I plan to use my law degree to address the criminalization of youth, specifically in disenfranchised communities. I hope to become an Equal Justice Works Fellow, supporting justice-involved youth through direct representation, legislative advocacy, and community education. This experience would prepare me to join a youth advocacy nonprofit, such as The Gault Center, where I can help address the root causes of juvenile crime and fight the effects of structural racism in juvenile court systems. I aspire to work as a policy director for a juvenile justice reform organization, advocating for policies that enhance juvenile courts, education, and social services. Ultimately, I hope to return to Compton to establish an organization dedicated to providing legal representation and social support to justice-involved youth. My next step in life is going to law school, but the law has been with me since childhood. By the time I was sixteen, I had seen the inside of a courtroom more times than I could count. Half of my family members were in and out of the system, and I was going down the same road. For years, I watched my father’s substance abuse issues destroy his ability to be a parent, result in years of incarceration, and create an abusive monster. I nearly lost my father to the criminal justice system and struggled with the possibility of losing my mother to the immigration system as she sought a path to citizenship. I knew I did not want to follow the same predictable road of criminality and pain as my father. I wanted to create a different future for my mother, siblings, and myself. So, I chose to go down a different road full of change, reform, and freedom. I vowed to be the first in my family to step into a courtroom, not as a defendant, but as an aid in providing justice for all. I have done exactly that during my time working for the Los Angeles Superior Court. I have learned that the criminal justice system, despite its many flaws, has the potential to do more than just punish. I see now that the law can help victims and vulnerable individuals. I aspire to continue being part of that positive impact as an attorney. My experiences have given me the strength to be adaptable and thrive in the face of stigma and discrimination. My influences have instilled in me a deep commitment to advocacy and justice. I am determined to use my lived experiences and resiliency to help others overcome similar barriers. Law is not just a career for me; it is how I will create lasting change for individuals, families, and communities like mine.

By the time I was sixteen, I had seen the inside of a courtroom more times than I could count. Half of my family members were in and out of the system, and I was going down the same road. I was mimicking the patterns I was seeing at home and in my community. Like so many that came before me, the zip code I was born into was dictating my destiny and turning me into another self-fulfilling prophecy. I grew up listening to my parents’ stories of violence and instability back home, but in many ways, those issues persisted for us here in the United States. My father fled the repression and violence of the Salvadoran Civil War, but on his journey to the United States, he turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with his trauma. At eighteen, my mother fled a domestically abusive relationship but entered another one with my father. For years, I watched my father’s substance abuse issues destroy his ability to be a parent, result in years of incarceration, and create an abusive monster. I nearly lost my father to the criminal justice system and struggled with the possibility of losing my mother to the immigration system as she sought a path to citizenship. My parents, who both came to this country to escape the violence in their communities, created a household rampant with violence, abuse, and neglect. When I came out as queer, my situation at home became even more unsafe. My hostile home and school environment subsequently led me to become involved with the wrong influences, thus beginning my disregard for school and myself. My apathy for school was challenged once I was caught writing graffiti on school property when I was sixteen. When my mom found out, her body could not take the stress, and she ended up in the emergency room. I became overwhelmed with guilt as I stood by my mother's bedside in the hospital. Witnessing her pain, I was forced to reflect on my choices and the damage I was causing. I knew I did not want to follow the same predictable road of criminality and pain as my father. I wanted to create a different future for my mother, siblings, and myself. So, I chose to go down a different road full of change, reform, and freedom. I vowed to be the first in my family to step into a courtroom, not as a defendant, but as an aid in providing justice for all. I have done exactly that during my time working for the Los Angeles Superior Court. I have learned that the criminal justice system, despite its many flaws, has the potential to do more than just punish. I see now that the law can help victims and vulnerable individuals. I aspire to continue being part of that positive impact as an attorney. My experiences shaped me into a person committed to justice and inclusion. My journey has taught me resilience and empathy, which allows me to contribute to conversations on mental health, educational equity, and systemic reform. I have turned my pain into purpose, working to reshape the systems and structures that often rob my community of the belief that their voices can impact the future. Today, my work is driven by a commitment to tackle the systems of oppression and create opportunities for individuals to thrive, not just survive. My experiences have given me the strength to be adaptable and thrive in the face of stigma and discrimination. My influences have instilled in me a deep commitment to advocacy and justice. I am determined to use my lived experiences and resiliency to help others overcome similar barriers. I hope to become an Equal Justice Works Fellow, supporting justice-involved youth through direct representation, legislative advocacy, and community education. This experience would prepare me to join a youth advocacy nonprofit, such as The Gault Center, where I can help address the root causes of juvenile crime and fight the effects of structural racism in juvenile court systems. I aspire to work as a policy director for a juvenile justice reform organization, advocating for policies that enhance juvenile courts, education, and social services. Ultimately, I hope to return to Compton to establish an organization dedicated to providing legal representation and social support to justice-involved youth.

When I first saw my father panhandling on the streets, I didn’t understand why he couldn’t just come home. Yes, it was a tight fit, the five of us in a one-bedroom apartment, but I missed him. I didn’t understand how his substance abuse would inevitably destroy his ability to be a parent, result in years of incarceration, and create a cycle of instability and violence for our family. Growing up in Compton, California, similar circumstances led many of my family members into the criminal justice system. By sixteen, I stood at that same crossroads until a brush with the justice system forced me to reevaluate my path. I was given a chance to step back and make different choices. The difference between me and those who sat in juvenile court wasn’t character, worth, or money. It was luck. I saw how the legal system often fails the communities it is meant to serve, and I was determined to change that. I vowed to be the first in my family to step into a courtroom, not as a defendant, but as an aid in providing justice for all. I have done exactly that during my time working for the Los Angeles Superior Court. I have learned that the criminal justice system, despite its many flaws, has the potential to do more than just punish. I see now that the law can help victims and vulnerable individuals. I aspire to continue being part of that positive impact as an attorney. My experiences shaped me into a person committed to justice and inclusion. My journey has taught me resilience and empathy, which allows me to contribute to conversations on mental health, educational equity, and systemic reform. I have turned my pain into purpose, working to reshape the systems and structures that often rob my community of the belief that their voices can impact the future. I want to improve disparities in juvenile justice by advocating for early intervention and prevention programs that help youth break cycles of harm and incarceration. Today, my work is driven by a commitment to tackle the systems of oppression and create opportunities for individuals to thrive, not just survive. My experiences have given me the strength to be adaptable and thrive in the face of stigma and discrimination. My influences have instilled in me a deep commitment to advocacy and justice. Law school is my next step because I want to give back to the communities that led me here. Law is not just a career for me; it is how I will create lasting change for individuals, families, and communities like mine. I want to advocate for early intervention and prevention programs that help break the cycles of incarceration. This scholarship will allow me to will allow me to dedicate my legal education to this fight, ensuring that I can continue working toward creating a system rooted in justice, healing, and opportunity. I plan to become an Equal Justice Works Fellow, supporting justice-involved youth through direct representation, legislative advocacy, and community education. This experience would prepare me to join a youth advocacy nonprofit, such as The Gault Center, where I can help address the root causes of juvenile crime and fight the effects of structural racism in juvenile court systems. I also aspire to work as a policy director for a juvenile justice reform organization, advocating for policies that enhance juvenile courts, education, and social services. Ultimately, I hope to return to Compton to establish an organization dedicated to providing legal representation and social support to justice-involved youth.