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Inspired to Achieve: The Path from Incarceration to Educator
Twenty years ago, Elizabeth Cruz began her educational journey with a Lake Land College course while incarcerated. Today she is an adjunct faculty in the psychology and human services departments at one of the largest community colleges in Illinois as well as working with the Women’s Justice Institute to assist women before and after their release from prison.
“My journey has been amazing only because I have been given these incredible opportunities,” Cruz said. “Education inside of prison is extremely challenging, because incarceration is such an ongoing traumatic event.”
Upon her release, Cruz went on to earn associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Because Cruz said she graduated from high school with all Ds and did not apply herself as well as she could have, she said without taking the initial course during her incarceration, she did not know if she would have had the confidence to continue her education.
“I was always so excited to go to class,” Cruz said. “I was in a really bad space when I was incarcerated, so knowing that I was working toward bettering myself for my future gave me the hope that I could succeed after I was out as well.”
Cruz now works with the Women’s Justice Institute to redefine the narrative of mass incarceration of women as well as advocate for and give voices to currently and formerly incarcerated women. The institute also works with Sandra Brown, who was the first woman in Illinois history to earn her master's degree while incarcerated.
“There is so much hope for people to come out of prison and do whatever they set their minds to,” Cruz said. “A lot of people have the perception that they can’t be successful after incarceration, but that simply isn’t true. There is a world of possibility out there.”
As an instructor, Cruz said she draws upon her past experiences to educate her students as well as takes the opportunities to learn from them.
“I always tell my students ‘I hope the student in me brings out the teacher in you’,” Cruz said. “I’ll teach things and think ‘I remember when I was a student taking these classes.’ Life can take you beyond your wildest dreams, but you can’t allow your past experiences to dictate what will happen in your future.”
