My name is Raven, and I’m currently serving the remainder of my sentence in New Mexico. Being incarcerated has given me a lot of time to think—not just about the choices that brought me here, but about what I want to do with the life waiting for me on the other side of these walls.

I’m someone who genuinely enjoys intellectual conversation. I love talking about people, psychology, life, philosophy, current events, and the questions that don’t always have easy answers. I’m much more interested in getting to know someone’s mind than making small talk.

One of my biggest goals is to become a drug abuse counselor. I’ve seen firsthand how addiction can affect people’s lives, families and futures, and I want to turn some of the things I’ve learned through my own experiences into something positive.

I also have a bigger dream: I want to eventually create a transitional housing program for men and women coming home from prison who have nowhere to go and nobody waiting for them. Too many people leave prison expected to immediately become successful while having no safe place to sleep, no support system and very few opportunities. I want to be part of changing that.

I’m not pretending that I have everything figured out. I don’t. I’m still learning, growing and figuring out who I want to become. But I believe a person’s worst mistake doesn’t have to be the final chapter of their story.

I’m looking for people who enjoy meaningful conversations, exchanging ideas, laughing, learning about each other’s lives and building a genuine friendship. You don’t have to agree with me about everything—in fact, I’d probably prefer that you don’t. I appreciate people who can challenge my thinking while still having an open mind.

If you decide to write, tell me something real about yourself. What do you believe people misunderstand about you? What’s something you’ve changed your mind about as you’ve gotten older? And what is one thing you hope to accomplish that you haven’t accomplished yet?

I’m interested in where you’re going, not just where you’ve been. I hope you’ll let me get to know you.