When I was younger, I knew that I wanted something greater. I come from a family where drugs and alcohol became the norm, which left a negative impact. I was determined to enroll in college to make my goals come true. Being the first in my family to obtain a college degree and seeking my master's has been a blessing to me. When I decided to get my Master's degree in 2022, I knew that I wanted to help people in the legal field. I wanted to become that attorney to help people who were wrongly accused of crimes and help them get their justice. The knowledge that I have gained from working in the courts was the resources that I am able to provide to people with all of the legal information that they need. I wanted to study Legal Studies because I have a passion of helping people with resolving their issues with legal matters. There are many people of color who has faced issues of being wrongly accused of crimes. 53 percent of them were African-American and faced many barriers when it comes to obtaining a job and functioning in society. These past two years, I've worked two jobs and go to school to make my goals a dream come true. This task was not easy, while working at my part time job, full time job, and school, I had to learn some great time management skills and balance my personal life on top of volunteering and giving back to my community. There was many times that I wanted to give up, but I kept praying to God to keep me in the race. I have made many sacrifices with going back to school while busy with my work life and personal life. Overall, I want to pursue my goal as becoming an attorney to advocate for those who face these issues. There should be more attorneys that should fight for these issues. After I am done with graduate school, I will enroll in law school for Fall 2026 part time while working full-time, volunteering, and learning more knowledge. I am hoping that I can volunteer with the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project where I live so I can help those who are facing incarceration issues to this day. I want to push forward and help others. Thank you for taking the time out to read my essay and story.

My mother would always tell me that our family was holding a generational curse. I would ask her, "mom why would you say that"? Back then as a child, I did not realize why she would mention that, but now as an adult, I would see why and me being that change that I made for the generational curse to break that my family has endured for so long was an accomplishment on its own. Being the first in my family to graduate from college, I had made my family very proud of all of the accomplishments I have made so far. Growing up in an urban city was not easy. Every day, I would see the high crime in my area and many family members, neighbors, and friends go to prison, get killed, or getting caught up in the world of addiction. I knew as a very young girl of my interest in law because reading was a hobby that I have picked up. When God had placed people into my life to guide in the right direction, I had no idea I would become the woman that I am today. When I first knew that I wanted to help others in the legal field was being that young twelve-year-old girl watching the Rubin "Hurricane" Carter story and wonder why he was incarcerated for a crime that he did not commit. This made look into research about the Innocence Project, an organization that help incarcerated individuals who were wrongly convicted of crimes. This had put the desire and passion in me to pursue my dreams of becoming that attorney who fight for people who deserves a second chance in the world. Today, I am a woman who is in her 30's attending graduate school and getting my master's degree in legal studies. I am also working two jobs, volunteering in my local community and have aspirations of becoming an attorney. I always wanted to state that working in the legal/law field has always been my passion. Watching many crime/law TV shows as a child, I always wanted to help people to get the justice that they deserve. I decided to get my bachelor's degree in criminal justice, my paralegal certification, and plan on attending law school after I graduate with my master's degree. Once I am done with my master's degree, I want to volunteer for the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project in my area to help that organization while I am in law school. People would ask, why would I want to help someone who is convicted of a crime? My answer would be, "Because people deserve a second chance in life and not all people who are convicted are guilty".

As a person who had her own battle with her mental health (Social Anxiety Disorder) as well as my mother who has bipolar disorder, mental health was not always recognized in the black community. There are many people in the black community that does not seek help and rather keep their mental health status within family dynamics or not talk about it. As a coping mechanism to my mental health, I love to perform hobbies such as listening to music and reading many books. This is soothing to me because we all know that music is power and reading is power, which can bring knowledge and bring out the person's imagination. While I work in the legal field, I run across people who were charged for crimes that battle mental health issues. Many people who are innocent of crimes face some type of mental health issues and I want to advocate/defend those who were accused of a crime. I would love to create a library/music store for people who just want to use these therapies to help them cope with their mental health. There are other ways to cope besides using medication, sometimes it takes therapy and self-care things such as using hobbies that they can enjoy. Another thing I want to contribute is encouraging quotes at my place of work to encourage someone with some words that can be positive. Just like reading, positive and encouraging words can have power and make someone smile.

