“It doesn’t affect my social life because I really don’t have one. He is my life,” said Sewahne Garrett Sr., Bakersfield College student and father.
His face and arms are scarred, his hair neatly braided, his arms show crude tattoos he received in his teenage years. Choosing his words carefully and speaking with a southern drawl, Garrett, 31, is devoted to his son.
Born in Louisiana, Garrett is the father of two children: Sewahne Garrett II, 3, and Jayden Garrett, 2. Jayden currently lives with his mother in Louisiana. Garrett, who is currently in his second semester at BC pursuing an associate’s degree and certificate in industrial technology, has been through a lot.
Moving to California in 1997 and gaining a GED after being expelled from his high school in Louisiana, Garrett moved back and forth between the two states, eventually getting incarcerated in 2004.
“I’m the type of person who doesn’t let too much get to me. When you get to stressing, that gets your mind boggled and you can’t think straight. You end up missing out on something good or messing up something you have that’s going good,” said Garrett.
Having been incarcerated from 2004 to 2006 for simple escape and a failed drug test, Garrett has made peace with his past. “Everything happens for a reason, and it was all a turning point for me in my life,” said Garrett.
Garrett’s first son was born in 2007, and he realized he had to dedicate his life to him “I’ve lived my life. It’s time for me to do it for him,” said Garrett. He went on to say he is almost never unhappy. “Every day I wake up and see my baby; he smiles at me and that kicks it off right there,” said Garrett, who received full custody of his son with the assistance of the Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance’s services after a legal dispute with his ex-wife and mother of Garrett Jr., according to Garrett.
A very hands-on person, Garrett said, “I like fixing stuff. I like working with my hands.” He has received certification in carpentry, municipal maintenance and industrial maintenance. However, his industrial maintenance certification is from Louisiana and not recognized in California, according to Garrett. He also enjoys fixing cars and works as a custodian through the student work program at BC.
A full-time student, Garrett currently comes to school using his bicycle and the bus system. He’s never had a driver’s license and won’t be able to until he pays off his traffic tickets. Garrett said his mother takes the child to daycare and picks him up on Tuesday and Thursday when he has night classes.
A middle child in a family of seven children, his family is supportive of him as is his son. “It’s cool. My baby comes to the daycare here. I mean, by me going to school and him liking going to school . and then he likes helping me do different stuff like drawing with my drawing kit. I like seeing him doing things. It makes me happy to see him showing initiative to do things himself,” said Garrett.
Although he has two sons, “they’ve never met each other. I’m hoping I can talk [Jayden’s mother] into letting [Jayden] come down here for the summer and stay with me,” said Garrett. “Hopefully it works out.”
“I don’t have time for failures,” said Garrett. “I’m tired of disappointments.”