My name is Derric Burbie and I am serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole(LWOP) for murder. I was adopted three days after my birth, and as an only child. I grew up in Cerritos, California with both of my college educated parents. Because my parents were such high achievers, I was expected to excel in everything I did. My IQ and aptitude tests were in the top percentiles and any grade less than an A in school, made my father feel that I wasn’t trying hard enough.
After years of feeling like I never measured up, being ridiculed by my friends because of my speech impediment, and experiencing betrayal by several friends and girlfriends, I rebelled and embraced a counter culture. I sought out and found acceptance within a gang and was given the recognition that I had been looking for.
Shortly after my 20th birthday, while walking with a few friends and my girlfriend, two men approached my girlfriend to solicit her. I was very upset by their disrespect and approached them. My intentions was never to kill anyone. I thought we would fight and that would be the end of that but I ended up shooting the driver in the leg and shoulder and those wounds cost him his life. I have regretted my actions every day since then.
Reviewing the areas of my life where things went wrong, I decided to take measures to prevent making the same mistakes, and to help prevent others from making bad decisions as well. I enrolled in Coastline Community College and made the Dean’s List, while achieving three A.A. degrees in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sociology, and Science & Math.
I studied the aspects in which I got my degrees because I wanted to figure out and understand how and why I could do what I did. I could then apply that knowledge to helping others.
I now strive to be an example of transformation by living my life in an exemplary fashion without any resemblance of my old ways. I plan to use my education and life experience by being a life coach.