Nicholas Poindexter

What drew you to the Pivot Program?

I’ve always wanted to start a business, and to be honest, I don’t know anything about starting a business. What I do know is according to statistics most businesses shut down or close within the first five years. If I want to start a business, I want to give myself a fighting chance. I literally have a notebook full of business ideas, so whichever one I choose to pursue, I want to be prepared.

What do you hope to get out of your experience in the program?

The main thing I want to get out of this program is a feeling of self worth and the ability to exude a certain confidence. I feel like the many years I’ve been incarcerated are on my back. Even though I know that it’s not possible for somebody that doesn’t know me to know I’ve been incarcerated, I feel like they do. I’ve spoken with people that have gone through this program, and I would never have known they were incarcerated unless they told me. I want to feel the same way. Being incarcerated is part of my story, and my life experiences have made me the person who I am today. I’ve always loved myself, but at the same time, I don’t want to feel like a convict every time I step outside the door. I want to get that feeling off me.

What are your goals for after you graduate from the program? 

I would like to parlay my experience in the Pivot Program into a Georgetown degree. I don’t have any children, but I’ve got 15 nieces and nephews, and I want them to see how important I believe education is — so much so that at 52 I’m back in school. 

What do you like to do in your free time?

I write urban novels, and I want to publish my books. I like to fashion myself a musician, even though I don’t have anything out there recorded. I write lyrics, R&B and rap. There’s nothing cool about a 50-something year old rapper, but I’d like to ghostwrite for somebody. In my spare time, I like to eat, have a good meal at a restaurant or dabble in some cooking. I’ve become a little bit of a Facebook junkie, and I like to go live every other day.