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Letters

Staying Out of Politics and Working on Myself

By
Dylan

Dylan writes from a prison in VIC.

Zosia Szopka via Unsplash

Dear About Time readers,

I’m at Western Plains Correctional Centre in Melbourne and this sentence round is the first time I handed myself in, the first time that I felt like I have a real chance at not coming back, the first time that I’ve stayed out of politics and kept to myself.

I’m actually working on myself and trying to be selfish so that I can be generous, because how can you help someone if you can’t help yourself? I’ve become a very respected prisoner in every unit I walk into, by both officers and prisoners probably because I am always myself unconditionally and I never try to fit in.

I’m only 23 years old but I feel like I’m 43. Being in prison definitely preserves your body but makes your mind and soul feel so much older if you know what I mean.

If we have ever met in our time in prison, I’m glad we met, if we never met then I hope we don’t meet in prison but hope we meet outside when we’re all doing good in life.

Dear About Time readers,

I’m at Western Plains Correctional Centre in Melbourne and this sentence round is the first time I handed myself in, the first time that I felt like I have a real chance at not coming back, the first time that I’ve stayed out of politics and kept to myself.

I’m actually working on myself and trying to be selfish so that I can be generous, because how can you help someone if you can’t help yourself? I’ve become a very respected prisoner in every unit I walk into, by both officers and prisoners probably because I am always myself unconditionally and I never try to fit in.

I’m only 23 years old but I feel like I’m 43. Being in prison definitely preserves your body but makes your mind and soul feel so much older if you know what I mean.

If we have ever met in our time in prison, I’m glad we met, if we never met then I hope we don’t meet in prison but hope we meet outside when we’re all doing good in life.

This
letter
was originally printed in the
August 2026
edition of About Time.
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