Since I was young, I’ve wanted to become someone known for inciting positive change. I began high school knowing I wanted to start creating that legacy. So, I searched for extracurricular activities that would allow me to better my community. I began volunteering as a teen attorney at Pima County Teen Court, a diversion program that juvenile delinquents can complete after admitting guilt to a crime. Teen Court trials are not to determine guilt but to decide on a sentence that aligns with the restorative justice philosophy. My time as a teen attorney awakened a passion for law inside of me. I was heartbroken to hear my peers struggle with addiction, broken homes, and mental health at such a young age. My recommended constructive sentencing options to jurors helped hundreds of teens get on a better path. After each trial, I discuss the lessons my defendants have learned by completing the Teen Court process. Defendants always promise me they will change and make better decisions. These promises are kept. I have never experienced a repeat offender. Seeing the ethics and effectiveness behind restorative justice has inspired me to dedicate my life to spreading the philosophy. My dream grew and changed throughout my time in high school, as I continued with Teen Court and took AP Government. I took the course eager to learn more about the current U.S. justice system. My favorite concept of the class will always be historical Supreme Court cases. The impact and power of each Supreme Court ruling was fascinating to me. The Supreme Court constantly chose and redefined the U.S. Constitution’s morals and modern meaning. I was in awe of their position and realized that, with nine ethical justices, the Supreme Court could reform our country for the better. I decided then that it would be my life’s mission to become a Supreme Court Justice. I want to start my career as a criminal justice lawyer. As a lawyer, I plan to promote and advocate for restorative justice principles to be applied to cases when possible. I believe, when properly applied, restorative justice can be a game changer in the justice system. Restorative justice allows individuals to reflect within themselves and change for the better. During my practice, I also plan to promote justice and advocate for change by engaging in public service litigation on the side. Eventually, I want to become a federal judge and enforce justice through a different courtroom role. This will also give me the prerequisite experience I need to be considered for a spot on the Supreme Court. Overall, my ultimate goal is to work my way up towards becoming a Supreme Court Justice so my rulings on cases can better the community nationally. Once appointed, I plan to hold the position for the rest of my life. The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona Scholarship would help me take the first step toward achieving this dream. My passion for empowering my peers and improving lives won’t end after my graduation. I hope to continue reminding people that mistakes don’t define them. I want them to know that with determination and hard work, change can occur within themselves for the greater good. My mission in life is to help everyone around me realize they can make a difference for the greater good, whether that change is in themselves or society as a whole

I will never forget the feeling encapsulating me as I entered the Capitol Building this past April. I had been chosen to join the Jewish-Latino Teen Coalition (JLTC), an advocacy group that chooses a public policy topic to research, develop an opinion on, and lobby for with members of Congress in Washington, D.C. My lobbying experience awakened a passion inside of me for Dreamer Rights and inciting positive change. Before narrowing our public policy issue, my cohort consistently expressed interest in immigration. Growing up in Tucson, with a father who works for I.C.E., immigration was an issue that has always hit close to home for me. My cohort met with various refugee and immigrant non-profit organizations in Tucson to explore the topic. We were trying to find a specific area of immigration issues to focus our lobbying trip on. We met with an immigration attorney, and he brought to our attention the hardships faced by Dreamers. My heart broke when listening to the struggles Dreamers face today in America. America is supposed to be a country where children aren't suffering because of the crimes committed by their parents. Ironically, millions of Dreamers today are subject to a life of hardship because of the decisions made by their parents. Dreamers are innocent people living typical American lives who pay American taxes without having the title and benefits of an American. Learning about this issue encouraged my fellow JLTC cohort members and me to lobby in Washington, D.C. for the passage of the DREAM Act. Despite our lobbying efforts, the Dream Act has still not passed in the Capitol. Given the opportunity and resources, I would attempt to get the DREAM Act passed by further educating the public about the situation regarding Dreamers. Through media, I would attempt to convey the hardships Dreamers encounter daily. My priority would be to emphasize who a Dreamer is. I'd share stories about their forced immigration to emphasize their innocence and reiterate how none of the Dreamers committed a crime. To further educate the public about the issue, I would debunk misconceptions society has about Dreamers. For instance, many believe that if Dreamers become citizens, the amount of jobs available to those born in the U.S. will decrease. However, most Dreamers occupy jobs with labor shortages, so in reality, Dreamers are actively solving an issue in our economy. Additionally, through the income taxes they pay, they contribute a substantial amount of capital to the American economy. If this information were to become more well-known, more citizens may feel an urge to become more involved in the issue and promote the passage of the DREAM Act. With the public's newfound knowledge and support, I could begin the second part of my plan for addressing the issue: to acquire the attention of elected congressional officials. Unfortunately, most Congressional officials are primarily concerned with becoming reelected and maintaining a favorable public image. However, with public awareness, the gained support will force elected officials to take notice of the cause, especially during election years. Through continuous lobbying efforts and increased public awareness, it would be evident to the elected officials that the public cares about Dreamers. Once elected officials can see that their constituents are passionate about Dreamer rights, they will be inclined to vote favorably on the passage of the Dream Act. Through continuous efforts to spread public awareness and knowledge, and lobbying for legislation to be passed, Dreamers could eventually have a pathway to citizenship. Status as a citizen would relinquish them from the hardships they suffer today as punishment for a crime they never committed.

