It's always great to receive an email from a student who saw my talk years ago such as this one:
Hey Shaun,
When I was 13 years old, you came to my school and gave your talk on your time in the US prison system, I am 16 years old now and in my first year of college and I feel I should thank you for helping me to realise the reality of life in jail. I didn't realise it at the time but what you said really helped me sympathise with people suffering from poor prison conditions.
Recently I've been following your youtube channel and learning about your activism on drugs and how they effect people, additionally how you feel the way we look at drugs in the world today. And I think the work you are doing is absolutely invaluable and you really do inspire me (I know its a generic compliment) in a way I never thought you would. Not only because of your activism but how a person can take such a terrible experience and make it into something positive.
I know this has been a very short email but I felt like I had to send this just to thank you for opening my eyes.
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this
Ps. My school was called Kingsbook/The Elizabeth Woodville School
I also received an email from someone who has been suffering with addiction issues for ten years:
Hey Shaun,
Just read prison time and hard time! Fantastic books mate well done! I'm trying to think of why I've decided to mail u. I guess a lot of what u wrote in your books struck a chord with me, the wolves the partying the feelings of complete anxiety and the need to go out!! Been taking coke and pills for the last 10 years and I'm at a crossroads now! Your books have given me the nudge I need to seek help with my addictions and that its ok to feel inner turmoil and address the situation. You've obviously been through so much and I'm just sitting here self loathing at how life's turned out when there's nothing coming over me compared to what you've been through! Wimped out of the last 2 AA meetings I was gonna go to but I'm definitely going to the next one (well hopefully i'll find the courage).
Anyway thanks man, I think you've started me on the rite path and by reading your books I think you would like to know if you have made a little difference to someone somewhere.
Click here for my YouTube prison videos
Shaun Attwood
