THE JOURNAL

DOCUMENTING THE PROCESS

Reflections, Lessons, and the Work in Between.

The milestones show the progress. The journal shows the process. These entries document the lessons, setbacks, decisions, and discoveries behind The Xavier Plan. They are written while building a foundation for ownership, education, and opportunity under circumstances that make those goals difficult to pursue. Every entry is part of a larger commitment to growth, accountability, and long-term impact.

Featured Entry

4 min read

I've already taught 40 individuals financial literacy — and I'm just getting started.

What started as one conversation about money has grown into something much bigger. Forty people in. Four hundred to go.

"Once someone begins to understand how money works, they begin to see options where they once saw limitations."

Read full entry

Featured Entry

5 min read

Letting Go

Today I decided to move forward with my life without someone I love. The truth is, it wasn't much of a decision at all.

"Whatever your social situation was before you entered the criminal punishment system, it won't remain. Too often it contracts. It gets smaller."

Read full entry

Featured Entry

4 min read

I've already taught 40 individuals financial literacy — and I'm just getting started.

What started as one conversation about money has grown into something much bigger. Forty people in. Four hundred to go.

"Once someone begins to understand how money works, they begin to see options where they once saw limitations."

Read full entry

Featured Entry

5 min read

Letting Go

Today I decided to move forward with my life without someone I love. The truth is, it wasn't much of a decision at all.

"Whatever your social situation was before you entered the criminal punishment system, it won't remain. Too often it contracts. It gets smaller."

Read full entry

Featured Entry

4 min read

I've already taught 40 individuals financial literacy — and I'm just getting started.

What started as one conversation about money has grown into something much bigger. Forty people in. Four hundred to go.

"Once someone begins to understand how money works, they begin to see options where they once saw limitations."

Read full entry

Featured Entry

4 min read

I've already taught 40 individuals financial literacy — and I'm just getting started.

What started as one conversation about money has grown into something much bigger. Forty people in. Four hundred to go.

"Once someone begins to understand how money works, they begin to see options where they once saw limitations."

Read full entry

Featured Entry

4 min read

Visitation

Jason and Portia came by yesterday. We talked politics, real estate, family. For the first time, when it ended, it didn't hurt.

"This was one of the few — maybe the first — visits I've had where, at the end of it, it didn't hurt. What does that mean?"

Read full entry

Journal Entries

Journal Archive

Real Estate

March 15, 2026

5 min read

Letting Go

Today I decided to move forward with my life without someone I love. The truth is, it wasn't much of a decision at all.

Read entry

Real Estate

March 15, 2026

5 min read

The High Road

Two days ago, I found myself in a very frustrating position. A new bunkmate. A 5 a.m. wake-up. And a choice I refused to get wrong.

Read entry

Real Estate

March 15, 2026

5 min read

Visitation

Jason and Portia came by yesterday. We talked politics, real estate, family. For the first time, when it ended, it didn't hurt.

Read entry

Journal Entries

Read every word

Each entry is written by hand from inside, then transcribed and published — unedited in voice, raw in honesty.

№ 01

April 2, 2026

4 min read

I've already taught 40 individuals financial literacy — and I'm just getting started.

My name is Xavier Lee, and as I prepare for reentry, I've made a commitment not just to change my life — but to create value while I'm still here.

So far, I have taught financial literacy to 40 individuals. What began as a simple conversation has grown into something much more meaningful. It started with one person asking a question about money, and it made me realize how many of us were never taught the basics — how credit works, how debt can quietly trap you, or how different life looks when you begin to think long-term instead of just surviving day to day.

From that moment, I made a decision to share what I was learning. I’ve spent time breaking down foundational concepts like budgeting, credit, discipline, delayed gratification, and ownership. I focus not just on numbers, but on mindset — because without the right mindset, even the right information can be misused or ignored.

The biggest impact I’ve noticed is how quickly perspective can change. Conversations shift from survival to strategy. Teaching has also forced me to grow. It requires me to be consistent, disciplined, and accountable. I can’t teach ownership and responsibility while avoiding those same standards in my own life.

Right now, I am actively working on organizing my next class so I can continue building on this foundation and reach even more individuals. My goal is to teach financial literacy to at least 400 people and to build something that continues long after I’m gone — a foundation centered on knowledge, ownership, and long-term thinking.

This is not something I plan to start later. This is something I am building now.

"Once someone begins to understand how money works, they begin to see options where they once saw limitations."

Xavier Lee of Elkton, MD
Mizz Debbie’s Boy

№ 02

March 15, 2026

5 min read

Letting Go

Today I've decided to move forward with my life without someone I love. The truth is, it wasn't much of a decision at all. She stopped responding to my calls and doesn't reply to my mail.

I don’t like what’s happened with our relationship. I don’t blame her, though. At least I try not to. What I’ve noticed over my six-year stay here is that most of the time, whatever your social situation was before you entered the criminal punishment system, it won’t remain. Too often it contracts. It gets smaller. The people who may have been the closest to you start to fade.

If I put myself into their shoes, I can understand how that happens. Whatever your relationship looked like with them before, it’s no longer the same. Maybe the thing you guys bonded around was mountain biking, camping, photography, or going to the movies. Or maybe you were that person’s support — the one they called when the world came crashing down. All gone.

