My Heart is So Heavy

Irony of ironies: When I was a freshman, I met a young man when I was a member of the Judicial Branch of the Student Government Association. If I remember correctly, we were both defense attorneys. He was a year older, and though I did not stay in SGA, he went on to get higher positions withing the J-Branch. As a sophomore, I joined a business fraternity, and he became one of my brothers.

Today he was sentenced to 7 years in prison. As I was graduating from school, the newspaper broke a story about a grade-changing scandal. Well, apparently since I've been gone, they found the three students responsible for hacking the school's Registrar's Office computer system, changing grades and changing out-of-state residency to in-state for numerous students. The other two parties copped a plea deal, and it seems that if he had admitted guilt then he would have received a lesser sentence as well. Charges of conspiracy, fraud, etc etc.... I understand it was wrong, but it's tough to imagine that at only 24 years old, his future and his goals have come to a screeching halt.

"Do the crime, do the time"...OK..."It's a federal offense..." OK. I know, I know, but he is certainly someone who understands what the legal system does to young black men. If he acted wrongfully anyway, then clearly, he didn't think he would get caught. "Pride comes before the fall" I know. But he is going to be locked away with murderers, rapists and all sorts of heartless criminials...and I cannot help but feel sorry because I know him to be bright, focused, intelligent, determined, and to possess all sorts of other characteristics that should have him on a path to success.

I hope the sentence is appealed and that perhaps he will face less time, but either way, prison time will be served. That's inevitable. And it ruins the chanches of taking the Bar exam and gaining the type of employment afterward that he is capable of obtaining. I won't name him - it wouldn't take much research for you to find out who he is and read the story for yourselves, but my point is that my heart is heavy rght now. I hate to see a young person with so much ahead of them have it all taken away. I hate what it will do to his family and I hate the things that he will likely have to go through in that place. I'm praying for grace and mercy and that he just manages to make it through. I'm done with that "everything happens for a reason" theory," but I do hope that when it's all over, he will be able to overcome all the adversity and still reach a bright future.

And while I'm at it - If you love someone, you really should do anything you can to keep them from being wrong. We make our own choices, but you still have an absolute responsibility to tap someone on the shoulder and say, maybe that's not such a good idea; Have you thought about what would happen if...? And if or when they do not make the wrong choice, love them enuf to help them recover.