From Car Rides to Capitol Hill by Bailee

From Car Rides to Capitol Hill by Bailee - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

My father going to prison is one of my first memories. My mother would take my sister and I down to the prison every weekend to keep our bond close. As you can imagine, it was hard for her to transition from co-parenting to being a single mother. The prison system isn't set up for fathers to remain in their kids' lives nor for people to do better once released.

While my father was in prison, we moved in with my grandparents so that my mother would have a support system. Each morning, my grandfather would take my sister and I to and from school. We had an opportunity to learn daily lessons on our commute, which helped to ensure we didn’t feel our reality. My grandmother wouldn’t allow my grandfather to take the freeway, so our ten-minute drive to school would take thirty. He spent over two hours daily taking me to and from school. During our extended rides, my grandfather, who I affectionately called “Papa,” would lecture my sister and me on punctuality, loyalty, and survival.

“You can't leave and be there at the same time!” This was usually how he started the first part of our morning commute. Growing up as an African American male in the early 1960s, my grandfather told us he always had to be punctual. He stated that throughout his career, many tried to deny him and discredit him as a person and a man. However, being on time let people know he was ready, responsible, and reliable. Papa would ensure he was always on time and prepared to take any punches thrown at him. His speeches on timeliness have come in handy when it comes to my school and extracurricular activities.

Loyalty, the title of the next speech, which followed punctuality. “Your mom does a lot for you; it's time for y’all to return her favor!” My sister and I sat in the backseat, feeling unheard and unseen in our efforts to help our mom. Nonetheless, Papa was right. My mom did everything for us, and often, we didn't see it. We didn't see the tears she cried nor how hard she continually worked. Though she shielded us from the truth, my grandparents and their wisdom knew everything was not always as it seemed. With those speeches, our grandfather taught us how to be loyal and give back to those around us, especially those who loved us most. He championed community service by taking in children from family and friends, mentoring groups of people, and donating his time, money, and efforts to anyone in need. His habits stick with us as we constantly give back through volunteering, donating, and service.

Papa would save his speech about survival until after school. The bell rang as I was let out of my last class. Walking outside, I jumped into the car, excited to close my eyes for the ride home. It would never happen as Papa blasted artists like Sam Cooke, Nina Simone, and Aretha Franklin through the speakers. “Do you know who that is?” I shook my head no to Papa's question. “Well, it's important to know your history; this is how we survive.” He would play song after song, explaining the more profound meaning and the backgrounds of each artist. These artists didn't just inspire me, they taught me that the world we live in isn't the rainbows and unicorns we knew when we were younger; it’s a complex world where you will inevitably have to overcome challenges and leap over boundaries. The passion and drive of these artists ignite the passion inside of me to this day.

I continue to live by these speeches long after the car rides came to an end. Once my grandfather got too old to drive around, my father came home from prison, once my sister left for college, and once I became the driver, I learned to appreciate the car rides that the younger me took for granted. My grandfather helped bridge the gap. He helped shape me into the person that I am today, no matter the obstacles that my family has had to overcome.

The United States has an ideal of an America with fewer crimes. How will this happen if we don't give all a fair chance? How will this happen when everyone doesn’t have a Papa to teach them life lessons, and a mother that keeps the bond between her kids and their father? People that go to prison are humans and should be treated as such. Crimes are and should be punishable, but prison should be used for the reformation of people, not the use of legal slavery. The system shouldn’t create broken homes and disproportionate wealth for minor crimes.

As a future congresswoman, prison reform will be how I change the world. Reviewing laws, being at the right tables, and gathering support from my community and constituents are how I will ensure prison reform. Utilizing punctuality to show my best self in school and in my government career, loyalty towards my constituents and the issues I believe in, and survival techniques to leap over anything that comes my way. Majoring in Political Science and being involved on campus will ensure l meet the future leaders of America and work alongside other students to make a change in the world, and continue my Papa’s legacy.