Greetings and thank you in advance for taking the time out to read my essay! My name is Montia Austin, and I am a graduate student at Purdue University Global majoring in Legal Studies. I received my bachelor's degree from Kentucky State University in Criminal Justice in 2014 and I will graduate in Fall of 2024. I am a non-traditional student, working two jobs, and volunteer in my local community with various organizations based on my beliefs/inspirations. My ultimate goal is to attend law school after I complete my master's degree to become an attorney. I want to advocate for people who were wrongly accused of crimes. Most of the time, they are individuals who have faced many barriers in their lives such as having some form of a disability, poor mental health, and grew up in an environment that was filled with crime, violence, and drugs. Many of these people cannot afford an attorney and I want to be that attorney to help them get a second chance in society. I would be honored to receive this scholarship for various of reasons. For one, I am currently on a payment plan for three years with my university, owing more than $7,000 dollars on my account balance. By the grace of God, my student account hold was lifted and was able to get on a plan. For two, while I am able to maintain a 4.0 GPA, I have made it my mission to work hard and achieve my goal of graduating with honors with my master's degree. I am a first-generation college graduate and the first in my family to attend graduate school. Finally, by receiving this scholarship, this can help me with reducing my student account balance to get my actual degree as soon as possible. While I will graduate, I will still owe a balance, preventing me from applying to future employment at my current place of employment, which will require a transcript and I will not receive my degree/transcript for another three years (which is set on my payment plan). When I first enrolled in graduate school in 2022, I paid out of pocket, sacrificing many things such as food, gas, and being behind on some of my bills. Again, this would be an honor to receive this scholarship to assist me with my balance and moving forward.

My name is Montia Austin and I was born and raised in Washington, DC. In 2014, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Kentucky State University graduating with honors. Currently, I am in school for my Master's degree in Legal Studies at Purdue University Global and working full-time at the District of Columbia Courts as a Deputy Clerk I and also work part-time as a e-commerce shopper at Whole Foods Market Inc. since 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am currently maintaining a 4.0 GPA with a very busy schedule. In my spare time, I like to read, attend church, dance, learning two languages such as Japanese and Spanish, collector of many vintage items, walking, and volunteering in my local community such as tutoring children with reading, soup kitchens, and enhancing the environment in my local community. One day, I inspire to attend law school to become an attorney, fighting for citizens who were wrongly convicted of crimes, which many of those citizens face a barrier with some form of disability. This scholarship can help me achieve my goals of finishing strong with completing my master's degree, allowing me to further my career with the courts. Working in the legal field is my passion and I am passionate about helping others with their court cases. Right now, I am facing the challenge of paying for my tuition out of pocket for school, which has became a burden along with paying my bills, so this scholarship can help me pay the $7000 balance that I am struggling to pay. If I am a recipient of this scholarship, I will be grateful and honored to receive this scholarship to help pay for my education. My disability has help shaped my goals by stepping outside of the box and getting out of my comfort zone. I was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder in my adult years and always faced many challenges such as public speaking, going into crowds, being in the spotlight and worrying about a lot of problems that I could not control. As I gotten older and into my career field, I was challenged to step out of my comfort zone by taking on tasks such as interacting with the public, attorneys, judges, and other court personnel. Recently, I had participated in a educational video for work, which was a challenge and allowed me to step out of my comfort zone of being in the spotlight.

There are many great achievements that I've accomplished throughout my life. Being the first in my family to obtain a higher education was the greatest achievement thus far but graduating with my bachelor's degree and getting my master's degree with a 4.0 GPA while working is the greatest accomplishment that I am proud of and cannot stop smiling. This was no easy task of course, I had to make many sacrifices such as giving up my social life, hobbies, and other fun things. Most people like my family, friends, and my coworkers would wonder why I am taking so much on and not taking a break. I knew when I went back to school after being out of undergrad for eight years that it would only get harder. I kept pushing forward from facing my student account to being blocked, to being behind on payments of my bills, barely having food to eat, and having gas in my car to get to work. This experience has taught me that hard work and determination comes with sacrifice and believing in yourself. As I reflect back in my life, I think about what if I did not take that step by going back to school, what if I did not think about my future. I believe that God knows what we are going to do before we know. In his word in Jeremiah 11:29: "for I know the plans I have for you" is a statement that I will never forget. Also, this experience has taught me that just because my family follow the pattern of addiction and incarceration does not mean that I had to follow their steps into that lifestyle. I hope to achieve in the future to go to law school and become an attorney to fight for rights and help others such as advocating for victims, those that were wrongly accused, and the disabled. I want to be that person to make my dreams come true by getting my Juris Doctorate once I am done with graduate school. Even if I get discouraged, I will think about how I should never give up and keep going. With God on my side, I can do anything that I put my mind to and came very far in my education. With the overwhelming support from my family, friends, coworkers, and mentors, they are rooting for me to make it to the end!

