My fingers tingled with promises of burns as I speedwalked to the dining table carrying a pot of biryani. The party was well on its way, the air filled with debate, and eyes eagerly awaiting the dinner being presented. Parties were never my thing; itchy shalwar kameez, my hijab threatening to fall off, but mostly the expectation to never interrupt or contradict elders as a show of respect. Parties were how I was introduced to societal injustices. I learned about my parents' religious persecution in India, reveling in stories about curfews and brawls, about racism in policing systems, and American foreign affairs in the Middle East. What frustrates me was how after every educated and thorough discussion about injustices, the aunties and uncles would conclude with a helpless well we can't do anything about it. With maturity, I realized this resolve was rooted in a lack of education and a belief that those in power would never care to hear them. Thus, I began a long journey of advocacy and a career in law, determined to use political tools to help those who feel overpowered or unheard. I started small by joining the League of Women Voters (LWV). I was struck by the lack of climate education and advocacy in neighboring cities, so as an intern I focused on sustainability and local policy. While reporting for LWV, I discovered that many cities had no comprehensive climate policies or actionable plans to address pressing environmental challenges. In fact, most didn’t even have a climate advisory board. I applied to the Albany Climate Action Committee (CAC) in my city, becoming the youngest member. I was alarmed to witness monthly meetings attended by only four individuals, whose decisions alone shaped the direction of the city. When my time as Chair ended, I understood becoming someone who looked out for those rarely represented (no matter how much they invest in the political process) is vital to prevent societal injustices like gender, health, wealth and religious inequality. During my freshman year, I started writing for the Her Campus UTD Chapter, authoring articles from local policies to removing estate tax. The estate tax affects only a small, exceptionally wealthy portion of the population, yet it consistently takes priority on congressional floors each session. I realized that my ability to convey the importance of an issue was limited by relying solely on research and reports conducted by others. I wanted to carry out my own research to better understand how legislation impacts diverse communities. While working at the Center for Children and Families at UT Dallas, I researched family intervention programs and discovered that parents with lower income or education levels were most likely to benefit from these services. It was deeply rewarding to see the potential of this mental health program, especially for the families I was most passionate about helping. It once again made me attracted to the great impact legislature and policy making have on American livelihoods at large. On top of filling my coursework with classes on public policy, I work in the office of state representative Mihaela Plesa conducting policy research. I aim to understand how policies work in the Texas House, and the roadblocks that prevent positive impact. It is my goal to educate, advocate for, and represent those whose voices go unheard in current policies, so that the next time I sit in a gathering of uncles and aunties, I’m not fighting the urge to stay silent. I am listening to their stories and discussing ways to take action.

If you want to win a Model UN award, you have to remember one thing: collaboration leads to success. A delegate has to pass amendments, compromise with others, and make resolutions that everyone can agree on. The delegate who does this the most wins. But the Model UN is a structured conference. The real world is not. I joined Model UN and other clubs to understand how to work with others to get my goals out there, because I believe the American Dream is interconnectedness and steadfastness to the law of the land. I believed that no matter the culture we portrayed or what country’s policies we were advocating for, we could all come together for a resolution that helped all nations. While Model UN was incredibly fascinating and gave me the skills of public speaking and thinking on my feet, I yearned to see my actions take fruit in the real world. When I first heard the city was looking for advisors for the local city council, I pounced on the opportunity. Working with my local city council back home had allowed me to be a dynamic part of the law-making process; I focused on bringing the voices of the younger population to the table. I started with the development of a curriculum designed to bring in environmental education to the schools, especially younger children. The ongoing program also helped support a new school district curriculum for elementary schoolers in sustainable curricula. I also worked on bringing in accessible EV chargers, as well as heat pump rebate programs and educational resources for the public. Being a part of the Climate Action Committee made me understand the importance of working with others and the importance of patience. To change a habit, one must start small. That’s why I decided to first work on the climate issues in my city, rather than trying to apply for the administrator position at the EPA. The policy-making process is long and hard. There were many times where the committee had to rework a draft of a resolution because the City Council simply rejected our work. It was hard to find support and suggestions for policies that were beneficial for the city and the public. I decided I wanted to work on bringing the word out to others, to find that support. Although my time as an advisor and policymaker was fruitful and gave me much insight on how laws work, I realized that to reach my American Dream of interconnectedness with the people, I would have to start small, and with educating those who may not have the same knowledge as I do. I worked as a climate intern at the League of Women Voters to bring out my advocacy skills and allow the public to understand what was happening at every city council meeting in the Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville area. As a high schooler, and now an undergraduate student, I want to work with the policy-making process in order to understand how the government works. I wish to become a lawyer to advocate for and draft resolutions to make our world a better place. Having access to my scholarship would allow me to grow as a skilled professional in the legal industry. Getting a scholarship is a recognition of my hard work and will help to increase my accomplishments by improving my academic performance. Learning and working with my peers at UTDallas, as well as faculty will allow me to bring my goals of policymaking for the people into reality.

The criminal justice system is a dynamic and fluid system that has been shifting based on political and socioeconomic beliefs over the entire course of American history. Our justice system started with the Constitution and the faith of the Founding Fathers that all people have rights and must follow our rules, with the consent that they allow law enforcement to govern them. Since then, we have seen mass reform and changes to our justice system, law enforcement, jails, bail systems, and more. It is what allows this country to understand right from wrong, but also to make sure that each person involved in the process has dignity, respect, and above all, a voice in the matter. But there is one minority that consistently gets little to no say over what happens to their lives in the criminal justice system, and that is the youth. Despite the changes made to our juvenile system, it is not mindless to say that youth are overlooked in what happens to them in the criminal justice system, and attempts at reform either do not work or are too cruel to label as "reform." There is little access to legal representation, and if a juvenile in the system is sentenced, what happens after? Another can of worms is opened when we speak of juveniles, particularly those of color, being charged as adults. Black youth are much more likely to be arrested than their white peers, around 2.3 times more likely. This has a profound impact on the black community, given the already massive disparities in incarceration rates concerning people of color. Being arrested, detained, and sentenced has a huge influence on one's well-being, and it's much stronger on the young and inexperienced mind. This type of trauma cannot be ignored. As someone who is involved in youth movements and has committed myself to literacy and education on legal, sustainable, and financial rights, it is imperative that we change this system. I would call for the justice system to reform its sentencing options for the youth and focus more closely on the problem at hand. Although this may be hard given the massive number of people arrested every day, it is a great solution to bring in community members and people related to the youth (in terms of ethnicity, experience, etc.) in order to help them. There has been clear evidence supporting that focusing on the person "doing" the crime, and understanding their mental health, physical well-being, traumas, and living situations, really helps them in the long run. The justice system must also collaborate with legal aid organizations that have committed themselves to reform, as well as law enforcement, to find better strategies when approaching an accused youth. Short-term strategies I have worked with the Center of Children and Families at UTDallas to learn about child development and behaviors, as well as focusing on the parent and their confidence in raising children. I can say that these experiences have made me appreciate psychology and understand the importance of going case-by-case, working with people, and making them comfortable. Although the justice system needs reform, it is clear that we, as the American people, are understanding of what needs to be done and what must change, given that we have already been able to do this over the course of this nation's history. I am confident that my experiences in the legal and research fields will help me make a positive impact in the justice system as a future lawyer and policymaker.