Catrina Celestine Aquilino Memorial Scholarship

"Miss Ella, my mom got out of jail last night and I am supposed to see her tomorrow," was how I was once greeted at work this summer; I worked at a preschool. The child who told me this was one of the most kind-hearted kids I had ever met, she was only seven years old. I felt my stomach drop and I had never really experienced that sensation before. I have heard people say they "felt their stomach drop" but I never really understood what that could feel like until this specific moment. I had no idea how to respond but knew that the most important thing I could do was create a safe space for this child and whatever needs she currently struggling with. I wanted her to know that she could tell me what she felt like sharing but I would never force her to talk about her mom if it was going to be too hard. After what felt like hours of listening to her cry and shut down when speaking about her mother, she finally told me why she was in prison. Neglect. She was in prison for neglecting her children. So this child had not seen her mother for all of the time she was in prison, but also never really interacted with her much before her sentence either. And now she was supposed to be face to face with a woman that she had no idea how to feel about. As kids we are told to love our parents unconditionally but if we aren't shown that from them how are we supposed to reciprocate it? She had gone through this entire process essentially alone and now had strangers telling her she had to see her mother. She told me she felt as though she couldn't trust anybody and wanted me to go with her. Although I couldn't do this, I wondered how I could do something like it in the future. Which then led me to the question of, how many other kids are going through this exact experience, also all by themselves. So here I am, a third-year, first-generation college student with plans to go to law school and do just that. I want to work with children with incarcerated parents. I want to be that resource for them so that they don't feel so alone, so scared. Growing up in a big city like Milwaukee, WI, I saw firsthand the over-incarceration rate and how it tore apart our city and families. On top of this, I want to make the law more accessible to people. By creating an exclusionary, elitist group and allowing them a full understanding of the law we are harming those who cannot do the same. I am majoring in Psychology and Legal Studies with minors in Criminal Justice and Public Policy with hopes of attending law school post-graduation with my Bachelor's degree. I want to make the world a better place for our children and those who are excluded from the understanding of the law and therefore, more likely subject to abuse by it. I know I can do just that.

I am a first-generation college and law student from Costa Rica. After considering the debt and difficulty law school would bring, I still chose to pursue a career in law for the same reasons as Ms. Celestine. Her achievements put a smile on my face because we have many similarities. I too speak three languages. I visited a concentration camp in Dachau, Germany that showed me what I'm sure Ms. Celestine felt while volunteering at the US Holocaust museum. Although no longer the case, I have enjoyed an affluent life. I hope to establish the means to reward my mother's sacrifices and live comfortably, but money is more a concern than motivation for why I am in law school. I am motivated because the legal profession needs more kind, reasonable individuals who care about "the little guy." Attorneys provide much-needed specialized skills, and I hope to be the type of legal professional Ms. Celestine was. The law is complicated and I want to join the pool of legal professionals who strive to provide equal access to those in need. As a naturalized citizen, I have been there myself. I plan to positively impact the legal profession by sharing an open-minded perspective and practicing kindness and tolerance. Given the difference in pay between public interest and other avenues of law, I am concerned my financial needs may diminish my ability to pursue my dedication to social progress. I want to help individuals with their legal needs because I value and understand that legal problems are usually so determinative of where life will lead. I admire Ms. Celestine's passion, and although her journey ended so early, I am sure she is happy her legacy continues, both through this scholarship and the long-lasting impact she had on those she helped. As I hope to achieve what Ms. Celestine has, I hope you will consider me a worthy candidate for this scholarship in her honor. Thank you.