At 30 years old, I was convicted of second-degree murder. I take full responsibility for my actions. After serving 12.5 years in prison, I am now serving my life sentence on parole.
That outcome did not begin with one moment. It began years earlier. As a teenager, I was searching for belonging. I felt abandoned, disconnected, and angry. I gravitated toward people who made me feel accepted.
"Over time, my belief system shifted. Loyalty, ego, and reputation became more important than reflection, regulation, or long-term thinking."
Small decisions built on top of each other. The lifestyle hardened. The thinking narrowed. And eventually, it culminated in irreversible consequences.
Prison forced me to confront the patterns behind my choices. I began studying trauma, emotional regulation, and identity. I saw how unmet needs, distorted beliefs, and unregulated emotion can quietly shape a life.
Today, I speak to students, parents, and organizations about where these patterns begin. Not from theory, but from lived experience.
This is not about fear. It’s about awareness, accountability, and recognizing warning signs early so the train does not go off the tracks later.
Punjabi-language parent sessions available