Malcolm Ridge has spent almost two-thirds of his life in either the California Youth Authority or in prison. However, during the last three years Ridge has undergone a complete transformation and now leads an entirely different life.

“I have lived more in these three years than I have in the other 33 years of my life,” said Ridge, a 36-year old physical therapy major at Fresno City College. A native of Madera County, Ridge was raised by a single mother, in Pasadena, CA. The neighborhood he grew up in exposed him to gangs and drugs. Ridge was allowed to do things that normal kids were not allowed to do. At age seven, he started smoking marijuana, and by the age of 14, he was experimenting with other illegal drugs. He soon found himself out of high school and struggling to survive.

In 1987, Ridge and his mother moved back to Madera. Two years later at the age of 19, Ridge was arrested for drug possession. He was sent to Karl Holton, a California Youth Authority (CYA) in Stockton. Holton placed a lot of demands on the youths that were there. Ridge said he was not good at taking orders. Unable to confine to the rigid rules of Karl Holton, he got into a lot of confrontations with the staff.

After four months he was moved to Preston, another California Youth Authority in Ione, CA.

Ridge said that Preston was a tougher place to be. It was someplace that he did not want to be but he had no choice.

He spent his days there attending classes and working as a prep cook in the kitchen. His grandfather’s visit was the only good thing that happened at Preston, he said. Ridge was released from the CYA in 1990.

He moved back to Madera, where he spent the next five years going in and out of The California Rehabilitation Center (CRC). CRC is an adult correctional facility.

During his time there, Ridge was able to complete his GED.

After leaving the CRC in 1996, Ridge’s life took yet another ugly turn. He was given a state number and went in and out of Wasco and Delano state prisons. In 2000, he got off on parole.

Thanks to the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of 2000, Ridge was ordered to receive drug treatment instead of being sent back to jail. This gave him a chance to start over and he held on tight with two hands.

It was at this point in his life that Ridge started seeing things differently. He said that he put his trust in Jesus Christ. Ridge made a promise to himself that he was going to do what was right. He added that Christ delivered him from drugs. “Jesus Christ is the one who saved me, he was the one who gave me the strength to be the person I am today,” said Ridge.

He said that the Holy Spirit guided him to the path of college. He started attending Fresno City College in 2005. Ridge has been clean for three years now. College has been a whole new experience for him. He said that unlike before, he now has responsibilities. He has places to go and a time frame to do things in.

Ridge’s goal in life is to become a physical therapist. He currently holds a 3.3 cumulative G.P.A. He is also a part of the Americorps program, where he is a mentor to foster and group home kids. He regrets that he has wasted time. He is determined to make every day count. Ridge said, “No man, no past can stop me from being what God wants me to be.”

Ridge strives to become a better father to his three children. He said that he missed out on a lot of years with his kids. He added that he had to become the man he was meant to be so that he could be the father that they deserved.

Furthermore, he wants others in his situation to see him as a living example. He advises any of his fellow students who might be facing the same obstacles that he faced, to be willing to change. He wants those who think that marijuana is not a drug, to reconsider. Ridge said, “If it prevents you from doing what you are suppose to do, then it is a drug.” He wants people who might be involved in drugs to know that eventually, it all comes to an end. For some, that means hitting rock bottom. However, there are second chances, you just have to have faith.

Many do not believe that people can truly change. However, Victor Cattolico, who has a M.A. in clinical psychology and is currently completing his dissertation at Fresno City College said, “We all have the ability to evolve and change in a positive direction.” Malcolm Ridge has done just that. He said that he wants to show up, he wants to be on time, and he wants to learn.

Moreover, he is not ashamed of his past. He wants others to learn from his mistakes. He does not worry that others will judge him. He adds, “If anything they should look at me and give God the glory and say, hey if he can change with the strength that God gave him, then I can change too.”