By: Kirstin Garriss, Editor-in-Chief
The 2010 Black Alumni Reunion kicked off it’s annual homecoming events with a special appearance by fellow Tar Heel Marion Jones.
Jones just published and released her first book “On the Right Track” before homecoming week about her experiences in prison and her career. On October 27, 2010, Jones came back to UNC’s campus to share her story not with fans but her family…her Carolina family.
“It holds a special place in my heart and it will never go away,” said the former track star as she began her speech to a crowded room in the Carolina Alumni Center. “It’s a special school.”
During her speech to friends, family and Carolina students – undergrad and alumni – she told the story of MJ or Marion, not the famous Marion Jones. She talked about her experiences as a student-athlete at Carolina to her love for the university, which is still strong today 13 years after her graduation. “Carolina blue still runs in my veins,” she said with a smile and a laugh.
The Tar Heel continued to open herself up to the audience with a heart felt apologize for her past actions. “I apologize to my UNC family for failing to represent what a true Tar Heel is all about,” Jones said with tears in her eyes.
But the tears didn’t last for long and Jones continued to share stories about her experiences before and after prison.
She said she never imagined she would go from top female athlete to convicted felon in the course of a few years but Jones said the six months she spent in prison changed her life. “Going [to prison] was truly a blessing,” she said.
One of the major challenges Jones faced before going to prison in 2008 was preparing for it. She said she’s always been “a planner” and like anything else in her life, she need to prepare for prison. To do this, she researched and tried to figure out what life would like in jail. But she said the most difficult part of going to prison was being separated from her family, especially her children.
Because her children were so young, Jones and her husband decided to sent their children to live in Barbados their grandparents. But Jones made the preparation more personal by recording videos for her children of her saying bedtime prayers and singing happy birthday. She said she both her oldest son an Ipod with all his favorite songs and recordings of her voice so her children could hear her voice every day even though she wasn’t there.
Once she was in prison, the track star said it wasn’t an easy time in her life. “It was rough,” she said, “It absolutely transformed my life.” But the process and experiences she had in her prison helped her become closer to God and develop her faith.
“God was with me all along,” Jones said. “God loves me despite myself.”
During the 6 months she was in prison, Jones said she spend 49 days in solitary confinement and used working out as her coping mechanism while she was confined to a 5 x 5 cell for as many as 23 hours a day.
After rising to fame then hitting rock bottom and overcoming prison, Jones said she had learned so much about others and more importantly herself. She said it was the hope, faith and resilience of some the women she met and encountered in prison who helped humble her.
“Fear and faith are enemies,” she said. “But it’s up to us to decide which one will win in our lives.”
Jones told the audience how she turned her life around after her release from jail. After making it over this major hurdle in life, she knew she had to make a change and she did.
“If I can make the difference in one young person’s life then all that I went through was worth it,” Jones said.
She doesn’t run track professionally anymore but she’s playing ball again and said she’s enjoying the experience.
The fellow Tar Heel released her book this year because she felt like it was the right time.
The event ended with Jones answering questions from the audience and meeting everyone there. She even took a few pictures with some of her fans.
Marion Jones signing copies of her book, On the Right Track.
Kirstin Garriss and Marion Jones.