My favorite all time anime series of all time is My Hero Academia. I have watched all four seasons so far and love this show. From the lessons of All Might to the students and Deku, he is the greatest superhero of all time. Even though Deku did not have a quirk when he was young, he kept going and kept his dream alive to eventually become a hero. What this series taught me was no one should not give up no matter what. Deku did not have superpowers like the rest of his peers, but he didn't give up and used his knowledge to his advantage. My favorite part was when he was battling with Barakua, who bullied him since they were young. He used his knowledge of his notes to win and always found a way on his own. He has the support from All Might, his mom, and his fellow classmates. I would recommend anyone to watch this series because of the many powers that the superheros have, to the lessons that are learned. The introduction of the episode I sing along to and can read some Japanese by studying the language with watching anime, Duolingo, and reading simple words in Japanese. The end of the episode always ends with a cliffhanger, convinced that the next episode should be watched.

Going to gain a higher education was something that I've always wanted to accomplish, but no one in my family but me took that approach to achieve the goal. Being the first in my family to further my education was a challenge. I did not have anyone in my family who could help me with the application process or tell me to apply. When I was in high school, I had teachers who assisted me with applying for college and helping me with my FASFA information. At the end, I decided to go out of state for college for various of reasons such as getting out of my hometown and getting to know new people. I had to overcome hardships such as being raised by a single mother who was an addict and had to raise me and my brothers without a job and lived in the urban area of Washington, DC. Growing up in a tough neighborhood when crime was very high was tough because of the unpredictable circumstances. My mother did the best she could when battling her own mental health issues and addiction. After I got accepted into college, I went on and majored in Criminal Justice because I love the law and have a passion for helping others. Areas I have excelled in was my academic achievements such as graduating with honors from high school and college, and now I am maintaining a 4.0 GPA while working two jobs on a consistent basis. I am a member of three honor societies, held several leadership roles in clubs in my undergraduate and graduate years such as a Student Ambassador, Residential Assistant at a dorm hall, Criminal Justice Club, Baptist Campus Ministry, International Student Association and graduate school clubs such as Autism Speaks U, Purdue Law Society, Black Cultural Association, and inducted into three honor societies. Recently, I have completed a mini law school course with the Colorado School of Law with a certificate and currently taking a program with my school called ACES, which stands for Achievement of Community Engagement and Service. Since I was young, I've always wanted to study the law. I grew up in a household where I watched many crime and law television shows. Law and Order has always been my favorite show up until this day. Of course there was other shows such as Criminal Minds, Snapped, Forensic Files, Monk and SVU. It has always been my passion to help people in the career of law and one day I hope to become a defense attorney in helping those who were wrongly convicted or accused of crimes from adults to juveniles in the criminal justice system. Being the first in my family to obtain a higher education was not easy. I really had no guidance from my family members, but I knew that I wanted to break that cycle and change the world for the better. Seeing many of my own family members being incarcerated and getting arrested, I wanted to be that person to make a difference by helping others in their time of need in the law. At my current place of work, I try to help people when it comes to post-convictions and getting their lives back in order by providing resources such as getting a case re-open, filing to get the record sealed/expunged, and sources for free legal aid. I wanted to help people who were wrongly convicted of crimes or juveniles who were caught up in trouble and help them turn their lives around for the better. With experience in serving my community and participating in clubs and extra circular activities, I have learned such great skills such as being in leadership roles, serving my peers and community, and having that passion to help others. I have a consistency with volunteering in causes that I believe in such as Autism, tutoring local kids in Washington DC with reading and spelling, Salvation Army, Suicide Prevention, Habitat for Humanity, Soup kitchens, and community clean-ups. These organizations I have been consistent and show that I have a dedication to others and my community. Changes I am looking forward to in my field is to get into law school and make a difference in the law field. One day, I want to help people who were wrongly convicted and work with programs such as the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project and the Innocence Project, making that difference in someone's life who is facing incarceration. I am willing to network and work hard at my goals no matter what. My current employment at the courts have pushed me to the limit of dealing with the public when it comes to their cases. There are people who want to change their lives and I want to be there to help them. When I look at people, sometimes I see them as relatives of my own who is trying to make a better life for themselves. Being consistent, patient, kind, and having faith is allowing me to push myself further, no matter what that outcome may be for me. I will not stop pursing and overcoming personal circumstances. If I knew what I knew back when I was in high school, I would've not become the woman that I am today.

