Question 1: I will begin law school at UCLA School of Law in August of 2025. I applied to Stanford, NYU, Columbia, Vanderbilt, University of Southern California, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Pepperdine, and UT Austin. I was accepted to Vanderbilt, USC, UCLA, Pepperdine & UT Austin. And, with the exception of UC Berkeley, I received a waitlist decision from the rest. Question 2: My long-term career goal is to fiercely champion creative freedom for recording artists, songwriters, and all creatives in the music industry. I hope to do so at a prominent LA-based firm, and eventually, begin my own entertainment law firm in the future. I especially want to elevate creatives of color who often experience discrimination and receive unfair contracts. As a Black female, diversity in creative industries is of paramount importance to me, and I aspire to use the law to champion it. In the short term, I aspire to leverage all of UCLA's resources and dive into coursework involving copyright, intellectual property, estate rights and other tools that will bolster my advocacy. Question 3: I've pursued learning and growth outside of academics by partaking in meaningful internships within entertainment. The spring of my junior year, I interned with HBO (Warner Bros. Discovery) in their content acquisitions department. This exposed me to the intricate world of licensing agreements and showed me how the law acts as a foundation for creativity. Contracts enable stories to be told while respecting the rights of storytellers, and I witnessed firsthand how crucial they are to preserving the legal integrity of streaming. The following summer, I worked for Universal Music Group where I spent hours in the legal department. The attorneys inspired me, yet the stories they shared surfaced revelations that struck a chord with me. I learned that, on average, artists receive only 18% of their net earnings in a standard record deal. This illumination, among others, led me to the conclusion that I could best serve creatives by representing them at the negotiating table and using my talents to land them better deals. These learnings had a poignant impact on how I viewed my advocacy pursuits. Not only did I find the numbers unjust, but I’d personally interacted with artists who’d be impacted by these numbers. I saw their heart for their craft, and ultimately, got to know them beyond the lights that often surrounded their names. This sparked my desire to further explore the talent side of entertainment law. Therefore, I pursued a fall internship with Red Giant Rights Group, an organization dedicated to helping older artists apply the intricacies of the U.S. Copyright Act to their advantage. During my first week, I was asked to read Sections 203 & 304 of the U.S. Copyright Protection Act of 1976 pertaining to contract termination which riveted me. This experience, amongst the rest, left me with an insatiable desire to serve creative communities. Question 4: In 2023, I was elected the first African American president of my sorority in 24 years. Amidst Columbia’s tumultuous social climate, I worked alongside Jewish and Palestinian students alike to ensure that all members felt seen and that our unity was preserved. I faced backlash due to my unbiased leadership, but I firmly advocated for harmony while promoting purposeful dialogue. Many members encouraged me to "choose a side," but I knew that standing up for unity and peace was best. Therefore, I spearheaded robust community building events, listened with empathy, and ultimately, protected the peace of my chapter when others around us crumbled under the pressure of division. I learned that there is power in diligently adhering to righteous principles. Additionally, I learned that opposition does not inherently equate to poor leadership because sometimes, the best leaders are those who willingly stand alone. Question 5: If I had the resources to create a philanthropic initiative, I'd support advocacy around childhood scoliosis and the way that this condition can impact the life of a teen and young adult. During 6th grade, I was diagnosed with severe scoliosis, and I spent my middle and high school years wearing a solid, full torso brace for 22/24 hours a day. Initially, this experience took a toll on my mental health since no other child around me understood my unique experiences. My parents helped me to find my voice and self esteem, however, many students walk this journey alone. I would love to begin an initiative that empowers youth with severe scoliosis to feel confident in their own skin and build support communities.