Choices: Ethical lapses and consequences - Lessons from Prison - October 6th

Competent, educated and in prison - I never considered that this is where I would be about 11 years ago. But, there are consequences for every choice we make, and although you might think that we can avoid the consequences - we can not. They are inevitable and certain. We simply do not know how and when we face the inevitable.

As a former CPA, through a series of choices, you become a white collar criminal, now the time to review my time in jail and write about this experience so that others can gain benefit from my experience. Some of us learn that lesson the hard way. Yet, through sharing the experience of my incarceration, others have reported that they were able to look at their choices in a different and more productive.

While the prison experience was painful, as the following extract shows from my memories, providing a basis for a tremendous opportunity for growth. Similarly, through the prison experience I have found many ways to help others.

My diary dated - October 6, 1995 reads as follows:

"8:37 am -. I read this morning has resulted in feelings of sadness, once I realized I'm here to be punished, and being away from my children and the things they care about is the punishment.

4:00 pm - Its time for mail call and get counting time. I live for this moment. Being cut off from society is difficult. I hope every day that someone cares enough to send me a letter.

09:40 - At dinner tonight I had a revelation, I need to talk to the children of high school and university students, about the effects of the choices they make. 70% or more of the people here are here for drug offenses. It 'sad to see the level of education of most of the detainees. How can you ever expect to break the cycle of poverty and crime, if you do not have the education to do it? I do not know my role now, but hopefully one day I can make a difference. "

Now, eleven years later, I find that the prison experience personal growth provided a basis for helping others. Revelation to speak at high school and college students is manifested through the establishment of the Choices Foundation, which provides a forum to educate young people about the effects of the choices they make.

It 's very powerful to see and hear how young people react to the message of choice and consequence. Does not occur too often the direct result of the choices they make. The expense of young people who have not lived long enough to see the link between choice and outcome. Similarly, many young people, except perhaps the extremely disadvantaged, have no connection with those who have been imprisoned for their actions. Therefore, being exposed, in a direct way, to someone who has made ethical choices and the consequences, for some it is deep.

Too often we find that "ethics" and "ethical choices" dominate our means of communication through the new events of what has been done wrong. To change our goal, we need to create an awareness of what should be done right. Ethics and ethical thoughts must begin with an understanding that you can not escape the consequences of their personal choices.

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