a huge smile.
If someone has a story to tell, it’s Blount. Three years ago, when he was just 17 years old and “full of so much talent, drive and promise” Blount revealed he made a really bad choice that changed his life. Blount said he “broke the law and was punished for it.”
With a 3.8 GPA and a full scholarship to the 4-year Institution University of Saint Mary’s in Leavenworth, Kan. He found himself in trouble with the law.
Six months from graduating high school and feeling stressed out, Blount committed the act of robbery near the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. Blount said “to make matters worse, I was the only person who fit the description of all of the other robberies in the area of Wash U.”
Appearing before the Honorable Judge Kendrick in Division 17 in St. Louis County Courts, Blount said “Judge Kendrick was actually the first person who saw the ‘real me’ long before I did, I witnessed firsthand how this man gave several people 20 years without even blinking his eyes!”
“I just knew I was going to get the book thrown at me,”Blount said. “The judge agreed with his public defender to allow a pre-sentencing investigation before any final judgment would be placed. The PSI investigator collected letters from my high school principal, counselor, my bishop, my mother, and even from the University of Saint Mary’s, my high school transcript, all of my certificates, my published poetry, and all of my academic awards.”
Blount said that when the prosecuting attorney wanted to send him away for more than 40 years, Judge Kendrick ruled and sentenced him to 3 years based on what was indicated in the letters.
Blount said that during his time “in the joint,” it was “more of an experiment than an experience. The total shock sank in that I was actually behind bars at a level 5 maximum security facility.”
Blount was sent to Moberly Correctional Center, right outside of Columbia, Mo. Here is when he “finally began to search for a way out of my mental despair,” he said.
“I remember walking to the institution’s library and seeing a sign that read ‘Help Wanted in the MCC Education Department,’” Blount said.
Blount applied for the job and started the next week. Blount said upon the recommendations of the Educational Director, Ed Clems; he applied for the Ohio State inmate study program.
After a couple of weeks, he received his books and study guides and began studying the courses of Psychology and Sociology.
Realizing that this was going to be a difficult process, Blount said “I remained focused, completed all the required courses and was so overwhelmed with emotions when I received the official certificate from the Missouri Department of Adult Literacy and Secondary Education.”
Blount said “I found my niche, I knew then I wanted to pursue Psychology, I want to help other young people not make the same mistakes that I did.”
On Nov. 13, 2008, Blount said that was the day “I returned to ‘general society’ and I saw a need for the spread of education, only because education changed my life!”
After applying and being awarded the Federal Pell Grant, he enrolled into STLCC– Meramec the following December to continue his pursuit of a Psychology degree. When asked about the friends that he has made since enrolling at STLCC and if he had shared any of his past with them, his first response was “What friends? I don’t have any friends.”
As with many people who have been convicted of a crime, it’s harder to get his life back on track upon release. Blount said that “even though I paid my debt to society, society continues to punish me for my crime.”
He went on to say that his continued need to gain employment has been a constant struggle.
“I am judged on my past and not on my accomplishments,” Blount said.
Yet he said he “remains hopeful that someone will give him a chance to prove who he is now and the value that he can add to their establishment.”
“I continue to pray and march ahead, no matter what and having family, friends, staff and his professors as support helps keep him on track,” Blound said.
“I know that my divine right as a human being states that a heart has to care, it is with that belief that I feel required to have sympathy for the unconsciously aware; I am on a mission. Yes, although it has only been four months into my mission, I can already sense development. Family, friends and other social pupils all know that I am a completely different person than I used to be. “
Then he added, “My drive is of awareness, my cause is of awareness, my reason is because of awareness, my whole changed is in awareness and for what is awareness without the foundation being education?”
