I love dogs because they take care of us in exchange for so little. They love us despite our misgivings and forgive us when we aren't fully attentive. My dog turned two today, and I am so grateful he is in my life. His name is Bruce, and he is the best nine-pound companion a law student could ask for. He loves snuggles, and being outside is his favorite. He is always by my side, even when I take a restroom break! Having Bruce in my life has impacted me positively in so many ways. Law school is not easy, especially because I am a first-generation college and law student. Bruce helps me maintain balance, stay active, and provides emotional support when I need it most. Because of Bruce, I was never lonely when I lived alone. Caring for a dog is no easy feat, but I am so grateful I have him by my side. Bruce is an excellent study buddy, bodyguard, and walking partner. He keeps me healthy, both mentally and physically, and none of the difficulties--including his liver issues, picky eating, and feisty attitude at times--would make me love him any less. Dogs are simply the best!

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.

I love dogs because they take care of us in exchange for so little. They love us despite our misgivings and forgive us when we aren't fully attentive. My dog turned two today, and I am so grateful he is in my life. His name is Bruce, and he is the best nine-pound companion a law student could ask for. He loves snuggles, and being outside is his favorite. He is always by my side, even when I take a restroom break! Having Bruce in my life has impacted me positively in so many ways. Law school is not easy, especially because I am a first-generation college and law student. Bruce helps me maintain balance, stay active, and provides emotional support when I need it most. Because of Bruce, I was never lonely when I lived alone. Caring for a dog is no easy feat, but I am so grateful I have him by my side. Bruce is an excellent study buddy, bodyguard, and walking partner. He keeps me healthy, both mentally and physically, and none of the difficulties--including his liver issues, picky eating, and feisty attitude at times--would make me love him any less. Dogs are simply the best!

My simple pleasures include learning how to do my nails using gel polish, snuggling with (and taking care of) my puppy, and reflecting on what I am thankful for each day. This makes me happy because it reminds me to appreciate what I have here and now, despite my goals and desires to achieve my highest potential as a budding legal professional.

Giving is how we can grow and progress our society. I believe no individual has ever gained anything without the help of another person, and that is why I choose to live by the golden rule.

I am passionate about helping others in various ways, and have chosen to do this by becoming an attorney. I want to help people learn to become tolerant of others' perspectives because we need not agree to get along. I want to help people improve their lives, whether faced with a legal problem or just in need of a helpful human at their side. I think it's so important that we all work together to build each other up, and that is why I am passionate about the career I am pursuing. I have realized that the legal community is like this, and I cannot wait to have enough experience to help other legal professionals grow, both personally and professionally. That is why I am doing everything I can to diminish my student debt. Thank you for considering me!

As an attorney and female Latina immigrant, I hope to guide future legal professionals, generations, and anyone who may benefit from my experience. I hope to improve this world by positively impacting people individually through my career and everyday encounters by sharing my belief in tolerance, healthy discourse, and respect for all. I hope to help clients and mentor other legal professionals once I have the experience in my career. In life, I plan to spread kindness and respect by setting an example for others and showing that we need not agree with each other to achieve this. I also plan to take care of my loved ones as best I can because there is nothing more important than the personal connections we make in life. Thus, I want to help our society progress by sharing my perspective with one person at a time in hopes that it helps them become a better person that further shares the same ideas of kindness and tolerance.

As an attorney and female Latina immigrant, I hope to guide future legal professionals, generations, and anyone who may benefit from my experience. I hope to improve this world by positively impacting people individually through my career and everyday encounters by sharing my belief in tolerance, healthy discourse, and respect for all. In my career, I hope to help clients and mentor other legal professionals once I have the experience. In life, I plan to spread kindness and respect by setting an example for others and showing that we need not agree with each other to achieve this. I also plan to take care of my loved ones as best I can because there is nothing more important than the personal connections we make in life. Thus, I want to help our society progress by sharing my perspective with one person at a time in hopes that it helps them become a better person that further shares the same ideas of kindness and tolerance.

The best way to live a long, healthy life is by being happy with what you have now. There is nothing wrong with striving for more, but an appreciation of what your present circumstances are is what avoids unnecessary stress--both to the body and mind. That, along with healthy habits, is the key to living a long, healthy life.

I am a law student now with big dreams for my career. Despite not knowing exactly where my legal career will take me, I will help many people by sharing my experiences. One main reason I am here today is that I got into some minor trouble with the law. I will not disclose what, but that experience taught me that attorneys could be more than a legal service providers. They can be kind, happy, and encouraging. Attorneys can be mentors and counselors and even provide opportunities to turn a life around. My experience on the wrong side of the law was the catalyst that has led me to pursue this career in law. I enjoy every minute of this challenging journey, and I cannot wait to share my experience and help people. Long story short, I went from a college student without a path to someone who knows where she is going with a focused, determined mindset to achieve everything that I can so I may help others do the same.

