“The Five Stages of Growth” is the personal testament of Lester Young’s resilience while standing in the face of different adversities he faced daily during his incarceration. From childhood insecurities, the death of his mother, and being sentenced to life in prison, “The Five Stages of Growth”, uncovers how Lester’s vision of his purpose was revealed to him through his pain and how the importance of healing is essential in order to move forward. Many people believe their past defines them. For Lester, his past old provided the blueprint to amplify his future.