Lacey W. never expected that a split-second decision made while protecting herself and her son would change the course of her life.
At the time, she wasn’t thinking about legal statutes or self-defense protections. She was responding to a frightening situation unfolding in her home. The incident ultimately resulted in a felony conviction and incarceration.
For Lacey, the sentence wasn’t just about losing her freedom. It meant time away from her son. While serving her sentence, thoughts of her son rarely left her mind. The distance was painful, but it also became a source of motivation. One day, she would return home. The question was who she would be when she got there.
Finding Purpose in an Unexpected Place
During her period of incarceration, Lacey focused on growth rather than regret. She enrolled in coursework, maintained employment, and committed herself to personal, professional, and spiritual development.
Her faith became an important source of strength during that time. When the future felt uncertain and the distance from her son seemed overwhelming, she leaned on her relationship with God to help her find direction, hope, and peace. It reminded her that even in one of the darkest chapters of her life, her story was not over.
Instead of viewing incarceration as the end of her story, she treated it as an opportunity to prepare for what came next. Every class completed, every skill learned, and every goal set became part of a larger commitment to becoming the mother, professional, and person she wanted to be when she returned home.
Leading with Integrity
Throughout her career, Lacey chose to be transparent about her background. When she was hired for a management role, she openly disclosed her conviction.
That honesty became a reflection of how she approached her work as well. She earned the trust of colleagues and supervisors, took on leadership responsibilities, and successfully managed large-scale operations.
Although an administrative delay in processing a background check eventually affected her employment status, the experience reinforced something Lacey already knew: her record may be part of her story, but it does not define her abilities, work ethic, or character.
Rather than dwell on the setback, she focused her energy on her family, continued her education, and took steps toward clearing her record through the expungement process. As a result, most recently, she served as an Environmental Services Manager, overseeing large-scale facility operations, coordinating teams, managing schedules, maintaining compliance records, and working directly with facility leadership.
Through hard work and perseverance, she earned positions of greater responsibility and trust.
What Keeps Lacey Going
Ask Lacey what motivates her today, and the answer isn’t complicated. It’s her son and her faith.
The same drive that pushed her to keep learning, keep working, and keep showing up during difficult times continues to guide her today. As she pursues new opportunities, she’s focused on building the kind of future she once worried might no longer be possible.
The conviction may be part of Lacey’s story, but it is certainly no longer the headline.