My name is Montia Austin and I am the oldest child and only girl of three younger brothers from Washington, DC. I am a first generation college graduate from Kentucky State University with my Bachelor's in Criminal Justice and an first generation graduate student at Purdue University Global getting my Master's degree in Legal Studies. I was the first in my family to obtain higher education and took pride in my education as a young girl. I have many interest and hobbies such as my passion for helping others, learning different cultures, reading, practicing Spanish and Japanese, fitness, Zumba, and dancing. I am a huge fan of Hello Kitty and a collector of many vintage items with a huge following on 80's and 90's culture. I love to volunteer in my local community and help others in need. Currently, I am working two jobs, one with the District of Columbia Courts and the other as a Whole Foods personal shopper. My career goals is to become a defense attorney. Since I was young, my passion for researching, reading, and learning the law has helped me to know what I wanted to do as a career. I dream of helping others in the criminal justice system, helping them to get the best representation as possible. I want to work with cases that were post conviction, many people that are wrongfully convicted of crimes for various of reasons such as wrong statements, violation of their amendment rights and so forth. One day I want to attend law school part-time and work full-time to obtain those goals. I deserve this scholarship because I know that the funds can help me continue my education. I come from a family that did not have much as far as receiving wealth and a low income. I have endured loans during my undergraduate years because my parents could not afford to pay for my education and depended on FASFA, scholarships, and student loans. I really wish not to face that burden again, with the cost of the interest rate on loans. This scholarship will benefit me with achieving my passion to pursue my career in law. It will motivate me to know that everyone does not have the funds to gain an education. I know I will make myself and my family very proud by becoming that person that can help others in forms of receiving justice. I chose my career field for various of reasons. I chose this career of law because it is my passion to help others in the criminal justice system and help others get a second chance in life. God has given many people second chances to turn their lives around for the better. Sometimes, we have to start somewhere and I want to be that person that can help others achieve anything no matter of their past and obstacles. Knowing that keeping my faith in God has allowed me to push forward and not leave others behind. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Since I was young, I've always wanted to study the law. I grew up in a household where I watched many crime and law television shows. Law and Order has always been my favorite show up until this day. It has always been my passion to help people in the career of law and one day I hope to become a defense attorney in helping those who were wrongly convicted or accused of crimes from adults to juveniles in the criminal justice system. Being the first in my family to obtain a higher education was not easy. I really had no guidance from my family members, but I knew that I wanted to break that cycle and change the world for the better. Seeing many of my own family members being incarcerated and getting arrested, I wanted to be that person to make a difference by helping others in their time of need in the law. At my current place of work, I try to help people when it comes to post-convictions and getting their lives back in order by providing resources such as getting a case re-open, filing to get the record sealed/expunged, and sources for free legal aid. I wanted to help people who were wrongly convicted of crimes or juveniles who were caught up in trouble and help them turn their lives around for the better. What has inspired me to pursue a public service career as an attorney one day really made me care about upholding the law for what it represents. As an African American, there is a high incarceration rate among the race, more than any other race. With the low ratio of black attorneys, there is a need for them to represent in the law field. Many people do not know the law and are caught up at the wrong place at the wrong time. I hope to use my education to help others with obtaining their lives back. People throughout life make mistakes, whether it can be from life experiences, trauma, issues, or just bad luck. It's up to that person to want to make that change and that person may not be the same person that they were years ago. As a minor child committing crimes, sometimes there is no guidance among them and can commit crimes based on lack of attention at home. Thank you for taking the time out to read my essay.

In 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I was unsure of my future. I was unsure if I still had a job or money to survive. I was on my own and could not go back to live with my mother and thought that it was the end. My initial plan to go back to obtain my master's degree was put to a halt, being unsure about my future. I thought that I never would be able to finish. My workplace dynamics have changed, only going into the office every other week. While being at home and had nothing to do, I've decided to find part-time work to have some extra cash in my pocket for emergencies. When I've heard many people talk about the housing market being cheap, I wanted to purchase a home as well. It took me a year to save $20,000 to save a purchase my very first home in 2021. Now that I became a homeowner, I thought that if I can save that type of money for a home, why not do the same for school. In 2022, I've made that bold move to enroll into school online for my master's degree. For the past two years, I've been working two jobs while going to school maintaining a 4.0 GPA, involved in community service, and extra activities, serving as a advisory board member for the BCA and treasurer for the Autism Speaks U, and inducted into three honor societies such as Golden Key International, Alpha Alpha Alpha, and SCLA. So far, I am balancing it all and keeping a calendar with all of my plans for the days and weeks ahead. I am able to manage my time because having all of these activities are allowing me and preparing me on how my future as an attorney will be, which will consist of handling many clients, keeping a calendar, having time management, and being well organized. I have dedicated my weekends, days, evenings, and nights to working two jobs, volunteering, and going to school. It is not easy, but I am managing and maintain my sanity by staying focused. My current job with the courts will help me to prepare to read cases, researching, and learning legal terminology to assist me in my career in the law field. With my part-time job with Whole Foods Market, I am able to learn how to think quickly on my feet in a fast-paced environment and give excellent customer service to my clients when I do become an attorney. Overall, I am thankful to have the strength and endurance to be able to balance all of this and able to meet my goals. Thank you for taking the time out to read my story.

