Johnny Smith’s (he/him/his) re-entry student experience commenced in 2015. Identifying as a first-generation, formerly incarcerated, super senior transfer student with a background in homelessness and addiction, Johnny is empowered by his lived experience and draws from those experiences to enrich his perspective in academia and excel as a scholar. Since arriving at UC Berkeley in 2019, he has been conducting independent research to examine post-release supervision through the lens of the formerly incarcerated and community corrections officers alike. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, he plans to matriculate to a Ph.D. program for sociology. Given his positive and transformative experience in higher education, Johnny’s career goals are to remain in academia and utilize the institution as a vehicle for affecting positive change.