One of the first ways I became a leader was by becoming an older sister. I have two older sisters and four younger sisters. Once my two older sisters moved out, I became the oldest in the house. I took on a lot of responsibility at this time due to my mother being a single parent and working long hours. It became a schedule where snack was ready when my younger sisters came home. I assisted with their homework and school projects. I orchestrated baths and made dinner on many occasions. It was more than taking on these responsibilities because I had to lead by example. I believe I provided my sisters with someone they could look up to and respect. Outside of being a leader from within my household I’m also a leader in my community. I am a strong advocate for civil and equal rights. I’ve organized small community events where I educate the youth on their rights as citizens. I pride myself on being able to educate others and being a leader, they can follow! I am the president of my local Acapella team which I formed after graduating from high school four years ago. We perform at local social events in our town. Once I entered college I continued to function as a leader being the lead orientation leader at my community college and the head sales associate at my second job in retail. I don’t believe I was ever a natural born leader, but it was a role that I transferred from my personal homelife to my professional and educational life. It was something that became ingrained in me. More times than not I would find people looking to me for answers and assigning me to lead. I think it’s an honor to have people who want to follow you because it means that they trust you. Great leadership to me means being genuine and trustworthy. You don’t have to have all the answers! But you do have to be truthful with yourself and to those who are looking to you for guidance. A great leader is knowledgeable but also open to new information. You must be open to new perspectives and ideas. Above all a great leader is a great listener. This is what I look for in a great leader and to think that people see that in me makes me feel extremely motivated. Being a leader is important to me because you can encourage people to make things happen! To make a change! And the world will always need change and improvements. As a leader I have a lot on innovative ideas, and they can be put into action because I give people the courage to act!

Giving is important to me because it's the only way people can advance. Giving jobs, opportunities, giving out information or knowledge. It's how we conduct business! Giving a helping hand, etc. Giving is what makes the world go round and if no one didn't many people would get nowhere. Giving helps those who aren't in power and who aren't high up on the societal hierarchical scale advance their own lives and the lives around them for the better. I believe giving is something that's ingrained in me. I've always lived by the notion of if you do good, good will come back to you. The biggest way I give back is by providing my time and assistance to help teach those who aren't as privileged as I am. I'm aware that I'm very privileged in the way I've been able to pursue a higher education, so when I can I apply what I've learned to help others. Every Wednesday I attend a workshop which is meant to assist those of all ages in the community. Me along with a team of skilled people help others seeking help with their resume's, job applications, applying for government assistance, filing taxes, applying to scholarships, drafting essays, etc. The list goes on and on. I know that my mind and the knowledge I have is my most powerful asset, so I use it to give back! And it does make a change! That's what it's all about, giving back will always change lives. even in the smallest and simplest ways. everything has a dominion affect and I know the ways I give back impact people well beyond the work I do.

One way I perform acts of service to those in my life is always by giving a helping hand! This includes saying, "I got it," "I'll help with that," or "I'll take it off your plate." I am the third of six sisters. I have a single mother who works two jobs to take care of us. There are numerous occasions when she walks in from her second shift so tired, she can't make complete sentences. Her feet would be aching from standing up for so long. To help her out I would go grocery shopping so she wouldn't have to. I would make dinner when I could and when I couldn't, I would prep everything she needed. I'd cut up all the ingredients and have them laid out for her. I'd also clean up the kitchen afterwards and do the dishes because it was one less thing she had to do! To help out my two older sisters I would babysit my niece and nephew, whenever they needed a break. I do what I can through acts of service to lighten the load of those closest to me. I am the financial advisor for an organization called LADIES on my campus. I often find myself working behind the scenes with our president to take a task off her hands when she's feeling overwhelmed. I've done simple things like sending out emails for her and bigger task like running our meetings when she can't make them. I always want those around me to know they can depend on me. I am here to help, and my acts of service are one of the best ways to display this.

Listening to me, means hearing to understand and not hearing to respond. I try to be an active listener to those around me every day by simply hearing what they have to say. Providing the people around me with a safe space to share is important. I want those around me to know they can share however they feel, and they’ll be received and accepted. I do that by making myself approachable, remaining open, and being understanding. I think about the kind of listener I want to be on the other end of my sharing and that’s what I strive to be for others. I also believe your response says a lot about your listening skills. It’s important to understand that sometimes one isn’t needed! There are non-verbal responses or ways of communicating that assure people that you’re hearing them and that you care what they’re talking about. This can be affirming their words by nodding and having eye contact. Listening includes making the person feel heard and validating their feelings. Other times people are seeking advice or a verbal response which requires communication. Knowing when to respond and when to listen is something I’ve learned, and it has made me a better active listener. Staying engaged is how I remain an active listener for those around me. This means not getting distracted by other things or people. I put my phone away and let the person sharing know that they have my attention. This helps me be a better listener and also brings the person speaking immense comfort.

