A child-like mind formulates fantasy. The imagery of singing birds, dragons, and magical kingdoms is created by those with an innocence reminiscent of a child. This innocence does not die with age. It is when the dragons are slain, the birds have gone mute, and there is a death in the kingdom that this purity perishes. My loss of innocence began to compose at a young age. For as long as I can remember, I have never experienced the reality of a typical childhood. While I was able to dream about being a princess who lives in a tall castle, I also dreamt about living without the fear of police or facing discrimination. I experienced a duality of what I hoped my childhood to be and what it was. From the time I began constructing sentences, I was taught to navigate life differently from other children. I was instructed to code-switch and not to “act grown” by my family and peers. I was told not to be too loud, aggressive, or outspoken, but at the same time, I was ordered not to be too shy or a pushover. I was instructed to fit into a mold constructed by society. I attempted to follow these rules and live by the status quo; however, even at a young age, I knew these rules were absurd. Although I tried living life the way I wanted to, I was self-conscious about everything I did. I tried to bypass this until a horrendous event occurred. On February 26, 2012, in Florida, George Zimmerman senselessly murdered Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old Black high school student. Martin was unarmed and posed no threat to Zimmerman; yet was viewed as one. George Zimmerman was acquitted of his charges, pleading self-defense although he attacked Trayvon Martin first. This traumatic event sparked national outrage because of the lack of justice given to Trayvon and his family. Many people were upset and angry about this result. I, however, used this situation as confirmation. I cultivated a sense of what my place was in society. A black body being slaughtered and not getting justice solidified for me that the teachings that I was given were possibly correct. Those ignorant principles fueled by generational trauma seemed like gospel to me at that moment. From then on, I listened. I attempted to create a new version of myself that would appeal to society. A version that would allow me to be successful in a society created against my people. One that would keep me alive. Since Trayvon’s murder, many other Black names have been added to an unfortunate list of those murdered because of their skin color. Because of these tragic events, I’ve learned that I will always be viewed negatively in this racist society. Learning this has motivated me to be fully accepting of my blackness, and to encourage others to do the same. My pursuit to obtain a career as a criminal defense attorney began when I attained my greatest achievement: self-acceptance. My achievement of higher self-esteem and self-evaluation has helped me embark on a journey of progression and pursue a career that can fix the wounds of oppression and discrimination that plagues the Black community. I have decided to be a voice for the voiceless. I am determined to educate the ignorant and further my self-evaluation. With the knowledge that I am gaining through my activism and experiences, I plan on alleviating the sorrow encompassed within the earth.

My pursuit to achieve a career as a criminal defense attorney began when I attained my greatest achievement: self-acceptance. As a Black woman in America, it is easy for one to lose sight of the greatness that is Blackness and womanhood. I was once a victim of this, not fully loving the skin that I was blessed with and succumbing to the pressures afflicted on my sex. A person who is not indulged in their excellence will hurt others in an attempt to heal their pain. I was aligned with this sentiment. It is the journey of accepting myself that I also paid more attention to aiding the wounds of oppression and discrimination that plagued the Black community. It is a popular belief that a hero protects the good guys from the villains. Our everyday logic revolves around this ideology. Jobs such as police officers and soldiers are glorified for this very reason. However, sometimes the perceived villains are not always the bad guys. This is where the job of a criminal defense attorney becomes effective. The role of a criminal defense attorney is self-explanatory. However, the title does not accurately explain all that comes with this position. For example, the person arrested may not have committed a crime. It is not uncommon for the wrong suspect of a crime to be taken into questioning and put on a trial. Without the job of a criminal defense attorney, innocent citizens would be put in jail. As an officer or soldier, an attorney’s job is to protect citizens and ensure justice is attained. Since the beginning of my teenage years, I have always taken an interest in criminal law. It was always fascinating to me how the criminal justice system operates. I have, especially, become invested in changing the way black people are treated in the system. Oftentimes, we are more likely to be arrested for the same crimes and have harsher punishment. This notion, specifically, has sparked my main objective. My main goal for the future is to make a difference. I want to perfect the art of healing. My journey towards healing involves finding inner peace and spreading peace with others. At this stage of my life, I have decided to alleviate the perceived notion of what a villain is. I have been determined to educate the ignorant and further my self-evaluation. My achievement of higher self-esteem and self-evaluation has helped me embark on a journey of progression. At this stage of my life, I have decided to be a voice for the voiceless. With the knowledge that I have gained through my activism and experiences, I plan on alleviating the sorrow encompassed within people. My journey towards healing involves my inner being and repairing those around me.

Stan Lee got it wrong. Heroes are not determined by destiny, but rather by personal choices. The world’s heroes do not have long capes or fancy gadgets. They are the people who put their lives on the line for liberty, justice, and progression for everyone involved. Amelia Isadora Platts Boynton was born on August 18, 1911, in Savannah, Georgia. She was interested in the fight for women's suffrage as a child. She and her siblings were encouraged to read by her family, which was pivotal during her time. She attended four historically Black institutes, Savannah State University (formerly known as Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth), Tennessee State University, Virginia State University, and Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University). Alongside these universities, she also studied at Temple University. Before joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Selma as the home demonstration agent for Dallas County, Platts lectured in Georgia. She provided information on food manufacturing, nutrition, and healthcare to America's primarily rural population. In Selma, she met her future husband, Samuel William Boynton, a county extension agent during the Great Depression. Born in Spalding County, Georgia on December 4, 1901, Samuel William Boynton, was a prominent civil rights activist alongside his wife. In 1958, Samuel and Amelia’s son, Bruce Boynton, then a law student at Howard University, was trying to buy food at the white section of a bus terminal in Virginia. Bruce Boynton was arrested for trespassing, convicted guilty in state court of a violation, penalized, and lost his appeal until Thurgood Marshall presented the case in Boynton v. Virginia before the U.S. Supreme Court, which resulted in the rulings of the lower courts being overturned. Tragically, Samuel Boynton's life was cut short before Selma's notorious Bloody Sunday march. Through the work he and his wife did, Selma became one of the key locations for the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Amelia Boynton Robinson and Samuel William Boynton are this nation’s heroes. Their legacy paves the way for people like me to achieve my aspirations and cultivate a better society. As a budding criminal defense attorney and a political science major and sociology minor at Howard University (a prominent historically Black university), I aspire to be as notable in the political sphere as Amelia and Samuel Boynton. Just like Amelia Boynton’s astonishing achievement of being the first Black woman to run for office in Alabama, I hope to break barriers for others, especially Black individuals. As I mature, I want to be known as a person with a giving spirit. I aspire to be a person with achievements that open the door for future generations. I hope to be a person of notoriety that reached their goal through ethical methods and strides with morals that helped her peers along the way. Amelia Boynton Robinson and Samuel William Boynton achieved this beyond measure. Both are accurate representations of a hero, and their legacy should be revered as such.