Growing up as an avid reader and my love for books, I was very excited when books became my escape into another place and imagination. When I would see books turn into movies, it really excites me because the movie always put a spin into details more than the book, with all the action, comedy, and flavor that the creators bring out in the characters and the story plot. Knowing this, I've always made it my goal when I see one of my favorite books turn into a movie, I am ready to go see that movie and it brings back memories of what was in the book from the characters, plot, storyline, and most of all, the plot twisting and exciting ending. I have read many books that adapted into tv shows and movies and really enjoyed the plot on television and as well as reading the book, thinking about how the book is compared to the movie. My favorite adaption from the book to the movie was Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. The book and the movie had many perks and excitement to look forward as to the adventures of the characters and the ending. Growing up being into science, futuristic settings, and video games, this made me excited seeing that this book has finally made it to the big screen. In both the movie and the book, it highlights the character, Wade who was into the virtual video scene and participated in a contest hosted by the owner of OASIS, James Halliday. This virtual video game brought many 80's pop culture and references, hence the reason why I read the book and watched the movie. The main character Wade was brought to life in the movie, my imagination of him being a young person being in a virtual reality world. James Halliday image in the movie was what I have imagined in the book as well as a man who was very successful and brought out the fun and excitement in many video games that he played and grew up with. In the book, how the relationship between Wade (known as Parzival in the OASIS) and Samantha (known as Art3mis in the OASIS) was the same as it was in the movie and the relationship with Wade (Parzival) and Aceh (known as Helen). Even though Aceh in the virtual game was a male, in reality Aceh was a female and a lesbian, which was a shock to me both in the book and the movie. This book was special to me because I was recommended to read this book by my former supervisor in my work-study program while I was in undergrad and saw the movie when it came out in 2018. When I first saw the title, I knew instantly that this book was based on a video game and coming from being the only girl out of my siblings, video games will always have a special place in my heart, hence reading the book and seeing the movie many years later brought back many memories of the characters, plot, and ending of this exciting book. I recommend if anyone is into virtual/science-fiction/video games.

Going back to school after being out of undergrad for eight years was a surprise for me because of how much time have passed, which to me was a shock. I graduated undergrad at the age of 24 and returned to graduate school at the age of 32. I used to worry about being too old to go back to school. Other things that would cloud my mind such as "do I want to take out a loan"? "Do I have the time and energy when I was in my early 20's, to dedicate to studies when life was so simple"? Turns out, my graduate school, there are many non-traditional students, some of my classmates and fellow students who are twenty or thirty years older than me. I was thinking to myself, "if they can do this, I know I can do this and further my education". Let me start off saying that it was not easy to go back. My initial plan was to start graduate school in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic had put my dreams to a halt. Worrying about my job security, living situation, and finances, I've decided to take on a part-time job to save for my future. While so many people were getting sick and died from the virus, I did not know what would happen and protected myself at all costs. In 2021, I have saved enough funds to move into a home and a year later, I have made that move to start what I needed to finish. In 2022, I have decided to make that move and start my graduate journey, something that I will never regret. At my former place of employment, having a bachelor's degree was not cutting it anymore as far as income, reaching my goals, and moving up in the future. I went back to school for many reasons such as getting into law school (due to my low GPA in undergrad), getting a career where I can move among the ranks, and becoming an attorney to help others. At my current place of employment, having a master's degree will open more doors for me to apply for opportunities with the courts such as working as a Paralegal or with an attorney to showcase my skills I have learned from my education. Being a non-traditional student has impacted my educational and future goals in a positive way. In the past two years of my current place of employment, I am able to understand certain documents that are submitted, reach a very high GPA, and meet many wonderful people at my school from traditional to non-traditional students. Like Robert Lawyer, I am passionate about what I am studying and one day I hope to become that attorney that everyone will remember. I want to be known as a person that does not give up and serving my community, working, and attending school. Thank you for taking the time out to read my story.

As I sit and reflect on choices that I have made in my life, I thank God for all the blessings that I received. I thanked him for always being there through the struggles, good times, and moments that I wanted to give up. Growing up in a family with both parents addicted to drugs, I did not know what my life would become. I was told that I was going to become like my mother who was addicted to drugs just like her mother and grandmother. Being exposed to drugs at a young age made me realized that this is not the life that I want, I want to break the cycle in my family and do better. What does recovery mean to me? It means a transformation, a change to become better, stronger, and believing that happiness can be brought back into life, coming from the dark into the light of freedom from the bondage that addiction can bring a person. I am glad to say that I did not go down that path and seen my mother get clean and never going back. I am not going to sit up here and say I know how it feels, kids with parents who were addicts has just as much as an effect as a parent who is addicted. Thank you for taking the time out to read my testimony and story.

Having that dream as a young girl, I knew that I was destined to be something. Coming from a generation of family members who were incarcerated, drug abuse, and lack of education, I knew that I wanted to be someone important, someone who wanted to help others. When I knew that I wanted to study the law to help others, I knew in my heart that this was my passion and purpose. My first interaction with studying law was when I was twelve years old watching episodes of Law and Order SVU. My favorite part was when they would show the court side like the testimonies, arguments, and the defendant getting arrested, being read their Miranda Rights. I would see detective Olivia Benson help many victims who were victims to crime. I wanted to be just like her and I would tell my mother that I wanted to become an attorney one day. My mother knew my potential, telling people that I was going to grow up and be somebody. When I was seventeen years old, I got my first experience in the legal field by working at a summer job with the DC Court of Appeals. I had a chance to gain knowledge of the court system with watching cases, reading cases, typing docket entries and learning the process of the criminal justice system. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to become an attorney and help others. I wanted others to get the justice that they deserve just like those attorneys did on the show. I went to college and majored in Criminal Justice and wanted to attend law school. After eight years of being out of undergrad, I went back and working on my Master's degree in Legal Studies, still chasing my dreams of becoming an attorney with hopes of getting into law school one day. With a 4.0 GPA, involved in the community, and working two jobs, I know I can do anything that I can put my mind to with working on my goals. My future career path is to go to law school and become a defense attorney. I want to help other people who are wrongfully committed of crimes, helping victims such as juveniles and adults who are tangled on the criminal justice system based on errors that are done to people who are at the wrong place at the wrong time. My goal is to attend law school part time at the University of the District of Columbia to practice law in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. I will do everything in my power to make sure that my dreams will come true. Thank you for taking the time out to read my story.

Coming from a background with a single mother and three other siblings, my mother would accept donations from people who would give away turkey dinners, Christmas toys, and other items for us when we were younger when my mother could not make ends meet to buy us Christmas toys or have food and clothing for us. Being a person that loves to give back to others has always been my passion. When I was younger, I remember going to church and the pastor would always tell us that giving back to our community was always something that a person should do from their heart, not for anyone's approval. When I was twelve years old, I went to church and participated in the choir, was a youth usher, and participated on Saturdays once a month to help giving food baskets to the local community. Doing this good deed made me feel good to give back to others in my community and knowing that God knew in my heart that it was my passion. When I was in high school, I participated in tutoring young children to read and helping with their homework, volunteering at my local library, and with the church with other activities such as dinners, clothing drive and other activities. When I went away to college, I gave back to my campus community by practicing recycling, campus clean ups, not littering and volunteering with other on campus activities such as working in the admissions office. I was balancing this plus participating in clubs, taking five classes, and working part time. In my adult life, I've dedicated myself to volunteering at local soup kitchens, community clean-ups, holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving holidays. When it comes to giving back, I am dedicated and committed to serve the community and helping others. Working full time, part time and going to graduate school, I still make the time and dedication to give back to my community. Working downtown in my hometown, I give back by providing help to some who made need assistance such as food, change, and water. Volunteering has taught me to be humble, patient, and grateful for what I have because many people that come to the soup kitchen suffer from mental health issues, homelessness, drug use, and poverty. When I started the community service, the feeling has made me feel good to give back to people that were less fortunate. It has also taught me about myself that I was a person that gives from the heart and not just for show. As a part of growing up, volunteering taught me that there is always someone who is willing to have a helping hand and give back.

My uncle on my father side of the family was in the Vietnam War before I was born. According to the stories he would tell me and my cousins growing up, he was eighteen years old when he signed up for the military. He told us that back then, college was very expensive for my grandparents to pay for, so he went to serve in the army. He showed us a picture of us in his uniform and it was one of the best memories that I remember. When I was fourteen years old, I remember him having a nice car, wearing an army camouflage outfit and boots. He would even wear this in the summertime and me and my cousins would ask our grandmother why he would wear such a thing while its hot. Then one summer in the fourth of July he did not come outside at all due to the loud noises of the fireworks. That is when I realized that he suffered from PTSD, and it was severe. He lived alone and only had one child, which was my cousin that I talk to sometimes. There are so memories of him always telling me that I looked just like my grandmother and reminded him of how I looked like her when she was younger. My uncle was an interesting person and would always have stories to tell us from what happened back then in the war to the cars he drove, to him admiring Superman, his favorite superhero. He would always wear a Superman shirt, have all of the comic books, and wear a cape. When I was a child, I thought he was crazy, but when I became older, I realized that he was just different type of person and still had that kid energy. Me and my cousins would take long walks with him growing up, and my uncle walked everywhere in the city. I remember one day, he walked from his apartment to my grandmother's house, which he told my grandmother it took him almost two hours to walk there (lol). My uncle became sick in 2019 and he had to move in with my father, who had to care for him and take him to doctor appointments and manage his finances. I saw him one last time and told him how I was doing, that I was going back to get my master's degree and we talked about so many memories in the family growing up, and how he still wears his combat boots and army outfit all throughout the season (lol). He passed away in 2022. My educational goals are to become a defense attorney. I want to go to law school and work as an attorney to advocate for people who does not have a voice in the legal system. I want to work with cases where people were wrongly accused, have a disability, or are very young (juvenile). I know that I can make this happen.

