As a first generation American and college student, I used to always say I "accidentally" learned things I needed to know. When it comes to education my sister and I did not have the benefit of our parents knowing knowledge surrounding a college education, SAT prep, LSAT prep, applying to school, FAFSA or aid in general. I make the joke that I learned how to apply for college by listening to the kids around me and figuring out what I should be doing by eavesdropping. Looking back now it is disheartening and even now as I prepare for law school, I am in the same boat again but only now, I was able to recognize and prepare myself to the best of my abilities. My immigrant parents did the best with what they had and I am forever grateful, but I do believe their experience indirectly affected mine decades later. My mother immigrated here from Turks and Caicos when she was a teen and went to high school but college was never a thought when she finished because was not a citizen and could not legally go to college until years later. Though my mother eventually took a class in the local community college, she had to drop out because she had two kids at home to care for. My father immigrated from Jamaica and attempted community college but also just went straight into the workforce to help his family. The need to make money to keep our family afloat prioritized itself over an education which is why I am doing what they couldn't and prioritizing my education so I can do better than they did like they did better than my grandparents. Though they did the best they could, I still felt at a disadvantage due to teaching myself how to apply for school, and figuring out all the logistics of getting there. Even studying for the entrance exam, I did not know where to start and because of that I did not test well in the SATs or LSATs which had a domino effect on merit scholarships in undergrad and now I prepare to begin law school in the fall. Once I was in college in undergrad, the concept of networking, making connections and building a plan for when I finished was foreign and it really set me back. I was not able to get as much out of college as I should've nor get the outcomes because I did not know what to do nor what to expect but I know now and will be doing different in law school. It took a lot of fumbling in the dark to get to where I am today and I am proud of myself. Many immigrants and children of immigrants work hard to have a better life, it is innate but it isn't until you step back and take perspective do you realize all the hard work you had to do just to be in the room with others who start ahead. Takes a different, almost clever work ethic to succeed. It is the work ethic I am currently using that got me into law school and the ethic I'm using to apply to scholarships like this one to pay for it.

I hate change out of my control, and growing up, I encountered it often. The one thing I always had a choice in was the music I listened to. I had autonomy over my music. People would make remarks about my music taste not fitting their standards, but I've come to learn that MY music choices are for my enjoyment not theirs and that was the mindset I had when creating the list. The songs in this playlist bring me joy, get me pumped and inspire me to be my authentic self no matter who tries to tell me otherwise.