Yes I've made MISTAKES: Your Past Doesn't Have to Determine Your Future - Paperback

by Daroun Maurice Jamison (Author)

In what he describes as "probably the darkest period of my life," Daroun Jamison struggled as a prison inmate to imagine the possibility that he could ever rebuild his life. In 1995, as he approached his eighteenth birthday, homeless, hungry and out of control, Daroun made a series of reckless, fateful decisions. Among the results were a near-fatal gunshot wound to an innocent and unintended victim and an 18-year prison sentence that would not end until 2011 when Jamison was 34. Yes, I've Made Mistakes-Your Past Doesn't Have to Determine Your Future, recounts Jamison's experiences as a troubled youth and former inmate and his journey to becoming a responsible, caring adult. The book's focus is on two important questions that dominated his thoughts during those prison years: first, how can one move forward after life-altering mistakes and bad decisions, and second, how does one avoid making the choices that can lead to undesirable or unexpected outcomes. Because it is based on real-life experiences, Yes, I've Made Mistakes offers practical advice and strategies-including a six-step process-to improve decision-making and help solve problems in positive, productive ways. Its aim is to inspire readers and offer resources to those who want to improve their lives. Its message is one of self-empowerment through self-examination and personal responsibility and reflects the author's belief that everyone has the capacity to be and do better.

Author Biography

Raised by a single mother in the housing projects of Wilmington, Delaware, Daroun Jamison struggled with low self-esteem, bullies and identify issues. In 1995 at age 17, he was incarcerated and received an 18-year sentence for gun violence. During these years, through a combination of reading, meditation self-examination and writing, he was able to transcend the mindset that nearly destroyed his life. Today Jamison is working full-time, is enrolled in a community college and is developing a business plan and materials to launch the D. Maurice Education Group to help enrich and empower others-particularly at-risk youth and young adults-with the lessons that helped him turn his life around. His story is one of hope, resilience and the human potential for positive change.