In truth, I always knew I was going to college. Even when the odds were stacked against me, I never saw college as a question or one of many options. It was the only option. Unfortunately, knowing what you want and knowing how to get it are two very different things. With little to no guidance from my single mother, who although did the best she could, never attended college or even graduated high school, I turned to my great aunt, Deborah Dean Nelson. She was the first person in our family to go to college and became the person who made my goals feel reachable. With her support, I found the confidence to keep pushing forward. Faith has always played a quiet but constant role in my life. I remember times when we were homeless, when the power was out, when there was no food, and all I had was prayer. When my mother cried and we felt completely alone, it was faith that told me there had to be something better. Even when I did not know how, I believed I would find a way. That belief kept me grounded, focused, and willing to fight for the future I envisioned. It gave me hope when reality felt too heavy to carry. My aunt’s journey was anything but easy. She too was born into poverty, but while taking graduate classes, she also raised children and worked long hours. She navigated a system that from the beginning was not designed for people like us. She did not just earn a degree. She built a new standard for women in our family. She gave us permission to imagine something better than food stamps and assisted housing. Growing up, I watched my mother sacrifice everything to give us a chance. We faced periods of homelessness and food insecurity. I remember sleeping on borrowed couches and walking long distances just to get to school. I remember family members who judged us instead of helping. Those memories are burned into my identity. They made me resilient, but they also opened my eyes to the harsh truth that not everyone starts the race from the same line. Some of us have to run twice as fast just to keep up. I could not be more grateful to have a mentor like my aunt. She has helped me from the very beginning of my college and scholarship journey. She taught me something more valuable than doing the work for me. She taught me how to do it myself and to stand on my own two feet. She has helped me understand deadlines, search for scholarships, stay organized, and remain motivated in the face of rejection. She is my biggest supporter and the person I call when I am overwhelmed or unsure. She reminds me of all that I am capable of. The pressure to succeed has shaped every part of who I am. The demanding hours and the long work I am sure to endure over time are of no consequence. My rewards and pride will be my own, fruits reaped from my blood and tears as I sacrificed personal time, relationships, and sleep all for the sake of my future. I have learned to take adversities as a challenge and make them the center of my strength, despite the hardships I faced. The pressure is both a burden and a motivator. I work hard in school, hold jobs to support myself, and seek out scholarships because I know financial aid is often the only thing standing between me and college. I am proud of what I have accomplished, but I also know that hard work alone has not been enough. I have had to depend on luck, on kindness from strangers, and on opportunities I nearly missed simply because I did not have the right connections or support. Poverty has taught me the importance of striving for better and making do with what one has. The strife I have endured is a stepping tool to the future I hope to one day reach.

I have always wanted more for myself. Not just a career or a title, but a life that means something. I want to use everything I have been through to help people who feel unheard, overlooked, or stuck. Becoming a criminal defense attorney is not just a dream. It is a way for me to give back and create change. I want to help people make it through some of the hardest moments of their lives and give them the support I know they deserve. I want to fight for them, but also stand with them and the communities they come from. My interest in law came from something personal. I remember feeling helpless as the people who were supposed to protect us, our own family, looked at my mother and me with disgust. It was a painful and humiliating moment. While my mother cried, I sat there and felt myself harden. That feeling never left me. I have been chasing the satisfaction of overcoming every obstacle ever since. I know the journey will be hard. I know I will have to sacrifice time, relationships, and sleep. But I am ready. I want to earn every step and build a future that reflects my strength and my mother’s sacrifices. Growing up with a single mother taught me how to keep going no matter what. Poverty forces you to be creative and resourceful. We learned how to stretch what we had and still find joy in small things. While other teenagers worried about weekend plans, I was thinking about how we were going to afford groceries or keep the lights on. Even then, my mother pushed me to focus on my education. She always said school was the one thing that could break the cycle. Because of her, I see every hardship as a reason to keep going, not a reason to stop. One of my strongest traits is empathy. I do not just want to succeed for myself. I want to be someone who listens, supports, and speaks up for people who do not always feel seen. I know what it is like to be overlooked. That is why I want to help bridge the gap between the legal system and the people it is supposed to serve. The law often feels cold and distant, especially for low income families. I want to help change that. I believe in creating mentorship programs, school visits, and legal education opportunities that make the law feel more human and accessible. I want to show people that justice does not have to feel out of reach. Even with everything I have faced, I have still achieved so much. I was accepted into the Honors College at Georgia State University and earned a place in the National Honor Society. I kept a 3.9 GPA while working part time at a fast food restaurant. These accomplishments are more than just lines on a resume. They show my ability to stay focused and push through, even when things are hard. More than anything, I want a life that is balanced and meaningful. Writing has always been one of the ways I express myself and make sense of the world. It helps me reflect and grow. As I continue my journey, I will stay grounded in service, growth, and justice. I know who I am and where I am going. I am not giving up, and I am not slowing down. I am ready to build something bigger than myself and help others rise with me.

