In November 2014, I was stopped by a police officer. I was driving home on a Thursday evening. As I drove home, I began to hear police sirens behind my vehicle. I pulled over and waited until the police officer came to my door. The officer asked to see my license and registration. Before I could retrieve these documents, the officer commanded that I stop and step out of my vehicle. The officer searched my vehicle, even though I did not give him permission to do so. After the search, the officer asked me several questions about my identity, where I was heading, and why I was out late on a school night. Eventually, I was released to drive home. I asked why I was stopped, but the officer never responded with a clear answer. I was told to shut up and drive home, or I would be arrested. As I contemplated what had happened to me and reflected on previous altercations involving young black men and police, I felt inspired to tell my story. As I spoke with other students of color at my school, I discovered that most of them share a similar experience to mine. At this moment, it registered with me that there is a pattern of racial profiling that persists not only in St. Louis, but nationally. My small social club evolved into the Black Student Union (BSU), a student-led organization focused on educating students about Black history and issues affecting Black America. My involvement with the BSU, in addition to my story, is what inspired me to pursue a law degree. In college, I studied wrongful conviction trends for my research methods course. I discovered that most exonerees are Black men, while Black men and women are still being incarcerated at higher rates than their non-Black counterparts. My goal is to be a Prosecutor, so I can better minimize the chance of future wrongful convictions from happening and help preserve judicial integrity. I originally aspired to be a defense attorney, thinking that would be the best route for corrective justice and advocacy. However, as I observed Black Prosecutors like Wesley Bell (St. Louis) and Kimberly Foxx (Cook Co.), I realized that corrective justice can be accomplished on the government side. A Prosecutor has discretion to pursue charges, and she often is in a position to spot police errors or misconduct before a case proceeds to trial. Also, the Prosecutor can recommend a disposition other than jail, such as pretrial diversion or rehabilitation for drug offenders. Regardless of my career path, a law degree is a potent instrument for social change. I hope to collaborate with other lawyers to effect the change I want to observe in the criminal justice system. I am entering my third and final year of law school. My first-year experience was unconventional but enjoyable. The pandemic required me to learn remotely, which is something I never had to do before. I adjusted to Zoom for classes, remote interviews, and take-home examinations. Although I felt isolated from my classmates at times, I did get involved in the Street Law program and Black Law Student Association, both of which I serve on the executive boards. This past Spring, I worked in the Human Rights clinic, where I represented two (Black) men who were sentenced to life in prison as juveniles. I prepared a mitigation brief for each client in anticipation for their respective parole hearings. Currently, I am working part-time for a personal injury firm as a law clerk. I send my prayers to you and your family! Respectfully submitted, Justin McPherson