Ever since I was young, I've been determined to become someone known for inciting positive change. I started high school knowing I wanted to start creating that legacy. So, I searched for extracurricular activities that would allow me to better my community and evoke passion in me. Through these activities, my life goals have been redefined and I’ve realized how critical education is to achieve them. I started volunteering as a teen attorney at Pima County Teen Court, a diversion program that juvenile delinquents can complete after admitting guilt to a crime, in 9th grade. Trials at Teen Court are not to determine guilt but to decide on a sentence that aligns with the restorative justice philosophy. I signed up to become an attorney immediately after realizing the program would allow me to push my peers toward better decision-making. Passing the bar exam in 2020 awakened a passion of mine to help people because of the emotional impact my cases had on me. It was heartbreaking to hear my peers struggle with addiction, broken homes, and mental health at such a young age. Through my recommended constructive sentencing options to jurors, I helped hundreds of teens get on a better path. I have never experienced a repeat defendant. This showed me the impact my actions can have on someone's life. I was inspired. Seeing the ethics and effectiveness behind restorative justice encouraged me to dedicate my life to spreading that philosophy. I realized that, as a lawyer, I could enforce justice while still allowing others to turn their lives around. To do this, I’d have to attend law school and obtain my J.D. Even though education has always been important to me, I never considered law school before my time at Teen Court. Now, it's something that I can’t wait to do. I see my future attendance at law school as something that is life-changing. I see my passion for law and justice growing, despite that being seemingly impossible. I see myself creating memories and connections in my career field that will last a lifetime. Most importantly, I see myself becoming one step closer to achieving a lifelong dream of mine: being someone who was known to change lives for the better. My passion for empowering my peers through the administration of advice and second chances won’t end after my graduation. I will still encourage my peers to take advantage of the opportunities they’re provided with for the rest of my life. I’ll continue to remind people that mistakes don’t define them. I want them to know that with determination, positive change can happen. I will do this throughout my career. I plan to obtain my J.D. in Washington, D.C., and then, beginning as a lawyer, work my way up towards becoming a Supreme Court Justice. However, my main mission is to help everyone around me realize they can make a difference for the greater good, whether that change is in themselves or in society as a whole. The Marian Haley Scholarship would help me take the first step toward this dream.

The field of public relations is supposed to help companies, public figures, and even parts of the government relate to the people. Diverse voices in public relations are necessary for all members of the general public to feel heard and represented. How can underrepresented communities relate to anything if their voices aren’t shown or heard? During my time as a member of the Jewish-Latino Teen Coalition (JLTC), I discovered how crucial the role of diverse voices in public relations and representation is. The JLTC is a group of selected teens that choose a public policy topic to research, develop an opinion on, and advocate for with members of Congress in Washington, D.C. My cohort of the Jewish-Latino Teen Coalition decided to spend our time advocating for Dreamer rights. Being Latina, I couldn’t have been happier with our choice. My cohort met with local immigration law firms, immigrant advocacy groups, and refugee charities. These meetings gave me a greater understanding of the Hispanic community's issues. It broke my heart as I sympathized with my fellow Hispanics significantly. Being a member of the Jewish-Latino Teen Coalition felt incredibly fulfilling because it allowed me to represent my underrepresented cultural community. On the other hand, speaking with members of minorities helped me discover how overlooked by the government and public the needs of minority groups are. Our voices weren’t being heard. It was a tragically startling realization. I realized then that public relations groups needed to start focusing on getting more minority voices heard. With this in mind, the concentration of our society’s leaders needs to become more diverse. There is no one better than the members of the diverse community themselves to take the initiative of solving the problems affecting these minorities. Having minority representation in public relations will allow all under-represented community grievances, opinions, and, most importantly, voices to be heard. Positive change cannot happen if the affected people are ignored. Society needs to understand that a movement for change can begin with a single individual’s voice. In terms of how diverse voices in public relations can shape a narrative, diverse voices prevent misinformation from spreading. Unfortunately, in the society we live in today, there are dozens of lies and stereotypes clouding the public’s minds. By having diverse voices play a large part in public relations, the spread of misinformation can end. Alternatively, new, positive, and correct information can be shared with the public, allowing members of diverse communities to feel a sense of pride. Members of diverse communities will be inclined to celebrate their heritage, sexuality, or background because of their connection to applicable public figures or relations. For positive change to occur in society, members of diverse groups must start to utilize the power of their voices. Through community advocacy, education, and active participation in civic duties, diverse voices can and will be heard. By encouraging the current members of the underrepresented communities to take on active leadership positions in society that allow them to speak out, the younger ones will be inspired to follow. The future of the diverse communities will be bright. Diverse voices will not only survive but thrive.

