‘If I Can Do It, Anyone Can’: Former Inmate Graduates With Honors From Cal State Long Beach
A Long Beach man who spent more than three decades in prison recently graduated from Cal State Long Beach this month, with honors. He is now awaiting acceptance into a master’s program in social work at the same university.
Joseph Valadez spent half his adult life in prison, but he’s not letting that stop him from improving his future prospects.
“There’s a misconception about guys like me that I want to break,” he shared on social media. “If I can do it, anyone can.”
Man who spent half his adult life in prison graduates with honors
Long Beach, California (KABC) A man who spent half of his adult life in prison has graduated from Cal State Long Beach.
In a Facebook post, Joseph Valadez says he finished his last two semesters on the “President’s Honor List” for getting straight A’s.
He also made the Dean’s List, graduating with a 3.67 GPA.
“There’s a misconception about guys like me that I want to break. If I can do it, anyone can,” said Valadez.
“My mom has been gone for 14 years… but she never gave up hope on me,” Valadez said while fighting back tears.
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