Why in there so much trash on the ground? Or why do people throw anything in the recycle bins? These questions run into my mind as why this happens. We live in a world that some people do not care about the environment or how they live. Growing up in the city where throwing trash on the ground was the norm, no one did not care how the earth, or their community was being treated. I did not grow up in a house that was "Eco-Friendly", but my mother always told us when we had trash in our hands, we were to throw it away in the garbage. When I have reached college, there were always community service projects around campus to educate people on how to keep our campus community beautiful. I would participate in campus clean-ups with my peers, and we would use the recycle bins that were placed around campus and the dorms. By the time I have graduated from undergrad, I was in an apartment complex with four units in the city. By the time I've came back home, there were many laws that passed such as non-littering and recycling. Seeing all of the trash cans and recycle bins made me happy because of the constant rat problem that was in the city. I would see the trash on the front porch, and it bother me so much that every day, I would pick up the litter and place it in the trash. I was doing this consistently because I cared about where I lived and the environment. I do not use plastic bags, due to using reusable bags to save the consumption of plastic bags. Even when I see litter where I currently live, I would pick it up and place it in the proper trash. I have three recycle bins near my car port to recycle the proper things (paper, plastic, and trash) into the right places. Recently, I have shredded electronics, paper, and donated clothes to make sure I am saving and living sustainably in my daily life. I currently volunteered with an organization called Ward 8 Woods Conservancy, where we would pick up litter, trash, and other items in the community of Washington, DC (particularly Ward 8) where litter is the highest in the city (being a former Ward 8 resident). It is important to reduce your carbon footprint for various of reasons such as keeping our environment safe, clean, and free of all the toxins that material items are affecting our earth. This is our home, and we should do the best that we can to make it a better place.

When I first learned about cancer, at the age of sixteen, my grandmother died of lung cancer. I saw that she was a heavy smoker, usually always had a cigarette at hand most of my childhood. At the time, I did not fully grasp the meaning of cancer or what it was meant for me. When she passed away, it was like the glue to our family had fallen apart. She was the one that kept the family together through the good and bad times. She was fifty-six years old when she passed away. When I was twenty-one years old in college, my mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer. When she told me and my brothers the news, we felt so many emotions such as sadness, anger, and confusion. We already lost our grandmother a few years ago and we were not prepared to lose our mother. I was communicating with my mom about it, wondering if I should get checked out myself. I went to the doctor at the school campus and they told me that my test for cervical cancer was negative. A few months later, my mom was able to go to surgery to get the cancer removed. She had to get her ovaries taken away, losing her ability to have children or to have a menstrual cycle. My mom was forty-two years old at the time of this procedure and she survived and beat her cervical cancer diagnosis. All I could do was thank God because my mom was able to have a second chance in life and live longer. My mom was able to detect it early, survive the surgery and live a healthy life. My experience with cancer from two very close family members made me look at life from a different perspective. That next year when my grandmother died, I knew that I wanted to make her proud. She knew that I was going places and not following the same path that she and my mother did, which was substance abuse. Since my mom was diagnosed and cured, I made it my mission to take better care of myself. I've tried to eat a better diet, stay away from alcohol and smoking, manage my stress, go to get check-ups at the doctor and take care of my mental health. Now that I am an adult, I truly educated myself about not just lung and cervical cancer, I went to do further research on many forms of cancer. I've learned that cancer does not just happen, but it can also run in the family line based on genetics. When I went to further my education, I learned that life can be short and can end just like that, tomorrow is never promised and being the first in my family and woman to seek higher education is not only an accomplishment, but grateful.

