1. Despite growing up in New Jersey, certain Southern values of hospitality and courtesy from my family's roots permeated my childhood upbringing--specifically the concept of holding the door for people behind you. Upon reaching adulthood, this theme has presented itself in my life figuratively as often as it has literally. As a first-generation African American applicant, I am aware of the barriers that had to be knocked down for me to have the opportunity to pursue a legal degree. For this reason, I am extremely grateful to be in a position where I can achieve the goals I set for myself in spaces historically denied to my predecessors. Therefore, my ability to "hold the door" for others behind me, as the door has been held for me is what matters most to me. My academic career is a culmination of both instances where people paved the way for me and instances where I have given my best effort to reach back to others. So many positive experiences have been made possible because of others’ contributions. Whether it be the time set aside by my mentors and professors to speak with me about my career path or my older peers cultivating spaces on campus and trusting me to maintain the integrity of those spaces, I benefit daily from the concept of community and giving back. Therefore, I spend much of my time replicating this act as a mentor in the communities I inhabit. Whether that be providing advice for pre-law undergraduate students on organized panels, making myself available to my high school-aged mentees during my time in Miami, or simply referring my immediate network of peers to the mentors who've made a difference for me. Being a resource to others, especially from underrepresented communities, matters most to me because society sees positive growth when people band together and dare to share, challenge the status quo, and "hold the door" for all. My ultimate goal is that as I grow individually and professionally, my path to pursuing my dreams in spaces that lack diversity may encourage aspiring lawyers after me as I have been inspired. 2. The law school application process pushed me to mature in a multitude of ways. The most valuable insights I've learned include the importance of patience, the vulnerability required to ask for help, and the satisfaction of creating something worth being proud of. From beginning to end, applying to law school has tested my patience. The LSAT cannot be mastered in a week, my score was the culmination of months of preparation. The first draft of my personal statement was almost unrecognizable by my final edit. I did not receive an answer from schools within a month of applying. Every step of the journey to law school felt as if it had been broken down into several even smaller steps, none more important than the other. It challenged me to embrace and practice patience and for that reason, I was able to enjoy the fruits of my labor more genuinely. I allowed myself permission to ask for help. In this journey, I benefitted from being surrounded by people who care about me. Whether it be fresh eyes on an essay I've read one too many times or driving me to a law fair, the support received from family and friends was instrumental to my success. Further, I experienced the satisfaction of creating an application that I was proud of because I nurtured every aspect with intention, precision, and authenticity. I know what it feels like to give 100% of myself to a task and to a goal, all of which made every acceptance worth more. These insights will help me in my transition to law school because as so many say, "it's a marathon, not a sprint." I have respect for the process of gradually adding to things until they are complete. In law school, that manifests as building on my understanding of the curriculum week by week until the final examination. It also manifests as identifying where I need help and having the courage to utilize the resources provided to me to thrive, just as I did during the application process. Further, I look forward to seeing this journey through--starting a goal in my 1L and completing it at graduation. In all, I anticipate the transition to law school to be difficult, but I feel more prepared because of my experiences during the application process.