In the hectic and scary year 2020, I found peace while reading. The books I read allowed me to escape the chaos and experience different worlds. I cherished the feeling I had cozied up in my bed with a book in my hands. It was euphoric. In 2020, I became an avid member of TikTok’s BookTok. I found myself consistently looking for recommendations on the app and avidly watching reviews. My top ten BookTok book ranking is constantly changing but there’s a select few that always remain. My ideal bookshelf would have to include a copy of The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, and a collection of young adult romance books such as Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber and Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco. I love a good mystery book which is why I included The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. The Inheritance Games is a thrilling mystery novel about a girl, Avery, who inherits billions from a random stranger. The book’s plot twists and love triangle kept me enticed and invested in the series. The love triangle was one of the only love triangles to equally divide BookTok. Before The Inheritance Games, love triangles always seemed to have an obvious love interest for readers to root for, like Edward Cullen in Twilight. But in The Inheritance Games, that wasn’t the case. The #InheritanceGames trend on BookTok seemed to consist of multiple users debating between #TeamGrayson and #TeamJameson. It was unheard of and bizarre. My next book is a tearjerker. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover tells the heartbreaking story of Lily falling in love with a seemingly perfect guy, Ryle. *Spoiler Alert* Ryle ends up developing severe anger issues and becomes an abusive partner to Lily. As someone who grew up in a household with domestic violence, this story had a personal connection to me. It was touching to see a book bring awareness to a sadly overlooked issue. This book allowed me to understand my mom’s perspective during the abuse. Before reading It Ends With Us, I had never cried after reading a book but, the ending of It Ends With Us had me tearing up. Hoover truly takes readers on an unforgettable emotional journey. After crying, I’d need to lighten the mood with my favorite romance novels: Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber, Crave by Tracy Wolff, and Kingdom of The Wicked by Maniscalco. All of these books immerse you into very different but mystical worlds of fantasy. The books introduce you to new types of creatures and societies that are all riveting to discover. Crave holds a special place on my bookshelf because it was the first BookTok book I read. After falling in love with Crave, I was desperate to get my hands on another BookTok romance novel. After reading dozens of young adult romance books, Kingdom of The Wicked and Once Upon a Broken Heart still stick out to me. Like Crave, these books contain an ideal balance of plot development and romantic scenes. The romance is enough to portray the passionate love each character possesses while the plot keeps the story engaging and moving forward. My ideal bookshelf would take readers on an emotional roller coaster. It would be a ride filled with love, sadness, and curiosity. From experience, I can attest that this reading journey is undeniably worth partaking in. After all, these books achieved the impossible. They managed to amplify my love of reading.

