Incarcerated men and women at the Yaphank Correctional Facility are sharing their stories in a special class - using a notebook, pen and a trove of memories.

News 12 sat in on the men's memoir writing class at the facility. Each class has a prompt, and this one was “nostalgia.”

Rob Ryder, of Holbrook, wrote a poem on the topic and read it aloud.

He told News 12 that he has a difficult time dealing with things he’s “stored away.”

“This class has helped me open up immensely," he said.

The class is taught by Andrew Visconti, who worked as a journalist.

“You know why you’re here and I don’t want to get involved with that," he said. "I am more interested in understanding who you were before and who you think you will be out of here.”

The men listened attentively to each other’s stories and followed up with positive feedback.

While it's not easy for some to share their stories, Suffolk Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. said it just takes one person, and once that person opens up, others feel more comfortable sharing their life experiences.