From the age of 19 to 39, I spent my entire adult life in prison for a crime I did not commit. After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. An auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life. In an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards, I found my voice for advocacy. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also developed and struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled lived experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

From the age of 19 to 39, I spent my entire adult life in prison for a crime I did not commit. After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. An auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life. In an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards, I found my voice for advocacy. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also developed and struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled lived experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

From the age of 19 to 39, I spent my entire adult life in prison for a crime I did not commit. After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. An auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life. In an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards, I found my voice for advocacy. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also developed and struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled lived experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Law school can cost upwards of $150,000, and with a price tag like that, I must face the realization that without this and other scholarships, my dreams will never advance beyond my own mind. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl. I chose this book because, of the thousands of books that I have read over the past twenty years, no other story has touched my soul more than that of Mr. Frankl's. I spent those two decades incarcerated in the state of California for a crime I didn't commit, suffering from severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for most of that time, due to the extreme levels of violence that are commonplace in the carceral environment. Through the pain, the attempts that individuals made on my life, the loss of countless loved ones who I hadn't seen in years, and would now never see again, there were numerous times that I wanted to give up. Hope is something that is quite difficult to maintain when you understand the corruption that taints the legal system. When your very life is forfeit, you wonder what is the point of going on? It was at a very low point in my life that I came across Man's Search for Meaning. Reading about Mr. Frankl's experiences in the concentration camps made me feel ashamed of my own self-pity. It also made me appreciate my own life's purpose, one that I had realized over those years, which was to defend the rights of other prisoners through legal advocacy, using the same system that had stolen so many years of my life. At a time in the world where people seem so adrift, where hateful antisemitism is at an all time high, I would want humanity to absorb Mr. Frankl's book to help them appreciate the one life that we have on this planet. To learn to love one another because of our differences, rather than in spite of them.

From the age of 19 to 39, I spent my entire adult life in prison for a crime I did not commit. After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. An auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life. In an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards, I found my voice for advocacy. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also developed and struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled lived experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

From the age of 19 to 39, I spent my entire adult life in prison for a crime I did not commit. After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. An auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life. In an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards, I found my voice for advocacy. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also developed and struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled lived experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in my study of the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

As the child of a Vietnam War veteran, my father's experience serving our country had a dramatic impact on my life. My father Eddie Villery served in the U.S. Army from about 1967 to 1969, and was stationed in Vietnam during his tour of duty. While growing up, I regularly heard his stories about the brutality of War, and saw how it had changed my father in so many ways. While my father suffered from severe PTSD as a result of his combat experience, I didn't have a name to put to his suffering until I myself became an adult. I witnessed his flashbacks, his perpetual need to close all blinds on the windows in our home at night, due to "the easy target" that it presented. Even as a child, I recognized that much of this was not normal behavior. My father is my biggest hero, always has been, but I would often worry about him in my youth. Watching my father deal with the hell of PTSD was a large motivating factor that led me to explore the study of psychology. This desire was magnified in adulthood following my own PTSD diagnosis in 2007, stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I experienced while serving almost twenty years in California's prison system. My own survival of such atrocities has frequently left me reflecting on my father's tribulations in the military. A young man who was drafted at the age of 20, he was barely an adult when he was sent over seas to defend our country. My father bore a strong sense of honor, integrity, loyalty, and patriotism, which were largely derived from his military service. And I was blessed to have him instill those same values in me. My dad would always teach me about these virtues, with one of his favorite sayings being that "integrity is the change you give to a blind man." He taught me that you put family and country first, you defend those you care about, especially when they aren't around. You take pride in doing an honest day's work, and you give it everything you've got when you are working on a task. The military taught my father a work ethic that was unparalleled, which he passed on to me. It's one of the things that kept me unbreakable in the prison environment, in the face of a wrongful conviction and the loss of most of my youth. All of these values given to me by my father shaped me to care deeply about the mental health issues of others. They also turned me into a man who is driven by a need to defend the vulnerable against the rampant abuse of power that is found in our criminal justice system. All of my father's best traits, along with many of life struggles, helped send me down my current career path of working toward a BA in psychology, after which I will obtain my law degree. As a lawyer with specialized knowledge about mental illness, it is my dream to act as a defender for the many veterans who frequently find themselves homeless and on the wrong side of the law, largely due to the PTSD that they develop as a result of their own combat experiences.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my my ability to lead in my passion for seeking justice on behalf of myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, I discovered my passion in seeking justice through the legal system, while also struggling with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which stemmed from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, and having a talent to grasp complex legal concepts, led me to the epiphany that my calling is to become a practicing attorney. I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. This was made far worse by the indifference of mental health clinicians working in the prison system. When faced with a complete lack of empathy from mental health care workers, who adopted a view of prisoners as less than human, and undeserving of true compassion, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. This that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007, due to hostility against me over my mixed race heritage of being half black and half white. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. However, I know that it will be nearly impossible for me to achieve my goals without the help of this scholarship. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.

After spending 20 years of my life as a state prisoner, witnessing the daily abuses and injustices wrought upon the inmate population, I discovered my passion in seeking justice for myself and others through the legal system. As an auto didactic in the legal field, I utilized administrative processes and the courts while incarcerated to regain a semblance of control over my own life, in an environment where nearly every aspect of your existence is subject to the control of callous and indifferent prison guards. While developing my legal skills over those two decades, I also struggled with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from the extreme levels of violence that I witnessed and survived within the carceral environment. This included a near fatal attempt on my life in 2007. Coping with PTSD for nearly 16 years, all while living under the same conditions that gave rise to my mental health struggles, made it difficult for me to pursue higher education. At the same time, I realized that the only way for me to overcome this illness was to better understand the psychological processes that were at play within my own psyche. It was this realization that led me to major in psychology. This unique combination of suffering from PTSD, while also possessing an innate ability to grasp complex legal procedures and concepts, led me to the epiphany that my purpose in life is to one day become a practicing attorney. With a deep understanding of the psychological traumas experienced by individuals who are justice-impacted, I know that I can act as a powerful force in the movement to counteract the injustices that have been inflicted upon minority communities and those suffering from mental illness. For far too long, jails and prisons have become a dumping ground for society's "undesirables". It has become acceptable to throw human beings away into inhumane living conditions, all in the name of "tough on crime" rhetoric from politicians who care for nothing more than their own reelection. Only recently has there been a growing understanding that America's extreme incarceration rates have done far more harm than good, all while doing little to increase the day-to-day safety of the nation's populace. As an attorney with a background education in psychology, along with the unparalleled life experience that has shaped my life, I can be on the forefront of the battle to shape legislation that will protect those who suffer from mental illness. This vulnerable population is in desperate need of crusaders who can empathize with them on a deep level, who can both connect with and advocate for them, to end the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that plagues them. Once I succeed in attaining my goal of admission to the Bar, I plan to devote my life toward uplifting those individuals who have been deemed disposable.