I grew up in Costa Rica and immigrated to Atlanta when I was seven. The cultural shock was inevitable and coping with that change proved difficult at times. I left my large-family lifestyle to come to a country where my mom, sister, and I only had each other. I consider myself a hybrid of sorts because I was lucky enough to return home for summers. Over time, I learned to compromise my values. For example, I value both my community-oriented roots and American individualism. Because of this, I identify with people of many backgrounds. Since I have always excelled in my studies, I plan on using this affinity to improve the lives of others by becoming an attorney. Receiving scholarships like this one is crucial for my plans to serve others. Time is money, as they say, and I need money to fully invest in my studies. Once I become an established attorney, I plan to use my established connections to create opportunities for others. For example, I made several connections through my doctor, who took the time to help me with my own career development. That selfless attitude is what I hope to be able to apply by obtaining scholarships like this one. I have known many who have had varying immigration experiences, and I have learned that it is never easy to achieve citizenship in the United States. My hopes are to leave law school with as little debt as possible so that I can pursue a specialization in Immigration and focus on the betterment of my community. I have personally received assistance from attorneys in the past. Although they did not do it for free, their impact has been crucial towards my advancement in this country. That is the type of impact I strive for in my own career. Others have inspired me to pursue this arduous path, and I hope to do the same for the generation to come, whatever dream it might be. Everyone has their strengths, and a legal career is the best way for me to apply my own skills and experience towards my insatiable goal of helping others. I dream of a society where discrimination does not exist. One where we all work together to make each other's lives better. It is a far reach, but I am happy to simply contribute towards a more inclusive and accepting society, all through my own leadership and example. Whether it will be by sharing my own immigrant experience, setting a good example, or simply fulfilling my duties as an attorney, I plan to change the world one person at a time. Our world needs more attorneys who prioritize fairness, justice, and progress over money, and that is who I plan to be. I want to lead a life that inspires people to value equality and fairness and reach for their dreams. Most of all, I want to help them realize that we are all members of the human race. Thank you for your consideration.

I was born in Costa Rica and moved to Atlanta, Georgia when I was seven. My life, just like any other, has had its ups and downs, and with them many challenges to my mental health. Mental health is difficult to maintain for people who live the immigrant experience, and my own life has proven that mental difficulties can be overcome to generate great benefits. When I was six, my parents divorced, and two years later, my mother remarried. We moved to the United States soon after. My new school let me skip the second grade because I was the top student back home. Because of this, I was always younger than my classmates, and having moved to a new country mid-childhood made the challenge even greater. Spending summers in Costa Rica kept me close to my roots, but the more I lived my life in Atlanta, the less I was able to identify with my family and friends back home, and vice versa. I was always in a sort of limbo concerning my identity and dealing with the mental effects took me years to overcome. I am Costa Rican and I am American and I believe I am all the better for it. My life has allowed me to draw from many cultures to build values of my own, and to me, that is invaluable. The effects on my mental health were detrimental at times, but I have gained strength, confidence, and independence from my experiences. I am grateful because I identify with people of many backgrounds, and this is one of the reasons I want to help others by practicing law as an immigration attorney. I have always had to work while in school, and with law school, it is not recommended. Receiving this aid is crucial not only to my mental health throughout law school but also for achieving my career goals. I want to be the best that I can be and help like yours will allow me to fully focus on my studies so that I can achieve my highest potential. I would hate to miss out on opportunities just because I need money to survive. I missed out on extracurriculars and internships in college, and I do not plan on doing so in law school. Everything that I am and have seen, and everything that I strive to be, has led me to the pursuit of a legal career. My motivations are strong, and I cannot wait to see the progress and growth I will generate both for me as well as for others. I hope to set an example for those to come and generate success and positive outcomes for my community around me. I hope to inspire just as others have done for me. Mental health is so important, and I would love to share my own experiences so that others can overcome the difficulties of life as an immigrant in America and thrive. Thank you for your consideration.

It seems impossible to choose a single favorite film. I took Film classes in high school and college because I have always found joy in film and television. love kids’ films, dramas, science fiction (probably my favorite), action, horror, and romance. I have had phases of my life where a certain genre is my favorite. As a child, it was animated films. Around the age of eight, I got into horror. I remember watching The Ring by myself at night and although I was terrified, I loved it. I also remember the disappointment I felt when my family would not let me watch The Grudge in theatres. I have not seen it to this day. I have always loved a good documentary and cannot deny the genius of Kubrick and Tarantino. The cinematography is incredible and the experience their films give is incredible. And so, I believe it is impossible to choose a favorite film. Tastes change with time, and as you know, mine are not exempt. So, to choose a favorite film, I guess I would appeal to my emotions, not my knowledge of “quality” and notoriety. If I were to choose one, it would be Mulan. The original. As a child, it was incredible to see a woman overcome such endeavors in a male-dominated world. The storyline and musical scores are infectious, and I cannot help but love it every time I see it. It is my favorite because of the emotions it brings back from childhood. Peace, fervor, musical delights, and empowerment. I still get teary-eyed when the emperor acknowledges her heroism. It is such a good movie on so many levels! I just wish I could go back and watch it for the first time. It is a simple choice, but one that I stand by.

I am a woman who identifies as bisexual, Costarican and has spent my formative years in Atlanta. It is still my home. I am exploring law schools in several parts of the U.S and cannot be more excited to get started in the Fall. I want to go to law school because this world needs more lawyers who prioritize justice and fairness, not money. Another reason is that various attorneys throughout my life have inspired me to follow this path. Some helped my family stay in this country and achieve citizenship status. Others have helped us with other minor litigation, and without them, the positive outcome would not have been possible. Most of all, I want to help people, and this is the best and most impactful way that I can do so. Lastly, I want to be a leader that inspires others to pursue their dreams, despite any associated difficulties. That is what a small-town attorney did for me a couple of years ago, and I want to pass that on to others once I am older and wiser. My goal is to have my own firm someday. My future partners would possess my same passion for helping others so that we can achieve the best possible outcome for our clients. My firm will mainly provide services for those who need immigration assistance, but hopefully, we would provide various services. My biggest dream is to change the world, even in a small way. Contributing to the work of people like Ruth Bader Ginsburg in women’s rights and Martin Luther King in civil rights would be my most incredible achievement. I am going to law school this Fall and I intend to give it my all so that down the line, I will be able to help my community. This scholarship is just one small step towards achieving lesser financial strain so that I can achieve my desired goals. Money is not my priority, but it does make or break how a young attorney lives. Thank you so much for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship.