Minority Students and Criminal Justice Reform Scholarship

The United States has a very flawed criminal justice system that has disproportionately affected African Americans. I am dedicated to promoting social justice because I have seen firsthand the difficulties that come with the lack of representation in African American Communities. Hence, I hope to be able to use my college education to open a law firm focused on social justice, which will allow me to incorporate my experiences with service to navigate how to improve various issues regarding social inequality. I plan on tackling all forms of social inequality and using law as an outlet to fight for the unrepresented in my community. I genuinely believe that using law to combat injustice is the best path because as a lawyer, I can be a voice to the countless minorities who have been failed by the criminal justice system. By opening a social justice law firm, I will be equipped with the tools to combat discrimination that African Americans have faced throughout the history of America. In a society where a multitude of African Americans are incarcerated, yet the amount of African American lawyers is minuscule, it is vital to have representation in the legal community. Furthermore, coming from a school where I am the only African American male in my grade, I recognize the importance of breaking barriers to encourage diversity. As an incoming freshman at Cornell University, I plan on utilizing knowledge gained from the classroom to address societal challenges, which perfectly aligns with my goals to continue with service beyond high school. As an individual who appreciates combining passion with service, opening my own law firm appeals to me because of the breadth of options available to help people in need and the fieldwork component that will allow me to spend time working and having personal conversations with people in the community. I have developed integral technical skills due to my work in soup kitchens that will allow me to understand complex employee relations, and ultimately prepare me for a future in law. The time I spent at soup kitchens was beneficial to my education as it encouraged thought leadership, in which one can offer guidance to those around them. Thought leadership is an essential key when working with communities and organizations, because you are able to develop a personal relationship with the people you are working with. This is a skill that is specifically utilized in college as you need to pave your own path when at school. Through starting my own law firm, I hope to confront issues that are facing various communities by engaging in meaningful dialogues with my community and proposing effective solutions to make an impact on society. Overall, I see myself learning about pertinent concepts both inside and outside the courtroom on how to reform the criminal justice system e and address social challenges. All in all, I know that my experiences in college will help mold me into a trailblazer waiting to put my mark on the world. My values of engaging in community service are rooted in my drive to challenge my preconceived notions, while working to make a difference. Furthermore, I see myself engaging in meaningful dialogues about issues facing various communities, while implementing solutions to bring about a change.