Ep. 71 - Jonathan Wrenn: From Convict To Columbia, A Story Of Hope and Second Chances

Jonathan Wrenn is a current Computer Science and Mathematics student at Columbia University. Life wasn't always fair to him; as a young kid, Jonathan was adopted after his parents were incarcerated during his birth. Raised by a powerful single mother and supportive grandparents. It became turbulent as he hit his teenage years, going in and out of jail from 2015 to 2020, a "revolving door," as he explained, due to untreated mental health issues and a scarcity of opportunity, which ultimately led him down a path of what some would seem no return. During his time in jail, he lost loved ones, questioned himself and his life, and had aspirations to change but didn't know how. This is a story of hope, inspiration, and motivation in which we humans don't realize our full potential. We uncover Jonathan's trials and tribulations, emotional turmoil, and inspiring story of hope and second chances.
Time Stamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:35 - Growing up in Fredericksburg VA
03:10 - Relationship with biological parents
05:10 - Adopted mother's perception of Jonathan's life
06:53 - Past down trauma from biological parents
08:15 - What would I have seen from young Jonathan?
12:20 - First experience in Juvie for Jonathan
25:50 - Struggles face in jail
28:44 - Was Jonathan emotionally and spiritually imprisoned?
32:07 - Coping with Grandmother's health issues
36:33 - Honoring his Grandmother's passing
40:24 - The first step towards change
41:30 - Our first encounter
44:20 - What was it like the first day out of jail?
47:12 - Was there any doubt you'd go back?
49:39 - Going back to school
57:32 - Seeing the change
59:55 - Getting accepted into college
1:04:50 - Mother's health issues get worse
1:07:35 - Dealing with the loss of his mother
1:11:15 - Getting into the University of Virginia and Columbia University
1:14:14 - The impact he intends to have on formerly incarcerated addicts
1:17:41 - What did younger Jonathan need to hear?
1:20:14 - What would you tell someone whose trying to become 1% better?
Jonathan Wrenn Social's and Website
jonathanwrenn....
My Socials:
link.me/_aviwizwer

[@blakeguss]

Very inspiring episode Avi!… when Jonathan talked about making the decision to change when he was in prison it reminded me of the Alchemist quote that when you want something all of the Universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. I couldn’t agree more with what he said at the end too. Without healing and going inward we stay stuck. Thank you!

[@theonepercentpodcast]

Thank you so much Blake, I couldn’t agree more! The alchemist is an incredible example of that, ironically I was also thinking about that quote the other day too!