A second chance at success

Johnny Lavender graduating with psychology degree this fall

By California State University, Bakersfield

December 9^th, 2022

For many students, starting their journey at a four-year university can be intimidating, but it was especially challenging for Johnny Lavender.

Lavender, who was born in Pacoima and raised in Lancaster, started his first semester at California State University, Bakersfield in spring 2021 having been released in August 2020 after serving 14 consecutive years in prison.

He had to adjust not only to his newfound freedom but also to a world that had significantly changed since Lavender first entered prison.

“I had to kind of learn how to live again,” he said. “You’re coming home to a new world, in a sense. The pace of life outside is way faster than life inside, so keeping up with everything was difficult.”

In addition to that transition, there was also Lavender’s dream of completing his education. Due to COVID-19, he had to adjust to a new way of learning that leaned more heavily on technology.

“I literally started classes the first couple of weeks being lost. It was a lot of trial and error,” he said. “To this day, I can’t do a paper without putting it to paper first then transferring it to a computer.”

Less than two years after first coming to CSUB, Lavender is now on the cusp of receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the university this month.

“I’m excited. It’s been a long time coming for me,” he said. “I put in a lot of work and it look a lot for me to get to this point.”

Lavender’s upcoming graduation will be bittersweet, as a few of his family members will not be able to witness him reach this milestone. Within a year of getting out of prison, he lost his mother and two siblings due to health complications.

“I have been through tough things in my life,” he said. “I never knew I had a limit, but watching my mom die broke me.”

Lavender’s mother died during his first semester at CSUB, which made it especially difficult for him to concentrate on his education.

“I was withering away during that first semester, but the many life lessons that my dad gave me prepared me for these unfortunate moments of my life and my fiancé kept me grounded. She reassured me and helped me believe in myself,” he said. “I’m really happy I reached this point. There were some times when I almost gave up, but I stayed true to what I wanted to do.”

Now, Lavender’s fiancé, Wykia Jones — as well as his children, 20-year-old Jahnae, 14-month-old Jalayah and 19-year-old stepson Jaelen Vanstory — will be able to see him take the stage on Wednesday at the Mechanics Bank Arena.

“I represent second chances and what is possible when you change your thought process from unproductive to productive,” he said. “Education is the best way to deal with mass incarceration, and my life is forever changed because of CSUB. Go `Runners!”

Johnny Lavender is shown with his family. From left to right: Stepson Jaelen Vanstory, fiance Wykia Jones, daughter Jalayah and daughter Jahnae.

'The sky is the limit'

Lavender’s path to CSUB started while he was still serving time in prison. He was interested in pursuing higher education once he was released, and after learning about the Project Rebound program offered at the university — which helps the formerly incarcerated succeed in their academic pursuits — Lavender thought it was the perfect opportunity and decided to apply.

“It completely changed the trajectory of my life,” he said. “Project Rebound welcomed me with open arms. Even with my status as a prisoner, they didn’t turn the other cheek. I’m just thankful for this opportunity.”

When deciding what he wanted to major in, Lavender’s personal history led him to choose psychology.

“Psychology deals with people and how people think, how they assess what happens to them in life. That was completely relatable to me,” he said. “Psychology has made all the difference for me understanding all the things I’m dealing with post-incarceration and helping me digest a lot of my reality.”

Dr. Kyle Susa, associate professor and chair of the Psychology Department, said he is proud of Lavender and the work he has done at CSUB.

“Johnny epitomized what we hope for all of our students — he maximized his CSUB opportunity for the betterment of his intellectual growth, life experience and social endeavor,” he said. “What makes him stand out, however, is the humility, presence and insight he brought to the classroom. He was always true to himself and laser-focused on where his education could take him.”

Lavender has already been putting what he has learned in his psychology classes to good use at Project Rebound, where he has been working this semester as a peer navigator.

“Working for Project Rebound has been awesome. It’s given me insight into being part of a team, attacking issues from a collective and listening to other people’s ideas,” he said. “Project Rebound has given me an honest perception of where I’m at and what I need to work on. I’m understanding the value of my skill set.”

Lavender has especially enjoyed getting to work directly with formerly incarcerated students such as himself and help them get on the right track for success.

“It’s a good feeling,” he said. “I understand what they’re going through. I understand the highs and lows. I can help them deal with their transition from the inside to the outside.”

Project Rebound Director Stanley Peterson said Lavender excels at using his personal story to inspire other students to achieve their goals despite the obstacles they face.

“He relates well with our diverse student population and serves as a facilitator of understanding and unity,” he said. “It has been a tremendous honor to see him cultivate new skills and apply them directly to his work as a peer navigator with Project Rebound. He is a very talented individual who will make tremendous impacts on our community and motivate others to do more.”

In addition to Project Rebound, Lavender — a U.S. Army veteran — has also been involved the Veterans Club and Club RISE on campus, as well as the Black Student Union.

After graduation, Lavender hopes to continue to work with Project Rebound, either at CSUB or another university. He is also considering a career as a counselor.

“For sure, I want to help the incarcerated youth. It’s a massive problem that needs a specific remedy,” he said. “I want to bring my experience and education to the table and try to help solve this problem, because simply locking up young people is not the answer.”

It’s thanks in large part to CSUB that he is able to have good career options to choose from and feel more positive about his future, Lavender said.

“CSUB gave me an opportunity when nobody else did, so I’m forever grateful for that. When you’re given an opportunity, it’s up to you to use that to get what you want out of life,” he said. "I never believed I was my worst mistake. I have a purpose now, and I’m living my life to fulfill that purpose. The sky is the limit.”