There is something heart-wrenching about Olivia Rodrigo’s song “The Grudge”. I'm shattered every time I hear Rodrigo ask, “Do you think I deserved it all?". It is a question that I had been asking myself throughout my time in high school. I grew up in a broken household with domestic violence. My dad never hurt me physically, but the emotional and psychological damage he caused will never go away. In my first year of high school, my dad had an affair and my parents finally divorced. My dad proposed to his mistress two years after the divorce. I will never forget the smile on his face when he showed me the ring. He wanted me to be happy and celebrate with him but, I couldn’t bring myself to. I refused to watch my dad marry another woman and treat her with respect when he treated my mother so poorly. I ended up forcing myself to attend the wedding because I didn’t want to lose my relationship with my dad. I’ll never forget the feeling I had watching the ceremony. He changed overnight. All of a sudden, my dad became a level-headed and kind individual. I should have been happy my dad changed, but it made me more depressed. My dad’s demeanor changing revealed that he had been capable of treating me with respect my entire childhood. It meant that he could have kept his anger under control. It meant that he chose to abuse me emotionally. My dad's change made me wonder if I had done something to receive the poor treatment. I started questioning my worth and asking myself if I deserved the abuse after all. I’ve spent countless nights imagining my dad responding to what Rodrigo asks in “The Grudge”. I felt this need to know if my dad truly believed I deserved to go through the mistreatment. One day, I realized I didn’t need to hear his answer. I grew up and realized there was no justification for how he treated me. I spent my whole childhood letting my dad control me. Eventually, I decided I didn’t want to be known as the girl who allowed her dad to break her. I wanted to be known as a woman who triumphed despite her hardships. Moving on allowed me to make the most of my final years of high school. I started to volunteer as a teen attorney, advocate for Dreamer rights, and run a DECA chapter. I made a difference in my community and found my worth on my own. The lyrics “Do you think I deserved it all?” convey this journey. At first, the lyrics appear to be Rodrigo asking someone who hurt her if she deserved it. On a deeper level, the question Rodrigo asks is rhetorical. Rodrigo knows she doesn’t deserve the pain inflicted on her. Instead, the rhetorical question calls the person out for their actions. Rodrigo knows she is worth more and is making a point. This reflects the teenage experience. Initally when we’re young, we seek external validation. Teenagers are too young to appreciate the qualities they possess. Our young minds give us this need to hear someone else tell us that we're us enough. Eventually, through learning experiences, we grow up and realize our worth. Growing up is leaving the people who fail to treat you right. It's accepting that sometimes you’re better off alone. The teenage experience is realizing that, in the end, you didn’t deserve it all. -A.Madrid

When I was young, I decided that I wanted to make a difference in my community. I grew up as a history nerd who loved hearing stories about America’s founding fathers and how they changed the lives of thousands. Hearing these stories gave me the desire to better the lives of the American people too. The time I spent volunteering at Pima County Teen Court showed me how I could do that. Originally, I volunteered at Teen Court as a juror since I wasn't old enough to begin attorney training. I will never forget completing my first jury duty. I'll always remember observing the teen attorneys exude such confidence and determination in court. I could feel the passion in each question asked and objection exclaimed. I left the Teen Court facility with a new desire in life. I wanted to become a lawyer. I signed up for attorney training immediately when I was old enough. The attorney training program amplified my yearning to become a professional lawyer. I learned how to create lines of questioning and opening and closing statements and I was introduced to the Teen Court philosophy of restorative justice. The concept of restorative justice focuses more on repairing the community and restoring the defendant’s morality rather than punishing them. Teen Court helped me realize the power of second chances. The defendants at Teen Court have already admitted guilt to their crimes. Their trials held at Teen Court are to decide on a constructive sentence that pushes the defendant toward better decision-making. During the trial, the defendants are given a chance to explain themselves and show who they are aside from the case. I’ve always admired how Teen Court urges for the defendants to be viewed as more than their crime. The success of this method is evident in Pima County Teen Court's low defendant retention rate. Seeing the ethics and effectiveness behind restorative justice inspired me to dedicate my life to spreading the philosophy, especially since it aligned with my values. Volunteering at Teen Court showed me how I, as a lawyer, could enforce justice and still give others the precious opportunity to turn their lives around. As a prosecution lawyer, I plan to implement Teen Court’s restorative justice philosophy into my practice. I'd view the justice system as a way to bring justice to the community affected by the defendant’s crime rather than narrow-mindedly viewing it as a way to punish the individual. Once I become a lawyer, I hope to present my cases to the judge in a way that allows them to acquire that perspective. I also aim to present the circumstances of the case in a way that encourages the judge to come up with a sentence option that truly encourages the defendant to change their ways and stay away from their habit of poor decision-making. I will forever be grateful for my time at Teen Court because it helped me discover the legacy I want to leave behind. I’m certain that I was meant to become a lawyer and implement the philosophy of restorative justice into our justice system today. This will allow more members of society to have the precious opportunity to change their lives for the better while still facing the consequences of their actions. -A. Madrid

