Omniwomyn Empowerment Scholarship

I come from a background that has taken me from rather humble beginnings in poor urban settings in Cameroon. I have lived, worked, and shared life with the wealthy, poor, racially black and white individuals. I have risen from the impoverished areas of Cameroon to the wealthy areas of California and have survived and adapted along the way. The end result has been a life experience that allows me to understand the rites and morays of all levels of society. The most important thing I have learned from my experience is the ability to understand people. I easily put myself in the shoes of others. This has been valuable for me professionally as well as personally. I am currently pursuing a degree in political science in order to become a lawyer. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I have maintained an average GPA of 3.6, with honorable academic achievements, such as the dean's honor list and the chancellor’s honor list. As a first-generation college student, I have set the bar high for myself. This includes both my journey in personal growth and in the legal profession.. As I continue to excel in my academics, I plan to use my strong work ethic to excel in law school. I believe that studying law is the best way to understand how society functions, the rules, and regulations, how political issues are involved, and how these issues affect individuals in a society. As a child of two immigrant parents, I have witnessed and experienced the numerous racial disparities not only in my community but in the justice system as well. I have seen minorities stigmatized and almost made as though they were invisible. As I grew older, I realized that higher education is the great equalizer and that knowledge is power, especially in America. As a law student, I want to know the law on a deeper level, so that I can practice the law to its full extent. Although I am going to law school in part to fulfill my parents' unfilled ambitions, I also want to acquire the ability to defend the unrepresented and bridge the enormous gap between minorities and the judicial system. I want to become a lawyer because it will challenge my critical thinking, and expand my knowledge of the law while allowing me to grow as a person. As a lawyer, I want to ensure that human rights are not being compromised, represent clients to the best of my abilities, and increase representation in the legal profession. As an individual, I do not like to shy away from conflict. I believe that problem-solving is essential in order for the law to advance and evolve.