For as long as I can remember, the law fascinated me to an extent beyond measure. I am intrigued by how the law changes to conform to our constantly changing society. I am captivated by the government and how it developed. My love for debating about controversial topics drives me to believe that I can use that same energy and passion in a courtroom. Most people have one or two defining moments in their life in which their path becomes clear. I’ve experienced four. I was ten years old when Trayvon Martin was killed, and the subsequent trial ensued. I remember the feeling of utter disbelief in my house after hearing the verdict; but the defining moment was when my parents sat me and older brother down and proceeded to give us the “talk” about police and how to act if we encounter them. That moment set in stone that I would become a trial attorney. The second defining moment came two years later. The Lifetime TLC movie just premiered. The actress/singer Lil Mama, who was playing Left Eye, explained how TLC can sell 10 million albums and be broke. That moment set in stone that I would make a career pivot and enter the world of entertainment/sports law. The third defining moment came in my sophomore year of college. Dr. Kenneth Whitman, Dr. Emerald Jones, Dr. Robert Powell, and Dr. Sheri Keenan are the greatest professors I’ve ever had. Their classes impacted me so much that I decided that I am going to end my career teaching at Alabama A&M University. The fourth defining moment happened on April 1, 2023. I got the call that my grandmother passed away. My grandmother, Janis Drake, lived her life as a true servant to others. The amount of people that had stories of how my grandmother helped them do something was amazing. In that moment I realized that when we leave this Earth, nothing goes with you. People might remember titles; they might remember your accolades. One thing people always remember, is how you treated them. People will always remember the impact someone left on them. What matters the most to me is the impact I will leave on others. God has blessed me with the capabilities to serve others. I am determined to erase the obstacles and hurdles that I had to overcome, so those coming behind don’t have to worry about them. It doesn’t matter that I achieve my goals and aspirations. What matters is how many people I was able to help reach their goals and aspirations. I am a firm believer that the black community will never reach its height until those at the top do their part to pull others up to join them. I will do my part and I pray that the foundation I leave will be inspiration to others to do the same. The money from the Barbara J. DeVaney Memorial Scholarship Fund will kickstart my family’s efforts to start a foundation that will further my grandmother’s legacy. The working name of the foundation is “Brick by Brick”. Our goal of the foundation is to give students the resources they need to catapult themselves to new levels of education and leadership while also giving them the tools to lay a strong foundation (hence the name) that they can then pass on for others to build on. I recognize and accept that I am part of the “Talented Tenth”, therefore I must do my part to bring my brothers and sisters to the top with me.