Dear Mr President,
I know that you are extremely busy with a lot of very important things,But I was hoping That maybe I could take a moment of your time to share my story.My name is Marshall Hooker.I was born on December 21st of 1983.My parents were’nt very well off.We struggled my whole life.my mom was always more concerened with bars and men to be a mother or try to raise me properly.So I was left mostly on my own to figure this life out for my self and find my own way.By the time I was 17 years old,I was mixed in with all the wrong crowds and it began to influence me in all the wrong directions.I began making some very bad decisions and by the time I was 19 years old I had landed my self a 15 year sentence in a south carolina prison.I began to blame other people and GOD for all of my misfortune.I was quickly spiriling to the very bottom and my only answer was: “It’s everyone-elses fault”.Till one day I was jumped by 17 inmates and was clo0se tp being killed,That day I began to have an epiphany.I realized That a man brings misfortune upon him self.I realized that life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we react to what happens to us.I took a long hard look in the mirror at my self,and I didn’t like what I saw.I didn’t recognize the person looking back at me,and I didn’t like that person either.I knew this was’nt truly who I was.I had tried for so many years to be someone I wasn’t.I was ready to find my true self and be that person.I was ready to make the necessary changes to be the good man I knew I could be.I was tired of failing not only me but my loved ones and alll those around me,Resulting in failing my country.So I dropped to my knees and I asked GOD to forgive me and help me be a better person,and help me to fight the monsters that seek to destroy me.I opened my bible and began to study.God srted becoming the one force in my life I could count on.And then my thirst for all truth,knowledge,wisdom,and understanding grew greater.So anything that could teach me about life,peace,harmony,then I studied it.I learned not only to learn from my mistakes but I learned to learn from other’s mistakes to.I have become a lover and seeker of all knowledge,truth,wisdom,and understanding.I took control of my life and I began to apply myself.But yet life is still throwing me curve ball after curve ball.And even though I get three steps ahead I get pushed back five steps,no matter how hard I try.But im a fighter and I know if I give up then defeat and failure is inevitable and definate.And I know that the only way to success is to cut through adversity with the sword of persistance.Which brings to mind an old chinese proverb: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step” ….I have been out of prison for three years and no one wants to give me a chance for a job.My record is the only thing keeeping me from finding a good job.I know ther is a lot of people who deserve to be in prison,and some will probably never change.But I have met a lot of good men in prison tht if giveen a true second chance.They would make the most of it and never mess up again.I understand tht the recidivismn rate is high.but I think I can see for the most part why.We are sentenced to what they call the department of corrections and upon release we are told that we are to rebuild our lives and become productive citizens of society.My question is: “How can we do that without a true second chance;how xcan we provide for our famalies legally if U.S companies are aloud to deny us a true second chance by denying us the opportunity for real honest work?” My family has been a blessing to me.If it wasn’t for them I would be homeless and I would be starving.I just applied to a company for their cdl school and for hire.I was completetly honest about my back ground.The recruiter told me I still qualified and sent me a bus ticket.i went all the way to indiana from south carolina.I went through the first week of school.I went for my cdl learner’s permit test and aced the firdt time.The very next morning I was called out of class and told I had to bee sent home because I had only been out of prison for 3 years instead of five.I asked why and I was told that it was just company policy and that they require all convicted felons to be out of prison for five years.I have done nothing but good since I have been released.i don’t understand how they can hold my release date against me as if that’s the day I commited the crime.How can I provide for my family if this keeps happening to me.I even tried to join the military but was told that convicted felons were not being excepted.Im not a carreer criminal.I only made a few bad choices,but I am willing to do whatever it takes to rebuild my reputatuion so that I can land a legit carreer so I can provide for my family.God has blessed me with a beautiful fiance’ and a 4 year old step daughter that love me more than anything in this world and they are counting on me,I am their rock.My 4 year old step daughter Ivory Alexis Narcisse is my world.I am the only real father she has ever known.Her biological father wont have nothing to do for her.they have to force him to pay child support through tax intercept.I am the only manshe has ever known as daddy and the only man she has ever called daddy.and it hurts when christmas rolls around and no santa came around.how do I explain that to a 4 year old.I know I have made some mistakes but I have changed my life drastically so that I can be the man I need to be but yet it seems that its all for nothing.But again I wont give up.im writing in hopes that ther is something you can do to help me and other people in my situation.Just tell me what you need me to do.All I want is a true second chance.I am not asking for any hand outs.I am more than willing to work for what I want and need.I am just asking for a chance to be able to do that.I want to thank you so much for your time and concideration.I want to thank you for taking the time to hear me out.Everything is greatly appreciated.May you have a blessed day.GOD BLESS ALL!!!!
Sincerely and Truly,
Marshall Henry Hooker