When I was in the fourth grade, I remember having a speaker come to our classroom to come to speak to us about what he does, he was a defense attorney. I was in awe of the speaker talking about how he provides free legal defense for people who cannot afford it, and felt inspired to choose a career like this. From that day forward I did everything I could to do well in school, graduated at the top of my high school graduating class, and knew Texas A&M University was next for me. As a first-generation college graduate, there were a lot of challenges and times I thought I would not make it; however, I persevered through the struggles and earned my Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies with an emphasis in Commerce from Texas A&M University. My first experience in the legal field was when I interned with an Immigration Attorney through Exxon-Mobil’s Community Service Internship Program. This internship placed us in non-profits who were in need of interns. During this internship, I was given many roles such as being able to help people in need by providing financial assistance through our grants, helping people apply for food stamps, and also assisting an attorney by translating legal documents from Spanish to English. This job helped me confirm my decision that becoming a lawyer was my next step. After graduating from college in May of 2018 I decided to take time off from school, and dedicate the next two years of my life working with under-represented students at a low-income high school as their College Advisor through College Advising Corps-Texas A&M chapter. Working with under-privileged students like I once was has opened my eyes to the reality of our world today. I have one student who is a DACA student who has to work twice has hard to get money for college because of her immigration status, I work with her every day so we can find scholarships she is eligible for. Some of the issues my students go through are things not many seventeen year olds go through. Growing up I have wanted to work with children, but was not sure in what capacity. I now know I have an interest to work with Child Protective Services, and help young kids with counsel. I am more than confident in my ability to excel in any career opportunity that comes my way; thankfully, I don’t give up.

My first experience in the legal field was when I interned with an Immigration Attorney through Exxon-Mobil’s Community Service Internship Program. This internship placed us in non-profits who were in need of interns. During this internship, I was given many roles such as being able to help people in need by providing financial assistance through our grants, helping people apply for food stamps, and assisting the attorney by translating legal documents from Spanish to English. This job helped me confirm my decision that becoming a lawyer was my next step. There was this fire in me anytime I was able to give guidance to any person who came into the office, I felt as if I had a purpose on this earth and that was to help others with counsel. After graduating from college in May of 2018, I decided to take time off from school, and dedicate the next two years of my life working with under-represented students at a low-income high school as their College Advisor. Through the College Advising Corps-Texas A&M chapter I was working with under-privileged students, and encouraging them to pursue higher education. I assisted almost eight-hundred students in applying to college and helping them figure out a post-graduate plan. Every day I had the honor to ask a new student what their dream is and how I can help them achieve that dream whether it was through helping them apply to college, technical school, or connecting them with local recruiters in the military. Seeing students accomplish their dream of attending College was a privilege to watch especially since a majority of them where first-generation college students. This last year I was teaching Texas History in a low-income middle-school in Houston. I was excited to be pouring out knowledge to students and hoping to start a fire in when it comes to learning history. I enjoy working with students because I get to be a part of shaping the future leaders of tomorrow. It may not always be sunshine and butterflies, but they are wonderful scholars who have the potential to do anything they want. I hope to one day help make the foster care system better by being a Child Protective Services attorney. My experience in the education field contributed to my interest in corporate law, labor and employment, tax law, and played a role in my decision to pursue a career in the legal profession.

Katia Bouza: Personal Statement “First-generation” is what I am; I am the daughter of two Honduran immigrants who came to America for a better life. Growing up, I had to translate documents for my parents and assist them in any way necessary, which was much pressure for a ten-year-old child. I graduated top ten percent of my high school class and attended Texas A&M University afterward. I struggled at Texas A&M at the beginning due to my lack of knowledge of how to study for classes and lack of resources. I came from a high school where many students dropped out, and going to college was not the norm. I was not as prepared for the rigor at first, which was overwhelming psychologically. I was in a new environment surrounded by friends who could afford to go to tutoring or had parents who taught them how to get through undergrad. My parents could not afford to help me the way other students’ parents could. I also did not know this at the time, but I was suffering from an undiagnosed intellectual disability, ADHD. My struggles were many, but that did not stop me from persevering, and in the end, I graduated from Texas A&M University. I believe I have a lot to offer this scholarship l because I am driven, dedicated, and determined to change the world. My work ethic goes above and beyond what is expected of me. This last year I taught Texas History in a low-income middle school in Houston. It was challenging to teach during a national emergency like the pandemic; however, teaching taught me to put in the extra work and hours necessary to execute a successful lesson. I learned to be flexible working as a teacher, which I will use in my professional career. Even though teaching was difficult during the pandemic, I did not give up. I did not want to fail my students, I wanted them to learn. I am currently attending The University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law, where I finished my first semester of law school. I did not have the best grades, but as someone who struggles with a disability like ADHD and is a first-generation college student, I am proud of my accomplishments. Getting all “B” grades in law school is something to be proud of, and it is only the beginning as I will continue to improve. I persevered even though I struggled my first semester of college, and perseverance is essential when working in the legal field. I will keep persevering because giving up is not an option, and that is something the legal fields needs someone who doesn’t give up. I am working on addressing my student loan debt by applying to law firms and getting a job by my summer of next year.