A decade is an extremely long amount of time, and in this period I envision myself at the height of success. Not only do I wish to have graduated from law school, but I also hope to be a criminal defense attorney. As an attorney, I wish to use my expertise to help individuals navigate their legal challenges and change the world through ethical means. Under my guidance, I hope to foster justice not only for my clients but for the communities they come from. My interests in law bore from a personal experience. The feeling of helplessness as I watched those around me, the ones who were supposed to provide me with protection as we were family, looked at me and my mother with disgust. It was a dehumanizing feeling, but as my mother wept, I hardened. I am chasing the satisfaction of beating the obstacles placed in my path. The demanding hours and grueling work that I am sure to endure over time are of no consequence. My rewards and pride will be my own, fruits reaped from my blood and tears as I sacrificed personal time, relationships, and sleep all for the sake of my future and the sacrifices of my mother. One issue that deeply changed my perspective on the world is the widespread injustice in housing law. Learning about how low-income families are often evicted without proper legal representation or understanding of their rights made me realize how many people are stripped of stability simply because they are poor. I have lived this reality. I have seen how poverty can take away your power and make you feel invisible. The legal system often favors those who have resources and leaves families like mine without protection. This made me realize that I do not just want to study the law. I want to use it to fight for those who are unheard. Being raised by a single mother taught me how to survive and endure. Unfortunately, poverty has a way of forcing individuals to get creative. While other teens were often able to worry about weekend plans, I was often concerned with the utility bill or groceries for the week. Despite our worries, my mother pushed me to focus on my education. She believed it was the one thing that separated me from the cycle of poverty. I have learned to take adversities as a challenge and make them the center of my strength, despite the hardships I faced. Often the legal system, and the people it is meant to serve, feel extremely disconnected, leading to injustices and a lack of trust. Programs, mentorship opportunities, and equitable initiatives within the legal community could help close the gap between the justice system and the communities affected by it. Despite the challenges I have faced, I have accomplished a great deal in the past year. I have been accepted into the honors college at Georgia State University and also earned a spot in the prestigious National Honor Society. This was all while maintaining a 3.9 GPA and working part time at a local fast food chain. These achievements represent more than my academic success. They are proof of my commitment and ability to persevere under enormous pressure. More than anything else, I want a well balanced life and an equally fulfilling life. Writing has always been a vital part of my journey, and it helps me reflect and communicate. As I continue my journey, I will remain focused on growth, justice, and service. I am unwavering in my dedication toward my dream.

A decade is an extremely long amount of time, and in this period I envision myself at the height of success. Not only do I wish to have graduated from law school, but I also hope to be a criminal defense attorney. I am extremely passionate about my education and individual success. As a criminal defense attorney, I wish to use my expertise to help individuals navigate their legal challenges and change the world through ethical means. Under my guidance, I hope to foster justice not only for my clients but for the communities they come from. My interest in law bore from a personal experience.The feeling of helplessness as I watched those around me, the ones who were supposed to provide me with protection as we were family, looked at me and my mother with disgust.It was a dehumanizing feeling, but as my mother wept, I hardened. I am chasing the satisfaction of beating the obstacles placed in my path. The demanding hours and grueling work that I am sure to endure over time are of no consequence. My rewards and pride will be my own, fruits reaped from my blood and tears as I sacrificed personal time, relationships, and sleep all for the sake of my future and the sacrifices of my mother. Being raised by a single mother taught me how to survive and endure. Unfortunately, poverty has a way of forcing individuals to get creative. My mother and I often learn to make do with what we had and find little joys. While other teens were often able to worry about weekend plans I was often concerned with the utility bill or groceries for the week. Despite our worries, my mother pushed me to focus on my education. She believed it was the one thing that separated me from the cycle of poverty. I have learned to take adversities as a challenge and make them the center of my strength, despite the hardships I faced. Poverty has taught me the importance of striving for better and making do with what one has. The strife I have endured is but a stepping tool to the future I hope to one day reach. Often the legal system, and the people it is meant to serve, feel extremely disconnected, leading to injustices and a lack of trust. Programs,mentorship opportunities, and equitable initiatives within the legal community could help close the gap between the justice system and the communities affected by it. Despite the challenges I've faced, I’ve accomplished a great deal in the past year. I’ve been accepted into the honors college at Georgia State University, and also earned a spot in the prestigious national honor Society. This was all while maintaining a 3.9 GPA and working part time at a local fast food chain. These achievements represent more than my academic success. They are proof of my commitment and ability to preserve under enormous pressure. More than anything else, I want a well-balanced life and an equally fulfilling life.Writing has always been a vital part of my journey, and it helps me reflect and communicate . As I continue my journey, I will remain focused on growth, justice, and service. I am unwavering in my dedication toward my dream.

