When Robert Sharkey accepted a job as a correctional officer in the California Department of Corrections, he thought dealing with inmates would be the toughest part of the job. This honest and heartfelt memoir reveals that the most difficult battle a correctional officer faces has nothing to do with inmates. Every correctional officer who accepts a job in a prison understands the risks and the dangers involved, yet the long-term impact of the job is always underestimated. This story illustrates how difficult it can be to maintain your self-identity as the environment starts to change you. Although experience and a commitment to officer safety leads to becoming a respected supervisor and recognized trainer, Robert's strong sense of duty also came with consequences. When he first chose this road, he was facing two very different paths - those of dreams and reality. Is it ever worth it to give up your dreams? Can you choose unexpected directions in your life without changing the person that you are? Can you adapt to your environment without becoming it? These are dilemmas most of us face as we navigate through life, and just as this story reveals, it will someday be left for us to decide whether or not the path we chose was worth taking.