I never could have predicted that my time spent volunteering at Pima County Teen Court would end in me reevaluating my plan in life. Volunteering at Teen Court has changed my life tremendously by helping me find my purpose and define the legacy I want to leave behind. Originally, I volunteered at Teen Court as a juror since I wasn't old enough to begin attorney training. I will never forget completing my first jury duty. I'll always remember observing the teen attorneys exude such confidence and determination in court. I could feel the passion in each question asked and objection exclaimed. I left the Teen Court facility with a new desire in life. I wanted to become a lawyer. I signed up for attorney training immediately when I was old enough. The attorney training program amplified my yearning to become a professional lawyer. In addition to learning how to create lines of questioning and opening and closing statements, I was introduced to the Teen Court philosophy of restorative justice. The concept of restorative justice focuses more on repairing the community and restoring the defendant’s morality rather than punishing them. The success of this method is evident in Pima County Teen Court's low defendant retention rate. Seeing the ethics and effectiveness behind restorative justice inspired me to dedicate my life to spreading the restorative justice philosophy since it aligned with my values as a Christian. My time spent with Teen Court and Christ has allowed me to realize the power of second chances. The defendants at Teen Court have already admitted guilt to their crimes. The trials hosted are to decide on a constructive sentence that pushes the defendant toward better decision-making. I’ve always admired how Teen Court urges the defendants to be viewed as more than a crime in a police report. This sticks out to me because it’s similar to how God views his children as more than their sins. As an imperfect Christian, I will forever be grateful for the innumerable times God has forgiven me for my sins. I have realized that there is nothing more valuable in my life than the chances God has given me to reflect and learn from my lapses of judgment and change my behavior accordingly. Volunteering at Teen Court showed me how I, as a lawyer, could enforce justice and still give others the precious opportunity to turn their lives around. As a prosecution lawyer, I plan to implement Teen Court’s restorative justice philosophy into my practice. I'd view the justice system as a way to bring justice to the community affected by the defendant’s crime rather than narrow-mindedly viewing it as a way to punish the individual. Once I become a lawyer, I hope to present my cases to the judge in a way that allows them to acquire that perspective. I also aim to present the circumstances of the case in a way that encourages the judge to come up with a sentence option that truly encourages the defendant to change their ways and stay away from their habit of poor decision-making. I will forever be grateful for my time at Teen Court because it helped me discover God’s plan for me. I’m certain that I was created to become a lawyer and implement restorative justice into our justice system today. This will allow more members of society to have the opportunity to turn their lives around just like God intended. -A.Madrid

The first thing I did after finishing the whimsical book series of Harry Potter, was create a Pottermore account. My friend had informed me that J.K Rowling personally made an intensive quiz that sorted you into your true Hogwarts house. Once I discovered this, I immediately got to work and began answering the questions. The excitement I had soon wore off when I found out that my Hogwarts house was Slytherin. At first, I didn’t understand how I could be a Slytherin. In Harry Potter, Slytherins are depicted as evil and conniving. The most renowned Slytherins were all villains such as Voldemort and Draco Malfoy. It didn’t make any sense to me and I began to question my identity. Was I evil deep down? I was determined to find an answer. So, I decided to look deeper into what it truly means to be a part of Slytherin. Eventually, I came to the realization that being a Slytherin doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m evil. I discovered that Slytherins, like me, are simply goal-oriented individuals filled with ambition. Unfortunately, it is true that most of the Slytherins in Harry Potter didn't use their ambition for good; however they still consistently utilized their skills and powers to accomplish their goals. For example, Voldemort spent over 7 years of his life attempting to assassinate Harry Potter and despite all the obstacles he faced, he never backed down. This level of ambition is something that I can relate to. Like Slytherins, I don’t let difficulties get in my way of achieving a goal. This dedication is something that I carry into multiple aspects of my life. For instance, when my cohort of the Jewish-Latino Teen Coalition went to D.C. to advocate for the passage of the Dream Act in Congress, I was determined to make a difference. It was frightening trying to convince senators and representatives to change their opinions on a controversial issue but I didn’t let that stop me. When my group was bluntly told that the Dream Act had a low chance of passing, I immediately began asking questions and demanding answers, just like any Slytherin would. This journey of self-discovery also helped me discover that I have the same values as Slytherin. After a deeper look at Slytherin characters, I realized they all value the concept of justice. Throughout the Harry Potter series, Voldemort and Draco make it clear that they feel muggles shouldn’t be allowed to attend Hogwarts, so they both treat muggles poorly. As messed up as it may be, both Voldemort and Draco thought that they were delivering the muggles justice. In a more ethical way, I also believe society cannot function without justice. In fact, I devote a fair share of my time to the administration of justice by volunteering as a Pima County Teen Court teen attorney. As a volunteer teen attorney, I represent juveniles who’ve already admitted guilt to crimes and help the jurors decide on a constructive sentence that adheres to Teen Court’s principles of restorative justice. I’ve personally seen how the justice system pushes delinquents toward better decision-making. Seeing this has made me value the concept of justice as much as true Slytherin does. After realizing that I share the same values and traits as Slytherin, I understood why Pottermore sorted me into that house. In fact, I embraced it and developed a sense of house pride. After all, Slytherin truly is the best Hogwarts house. -A. Madrid