In truth, I always knew I was going to college. Even though the odds were often highly stacked against me, I never saw college as a question or even as one of many options. It was the only option. Unfortunately, knowing what you want and knowing how to get, there are two very different things with little to no guidance from my single mother, who, although did the best she could have never attended college or even graduated high school, turned to my great aunt Deborah Dean-Nelson. She was the first person in our family to go to college and became the person who made my goals feel reachable. It was only with her support that I built confidence to keep pushing forward. My aunt’s journey was anything but easy. She too has been born in a cycle of poverty, but while taking graduate classes, she also raised children and worked long hours. She navigated a terrain that from the beginning, we’re not designed for people like us. She did not just earn a degree. She created a new standard for women in my family in a way I feel that she gave our entire family permission to imagine something better, then food stamps, and assisted housing. I could not be more grateful to have a mentor like her who has decided to help me from the very beginning of my college and scholarship journey. She taught me something more valuable than doing the work for me. She taught me how to do it myself and to stand on my own 2 feet as I would be for the next four years on my own. She has helped me understand deadlines, search for scholarships, stay organized and remain motivated in the face of rejection. She is my biggest supporter and an individual. I can call when I’m overwhelmed or unsure. She reminds me of all that I am capable of. I often wonder how she navigated this process on her own as her own mother never graduated college. I can only once again thank her for being a guiding light in my life. Well, I navigate myself through college and law school. I wish to carry her legacy with me. I wish to become someone who uses what I’ve learned to help others achieve their goals as well. My aunt built more than just a college student she built a leader, a resilient young woman and a future lawyer. I now know that where you come from doesn’t define where you’re going. I’ve experienced homelessness and hardship, but I’ve also experienced love and community and growth. College is no longer just a far away dream that I do not know how to navigate. It’s a reality as I continue to make plans to graduate and go to law school and when I finally do achieve my goals I’ll remember that I never did this alone. I stood on the backof my aunt’s hard work and my mother sacrifices.

A decade is an extremely long amount of time, and in this period I envision myself at the height of success. Not only do I wish to have graduated from law school, but I also hope to be a criminal defense attorney. I am extremely passionate about my education and individual success. As a criminal defense attorney, I wish to use my expertise to help individuals navigate their legal challenges and change the world through ethical means. Under my guidance, I hope to foster justice not only for my clients but for the communities they come from. My interest in law bore from a personal experience. The feeling of helplessness as I watched those around me, the ones who were supposed to provide me with protection as we were family, looked at me and my mother with disgust. It was a dehumanizing feeling, but as my mother wept, I hardened. I am chasing the satisfaction of beating the obstacles placed in my path. The demanding hours and grueling work that I am sure to endure over time are of no consequence. My rewards and pride will be my own, fruits reaped from my blood and tears as I sacrificed personal time, relationships, and sleep all for the sake of my future and the sacrifices of my mother. Being raised by a single mother taught me how to survive and endure. Unfortunately, poverty has a way of forcing individuals to get creative. While other teens were often able to worry about weekend plans, I was often concerned with the utility bill or groceries for the week. Despite our worries, my mother pushed me to focus on my education. She believed it was the one thing that separated me from the cycle of poverty. Poverty has taught me the importance of striving for better and making do with what one has. The strife I have endured is but a stepping tool to the future I hope to one day reach. Often the legal system, and the people it is meant to serve, feel extremely disconnected, leading to injustices and a lack of trust. Programs, mentorship opportunities, and equitable initiatives within the legal community could help close the gap between the justice system and the communities affected by it. I have been working to create opportunities for change in my community through valuable actions from freshman to senior year. What makes me different is that I have turned struggle into motivation to serve others. Whether I am volunteering or connecting with people in my neighborhood, I know that every act matters. I do not always know who is watching, but I hope that through my actions, someone finds hope and feels seen. Whether it is a classmate, a younger student, or a stranger going through something difficult, I want them to see that it is possible to rise above hard circumstances and still choose kindness and growth. Despite the challenges I have faced, I have accomplished a great deal in the past year. I have been accepted into the honors college at Georgia State University and also earned a spot in the prestigious National Honor Society. This was all while maintaining a 3.9 GPA and working part time at a local fast food chain. These achievements represent more than my academic success. They are proof of my commitment and ability to persevere under enormous pressure. As I continue my journey, I will remain focused on growth, justice, and service. I am unwavering in my dedication toward my dream.

