Jamey, Maintenance Engineer Tech II

I went from living out of a backpack to purchasing my own home and having everything I ever wanted. And I’ve been able to do it in a pretty short amount of time. There’s no way I would ever go back. I have too much now. I’m able to live my life instead of just existing. My past? It’s behind me. 

I started using drugs and got kicked out of my house when I was still in high school. I somehow managed to still graduate on time, but I got in this vicious circle of driving on a suspended license. Between that and selling drugs to do drugs, I always got caught. I went to prison twice. It was just a nightmare. 

The second time I was in prison, I actually got close to one of the guards. He treated us right – like we were people, not prisoners. He even introduced us to his family. He had a lot to do with changing my thinking. I went and met him for lunch when I got out of prison and have stayed in touch with him.

Nothing significant happened, but I woke up one morning and decided I was done doing the same stupid stuff over and over again. I was tired of being tired. I completely cut myself off from everyone. And I mean everyone. I moved back into my folk’s place and concentrated on finding a job. I put in a lot of work and spent months alone. I started to learn that when I was getting high, I wasn’t dealing with all my feelings. It was hard, but it was worth it. As time passed, I slowly started adding people to my life that were a positive influence.

Finding a job and a place to live are probably the hardest things someone just getting out of prison must do. I did construction for years, and I could’ve probably gotten a job doing that, but my body couldn’t handle it anymore. So, I was having to look at other routes and those other routes were tough. I can’t tell you how many places I applied at and was turned down because of my criminal background. I would sit for hours daily on the computer applying for jobs. I just needed someone to let me work. Then one day, a lady told me about this bakery that hired people with criminal backgrounds. I put on nice clothes and a tie, and I came down here [to Dave’s Killer Bread] and applied. I was hired the next day.

I’ve steadily moved up since I’ve been here, and I like that. When I started, I was putting bread into a box. From there I was a machine operator, ran slicers, drove a forklift and was the first person to have the parts clerk position. They kept giving me chances to learn something new. Then, my chief engineer got me in to the engineering side of it. Now the day’s production can’t start until I sign my name saying it’s ready to go. 

And I’m planning to go a lot further. I’m hoping to learn more in electronics so I can continue to move up. And maybe, someday, be a supervisor, who knows. 

Now I get to have all the things in life that I never got to have while I was using drugs. I have a stable job and make a living wage. I’ve been able to clean up my credit and no longer owe anyone for anything. I have my family back, a beautiful wife and grandkids. I bought a house and motorcycles. I never thought back then I would be traveling out of the country and now we go to Caribbean places like Barbados, Jamaica and Mexico. Last time we traveled, I crossed scuba diving off my bucket list.