Humans of Take2: Rebuilding My Name

Whilst in prison, I saw a friend reading a coding book. I said to him ‘What the hell is that?’ I'd never seen anything like it.

I’ve always worked with my hands. I’m a tradie – a qualified tiler, and I did stonemasonry for years and years. The most I knew about computers was the power button, but I always did quite well with my education. I never struggled. So coming into this course and seeing the younger guys come through and pick it up a lot easier than me is quite frustrating. But I like challenges. So I'm just persevering, persevering, and trying to get through it.. But you gotta take the little wins. When you spend so much time concentrating so hard, and then you solve a problem, that's the most rewarding thing.

This course has got me really excited about coding, but also getting into the tech sector. I’m trying to do it. I’ve had enough of using my body, you know? I'm not the sharpest guy but I'm no slouch either. I think I can use my brain to work now. We've been on a few visits to different tech companies, and the sector has such a community feeling, like it would be such a warm sort of environment to work in compared to the trades.

Coming out of prison, you feel this stigma that you believe is attached to you, as an ex-con. You worry that people will judge you. Even when you're having an interaction with someone and there’s no judgement, your head just automatically thinks that the person that you're talking with is judging you. I think that’s just human nature.

When you’re in prison, you’ve got so much time to think about your life and how you're going to live it. I was adamant when I came out that there would be no more lying to anyone about anything – just honesty all the time. It's been the meanest weight off my shoulders, being 100% honest all the time. And just making sure that I keep my word.

I’m trying to rebuild my name to be something I can be proud of.