They can no longer call on you. In most cases they can’t count on you. They have to wait until you reach out, and even that has limits. Three hundred minutes a month. Five hundred if you’re one of the fortunate prisoners.

I have over 20 people on my phone list. Three children. Forget about my three sisters, nephews, nieces, cousins, friends, and significant others. If I only spent my 300 minutes a month — 10 minutes a day — speaking with my kids, it would be a 10-minute call every third day each. Hardly enough to keep strong ties.

So the relationship that your friends signed up for is effectively dead, and the relationship your loved ones once had for you is no longer the same. Once this reality sets in for them, they often withdraw. As with my current situation.

She’s gone. I have to accept it and keep moving forward. Keep preparing for a successful re-entry. Maybe then we can start anew.

"Whatever your social situation was before you entered the criminal punishment system, it won't remain. Too often it contracts. It gets smaller."

Xavier Lee of Elkton, MD
Mizz Debbie’s Boy

№ 03

March 12, 2026

5 min read

The High Road

Two days ago, I found myself in a very frustrating position. I had just been given a bunk. His name is Danny. Danny had just gotten out of the hole.

I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to Danny having a conversation. I said to him, as politely as one could after being woken up at 5 a.m., “Hey Danny, you’re keeping me up.” Immediately, he got an attitude. He told me, “I’m not even loud. That guy over there is snoring all loud. But you know what? Whatever.”

Then he hopped off the top bunk and went out to the hallway to continue his conversation. For me, it was over. However, I didn’t think it was for him. Turns out, I was right.

Later that day, the orderly Mike came by to tell him he was moving to 215. He got upset. He came into the room talking to himself — really wanting everyone to hear. He went on and on about how someone had complained about him and got him moved. I ignored him. I knew I hadn’t. But he kept going. Becoming more aggressive. Name-calling. Accusing people of defending “chomos.”

I found that ironic — all but one of the people he was assuring “I’m not talking about you” had sex offenses involving minors. There was only myself and Dre left. I said, “Just so you know, I had nothing to do with you getting moved.”

He got more aggressive. Threatened to spread false information among his group. “How about we make it real hard for you around here.” I didn’t like that. I’ve learned that statements like that have power — the power to influence and energize a certain group of people — and when things go wrong, they go wrong very quickly.

Still, I took the high road. I told him what it was. He didn’t accept it. “Whatever, man. If you choose to believe otherwise with zero supporting evidence, that’s on you.”

Though I was still furious, I realized it was out of my control. Any attempt to make him see things more rationally could have turned into a bigger problem. I can’t afford that. My mind is focused on my release. I don’t have any disciplinary incidents, and I refuse to let someone draw me into one. So I swallow my pride.

"My mind is focused on my release. I don't have any disciplinary incidents, and I refuse to let someone draw me into one. So I swallow my pride."

Xavier Lee of Elkton, MD
Mizz Debbie’s Boy

№ 04

March 9, 2026

6 min read

Visitation

Jason and Portia came by to visit yesterday. They both looked good. Jason was a bit more gray, but looked to be in great shape, especially for 49. He was also dressed well in a zip-up sweater and blue jeans. He likes to dress. It inspires me.

Portia looked older but still managed to retain her youthful appearance. She wore a brown turtleneck that they gave her problems about due to the color. She wore a fitted jean jacket over it. I liked it. She wore it well. Jeans and shoes she referred to as her “Auntie Marple” shoes. They didn’t look bad either.

We spoke about a lot — politics, of course. She is so far right-leaning it’s hard to believe. I find it frustrating sometimes because her mind seems made up. Almost like she feels she has to defend her position because she said it. No amount of new information will change her mind. But I’ve learned not to take it personally. I don’t allow our disagreements to come between our relationship. I keep my eye on the bigger picture.

Jason takes a different approach. He goes far enough to see where things are heading. If they’re going in the wrong direction, he brakes. He bails out. Smart man.

We also talked a bit about finances. Jason told me he didn’t have money to invest or save, and that investing feels too risky. The good thing is he is investing through his pension, and he said he has an annuity from his job. I’ll have to research that.

I gave him grief about a house he still has a mortgage on ($500). It’s been sitting empty for five plus years and he is just using it as an expensive storage solution. The current rent he could be charging is $1,800 per month. The way I figure it, he has lost out on about $90,000. He also told me his father has three apartments in disrepair sitting unrented.

We had a good time. Jason has proved to be my most devoted friend. Portia has proved to be my most devoted sister. I appreciate them and love them. Our time was too short.

This was one of the few — maybe the first — visits I’ve had where, at the end of it, it didn’t hurt. What does that mean? Am I now accepting that this is my life? Am I institutionalized? Or is it something else?

"This was one of the few — maybe the first — visits I've had where, at the end of it, it didn't hurt. What does that mean?"

Xavier Lee of Elkton, MD
Mizz Debbie’s Boy

Release Countdown

The clock is ticking — and he's writing.

Every entry is one more day documented, one more lesson sharpened. Walk this road with him.

Days

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