A decade is an extremely long amount of time, and in this period I envision myself at the height of success. Not only do I wish to have graduated from law school, but I also hope to be a criminal defense attorney. I am extremely passionate about my education and individual success. As a criminal defense attorney, I wish to use my expertise to help individuals navigate their legal challenges and change the world through ethical means. Under my guidance, I hope to foster justice not only for my clients but for the communities they come from. My interest in law bore from a personal experience. The feeling of helplessness as I watched those around me, the ones who were supposed to provide me with protection as we were family, looked at me and my mother with disgust. It was a dehumanizing feeling, but as my mother wept, I hardened. I am chasing the satisfaction of beating the obstacles placed in my path. The demanding hours and grueling work that I am sure to endure over time are of no consequence. My rewards and pride will be my own, fruits reaped from my blood and tears as I sacrificed personal time, relationships, and sleep all for the sake of my future and the sacrifices of my mother. Being raised by a single mother taught me how to survive and endure. Unfortunately, poverty has a way of forcing individuals to get creative. My mother and I often learned to make do with what we had and find little joys. While other teens were often able to worry about weekend plans, I was often concerned with the utility bill or groceries for the week. Despite our worries, my mother pushed me to focus on my education. She believed it was the one thing that separated me from the cycle of poverty. I have been working to create opportunities for change in my community through valuable actions from freshman to senior year. What makes me different is that I have turned struggle into motivation to serve others. Whether I am volunteering or connecting with people in my neighborhood, I know that every act matters. I do not always know who is watching, but I hope that through my actions, someone finds hope and feels seen. Whether it is a classmate, a younger student, or a stranger going through something difficult, I want them to see that it is possible to rise above hard circumstances and still choose kindness and growth. Despite the challenges I have faced, I have accomplished a great deal in the past year. I have been accepted into the honors college at Georgia State University and also earned a spot in the prestigious National Honor Society. This was all while maintaining a 3.9 GPA and working part time at a local fast food chain. These achievements represent more than my academic success. They are proof of my commitment and ability to persevere under enormous pressure. More than anything else, I want a well balanced life and an equally fulfilling life. Writing has always been a vital part of my journey, and it helps me reflect and communicate. As I continue my journey, I will remain focused on growth, justice, and service. I am unwavering in my dedication toward my dream.

A decade is an extremely long amount of time, and in this period I envision myself at the height of success. Not only do I wish to have graduated from law school, but I also hope to be a criminal defense attorney. I am extremely passionate about my education and individual success. As a criminal defense attorney, I wish to use my expertise to help individuals navigate their legal challenges and change the world through ethical means. Under my guidance, I hope to foster justice not only for my clients but for the communities they come from. My interest in law bore from a personal experience.The feeling of helplessness as I watched those around me, the ones who were supposed to provide me with protection as we were family, looked at me and my mother with disgust.It was a dehumanizing feeling, but as my mother wept, I hardened. I am chasing the satisfaction of beating the obstacles placed in my path. The demanding hours and grueling work that I am sure to endure over time are of no consequence. My rewards and pride will be my own, fruits reaped from my blood and tears as I sacrificed personal time, relationships, and sleep all for the sake of my future and the sacrifices of my mother. Being raised by a single mother taught me how to survive and endure. Unfortunately, poverty has a way of forcing individuals to get creative. My mother and I often learn to make do with what we had and find little joys. While other teens were often able to worry about weekend plans I was often concerned with the utility bill or groceries for the week. Despite our worries, my mother pushed me to focus on my education. She believed it was the one thing that separated me from the cycle of poverty. I have learned to take adversities as a challenge and make them the center of my strength, despite the hardships I faced. Poverty has taught me the importance of striving for better and making do with what one has. The strife I have endured is but a stepping tool to the future I hope to one day reach. Often the legal system, and the people it is meant to serve, feel extremely disconnected, leading to injustices and a lack of trust. Programs, mentorship opportunities, and equitable initiatives within the legal community could help close the gap between the justice system and the communities affected by it. Despite the challenges I've faced, I’ve accomplished a great deal in the past year. I’ve been accepted into the honors college at Georgia State University, and also earned a spot in the prestigious national honor Society. This was all while maintaining a 3.9 GPA and working part time at a local fast food chain. These achievements represent more than my academic success. They are proof of my commitment and ability to preserve under enormous pressure. More than anything else, I want a well-balanced life and an equally fulfilling life.Writing has always been a vital part of my journey, and it helps me reflect and communicate. As I continue my journey, I will remain focused on growth, justice, and service. I am unwavering in my dedication toward my dream.