The last 12 years of my life have been hell. I have lost a lot of family and friends!!!!
Overall in the past 12 years of my life, I reckon I have spent more time in custody than I have on the outside.
I only realise this now because of how much time I’ve had to think about it.
This has led me to wanting something more out of life, something I can’t get out of doing the stuff I’ve done in the past!!
If I can get these things in the next 12 years I’ll be happy for the rest of my life
So in the next 12 years of my life I want to spend more time with my family, get a job, get a car and eventually have a wife and a family of my own.
WATCH: Redfern boy Stan Ceissman is serving time but boxing might just be his saviour.
If I can get these things in the next 12 years I’ll be happy for the rest of my life, and I don’t think times can get any tougher than they have been in the past.
When I was a kid I wanted to be a criminal, all I know is that I wanted to have money.
Don’t always try to impress everyone, do what you think is best for you. Listen to your elders, learn about your culture, lighten up and don’t always be so angry.
If I had to give advice to myself as a nine-year-old, I would tell myself to stay in school, keep playing football, do what you are told and don’t be getting in trouble.
Don’t always try to impress everyone, do what you think is best for you. Listen to your elders, learn about your culture, lighten up and don’t always be so angry.
Pay attention to what is being taught.
I would say, I know you are angry about TJ [Thomas Hickey, a close friend of Stan's whose death sparked the Redfern riots in 2004] and you are going to jump on that police car and that will change your life forever, but I also know that there is nothing I can say to stop you.
I wouldn’t change that, as you need to go through this 12 year journey so at 21 you are on this program Never Going Back, and you will change your life for the better.
- Stan Ceissman, Long Bay Correctional Centre. March 1, 2016
