Simulators, Forklifts, and a Hug I Couldn’t Take
I was fortunate enough—if you want to call it that—to be at Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility as they launched their state-of-the-art Vocational Village program. This is news release about it:
Opened in 2021, this initiative is the first of its kind for women in Michigan, offering training in high-demand trades such as carpentry, cosmetology, 3D printing, robotics, truck driving, food technology, and horticulture. The program aims to provide a positive learning community for prisoners who are serious about completing career and technical education, simulating a real job site atmosphere while earning state and nationally recognized credentials.
Friend Linda Fuentes
I was among the first to go through the CDL program to learn how to drive a semi. I was very honored to become a tutor for the class, which gave me the ability to certify students and staff on the forklift and assist the students in using our most valuable and expensive tool—our high-end Doran simulators.
Grateful that MDOC invested in this technology for us.
Part of my job was to run the Doran truck driving simulators whenever visitors came through. On this particular day, a group had come into the classroom and I recognized Sam right away. My jaw almost hit the floor.
Samuel Dougherty
Sam and I go way back. Our dads were the closest of friends—the kind of bond guys have when they’ve been through everything together, almost like brothers, and we’d known each other forever. I hadn’t seen a familiar face in years, not since before COVID turned everything upside down. It was a gut punch—but the good kind. Like your past walks into the room and reminds you you’re still part of the world. It was like Dorothy walking into Technicolor.
At first, Sam didn’t recognize me. I didn’t say anything, because I didn’t want to make things weird for him—those situations can be tricky. There's no physical contact allowed—no handshakes, no accepting a business card, and certainly no hugs. But then someone asked my name, and I saw it click for him. His face said it all. It was one of those surreal moments where time folds in on itself. We had the pleasantries—how are you, how is your family. He asked how I was, when I was getting out, what my plans were. And it wasn't perfunctory, like the other tours. He really wanted to know.
He.
Saw.
Me.
I asked Sam to write a little something about that day for him. Here it is:
It was a work visit to see the training programs offered at the facilities to evaluate viability of helping through reentry and joining the building trades. I didnt even have it on my radar that you might be there. We visited a couple of the programs and then moved on to the truck diving simulator. That was when I volunteered to try it. I struggled with operating the simulator as I didnt know how to get it started. Thats when you started giving me direction and the familiarity of your voice caught me off guard. I still struggled and then you said “Sam, just push that button” I looked at you and was immediately excited. I wanted to hug you, it had been so long. Thats when you stopped me and said that we arent supposed to know each other or you could get in trouble. For me it was pure excitement to see you again. I felt like an idiot for not recognizing you right away, I wasn’t expecting to see you. But what a great day.
After the tour, I couldn’t wait to tell my family. It was just such a strange and beautiful collision of two worlds—my old life and the one I was living at that moment.
It’s been about a year and a half since I got out. I haven’t seen Sam in person since that day, but I've spoken to him and I follow him on social media. He’s a good, faith-filled man, and he recently wrote a book called Why So Mad?: Controlling Anger in a World That Thrives on It.
Sam’s new book!
The book tackles the anger that’s bubbling all around us these days. Sam breaks it down with stories from his own life, scripture, and real-world advice. He’s not preachy about it—he’s honest. He shows how aligning your emotions with Christ’s example can actually change the way we move through the minefield of anger. It’s powerful!
You can get the book here:
That day stuck with me. It reminded me that no matter how far you fall or how long you’re gone, the connections that matter still show up for you—sometimes when you least expect it.
Thanks for reading.