I believe one of the simple pleasures in my life is reading! The knowledge I’ve gained from reading brings me a genuine happiness. It’s the ways in which literature can submerge me into a completely different world. I love to be learning while also doing something I enjoy. I could read all day long and never become bored. With a book in hand my favorite place to read is outside. Being in nature and in the sun is another simple pleasure that I think many take for granted! Especially in the winter, when it’s literally impossible to do so without getting sick. There’s something extremely peaceful about being outside and breathing in the fresh air. Outside from having seasonal allergies which cause my eyes to water and my nose to run! Being in nature allows me to appreciate the simpler things. I’m allowed to step away from the things stressing me out and just exist in the natural world for a while. My favorite days are when the sun is shining, and I’m laid out on my blanket with a new book. I get off social media, put away my phone, step away from technology all together! These are the times I’m most appreciative of life. These moments to me represent the truest and humblest pleasures I can get out of life.

I plan to become an Attorney hopefully practicing civil or criminal law. When I’m asked today, ‘Why Law School?’ It feels like a genuine no brainer for me. I see law school as the next step in developing my voice to obtain the necessary skills to defend those who can’t do the same for themselves. I’ve spent my time as a young adult advocating for others, providing the voiceless with a voice. And I'd like to create a professional career in advocacy. This has always been my true purpose. As a Black female in America, I know all too well what it feels like to be left out. Left sitting on the outskirts of various social justice and equality movements, supporting others while receiving no support. I will make a positive impact on the world by entering the justice system and invoking change from within. I know I have a diverse background in my knowledge, skills, and experiences and that will only make me a better lawyer. It's through my law career that I will fight for equality and representation when it comes to the laws, policies, and clauses already established by the justice system. In order to make a positive impact on the world you have to be open to change. You have to be confident within yourself. And finally, you have to be ready for adversity. I, checking off every box know the kind of impact I want to make on the world and a career in law is exactly how I wish to do it.

My name is Ja’Miyah Price and I'm a Senior at Christopher Newport University studying to obtain my Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. I aspire to enter Law school and become an Attorney. When I’m asked today, ‘Why Law School?’ It feels like a genuine no brainer for me. I see law school as the next step in developing my voice to obtain the necessary skills to defend those who can’t do the same for themselves. I’ve spent my time as a young adult advocating for others, providing the voiceless with a voice. And I'd like to create a professional career in advocacy. This has always been my true purpose. As a Black female in America, I know all too well what it feels like to be left out. Left sitting on the outskirts of various social justice and equality movements, supporting others while receiving no support. I will make a positive impact on the world by entering the justice system and invoking change from within. I know I have a diverse background in my knowledge, skills, and experiences and that will only make me a better lawyer. It's through my law career that I will fight for equality and representation when it comes to the laws, policies, and clauses already established by the justice system. In order to make a positive impact on the world you have to be open to change. You have to be confident within yourself. And finally, you have to be ready for adversity. I, checking off every box know the kind of impact I want to make on the world and a career in law is exactly how I wish to do it. My journey towards a higher education began at Northern Virginia Community College where I graduated with a 4.0 and obtained my Associates of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts with a specialization in English. During my time at NOVA, I led as the lead Orientation Leader. While I held this position, I was also promoted to the Lead Cashier at my long-standing job with Designer Shoe Warehouse. These were the first of many leadership roles within her career. As an invested member in my community, I also have experience volunteering with organizations that fight against the social injustices that affect her community. My diverse background has granted her access to a plethora of skill sets including problem-solving, research, and writing. My latest position was as a Summer Hire under the Department of Defense College Acquisition Internship Program. As a Marine Corp Systems Command employee, I received training and mentorship under the Contracting Competency. I gained insight into the fundamentals and principles of contracting while learning the many different disciples within Contracting as well. Outside of my educational and work experience I am a huge family-oriented person. When I'm not at school or at work I'm typically doing something with my family. I have six sisters and I'm close with all of them! Being the oldest of four I've learned a lot about being a leader. Understanding how to lead effectively has helped me in every aspect of my life. When I'm not with my family I also love to read and do research about literary theory. I think it's ingrained in me to always be learning how to be better, how to know more, and how to advance who I am! This is the essence of who I am, and I'll continue to by the best I can be while changing the world.