When I was a young girl, I knew that having success would not be easy to achieve. Where I come from, success takes hard work, sacrifice, and determination. I knew that I had to work twice as hard because of the many challenges such as class, race, and gender can play a role in how things are handed to people in such a certain way. My background of growing up in an inner city not only made me determined to have a better life, but I wanted to not have the same struggles as my mother did with me and my brothers growing up. Being not only a woman of color and lower class made me want to work twice as hard to become the person that I am today. When I started school, I wanted to be the best that I could be, such as excelling in academic excellence and receiving that recognition. Since elementary school, I was on the honor roll and made good grades. This had made my mother very proud of me of course, bragging to people that her child was on the honor roll and made A's and B's. When I got to middle and high school, I received so much recognition from teachers that one day one of my teachers approached me about wanting to attend college. They knew that I had the potential to be somebody and helped me in every possible way to assist me in my pursuit of higher education. When I enrolled in my undergraduate program, I made sure that in my freshman year, I received excellent grades and even made it on the Dean's list my first semester. This was not easy to obtain and college courses were very different from high school courses. I succeeded by graduating with honors in my criminal justice degree and being the first in my family to obtain higher education. No one in my family ever mentioned higher education, or even attempted to go that far in education. Currently, I am a graduate student studying legal studies and hope that my pursuit in law school will happen one day. I will keep pushing for my goals and will not give up. Before I went back to school, I knew that I had to make some drastic changes in my life. While working two jobs, I was able to purchase my very first home and be the first in my family to own a home and the first to attend graduate school. If I receive this scholarship, it will help me to be able to reach my goal of completing my Master's degree and finish strong. I can say that I am the first in my family to receive my Master's degree by attending school part-time, working a full-time and part-time job, and being involved in my community. Success to me looks like a person not giving up and achieving their goals, making a sacrifice, and being determined to not let anything hold them back. Just as the great words that former Theodore Roosevelt once said: "Believe that you can and you're halfway there". Again, I thank everyone for considering my essay and I hope to continue to become a great and awesome success.

Growing up, mental health was something that I was not aware of until a member of my own family suffered from a mental health disorder. My mother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. As a child, I always saw my mother with different personality changes and never understood why she went through so many emotions. Watching her deal with this made me very curious and I used to wonder if my mom was even sane or capable of making important decisions. When I was an undergraduate student at Kentucky State University, I took classes such as psychology and sociology. These classes were a requirement with my major program, which was criminal justice. Understanding the criminal justice system I had to learn why criminals commit crimes in the first place from a social and mental aspect. Every criminal has a breaking point when a crime is committed. That is how I learned while working in the criminal justice system with the courts on how expert witnesses such as therapists, psychologists, and medical professionals could be used as expert witnesses in court testimonies. As an adult, I got to learn more about my mom's condition through research, reading, and speaking with her doctors. My mom realized that she had a problem as far as her mental health and I assisted her, along with my Godfather to seek her some help. The more I started to read about mental health and became an advocate, the more I understood why my mom had her mental health disorders. At my current place of work, I advocate for mental health working with the courts with defendants who have a hard time communicating with their attorneys or understanding their charges and documents. I direct them to the right resources to seek free legal help with their cases if they are not able to defend themselves. I also refer them to other agencies that work within the courts so they can get assistance with their mental health. I also volunteer in the community with different organizations that have events that focus on mental health awareness and educate people on how to seek help. At home/personal life, I work with my mom on various things and make sure that she continues to take her medication and talk to a therapist. Mental health is important to me as a student because a student whether it's high school, undergrad, or grad, will face many challenges while attending school. My personal view on this with me working full-time and being a student, I have to learn that my mental health comes first. Not getting too overwhelmed taking many deep breaths, taking mental breaks, walking outside, and talking to someone is helpful to me and is important to my mental health. This advice can go for many students who are facing these challenges.

Every day, many people from different walks of life commit crimes. Many of those people are of African-American race who are young men and women who grew up in environments that are not in the best neighborhoods. With me being a voice in the African-American community, I can help these people seek the justice that they deserve by gaining a second chance in society and returning things to normal in their lives. Becoming an attorney will not only help others but will help me face my adversary of coming out of my comfort zone to face my challenge as well. With me having a mental disability (social anxiety disorder), I want to help people in the law field who were wrongly convicted of crimes and seek justice for those who want a second chance to redeem themselves.

Math is a powerful tool for making sense of the world around us. When I think of math, I think of many numbers. These numbers are a great addition to something greater. As we get older, numbers increase, and when we save money, money has the power to make us rich and powerful. I love math for many reasons that were previously stated, such as assisting us to have problem-solving skills. When we use math, it is a part of our daily lives, allowing us to be able to think critically. Math can be a fun activity for all ages which both kids and adults will love. Math encourages mystery and curiosity in solving that problem I love math because it allows me to be able to deeply think before I will solve and react to a problem. Math can relate to my life because I was able to think before I reacted to a situation. I love to use numbers to do all types of problems such as addition, subtraction, multiplying, and division problems. When I first took math, I was always excited because my math teacher always made math a very fun subject. Math allowed me to exercise my brain and have those thinking skills that are not only important to succeed academically, but to succeed in the working world of my profession. Loving math allowed me to appreciate the world around me with a deeper perspective.

Growing up, I always had a special place in my heart for books. When I was four years old, I picked up my first book and loved to look at the pictures according to my mother. Reading words has always been my passion because knowledge is power. I received my first library card at ten years old at the public library in Washington, DC. The library was filled with many books of genres such as fiction, non-fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, drama, and action. Collecting many books was a hobby and reading a good book allowed me to escape the reality that I was living in growing up. Books are an escape for me to imagine and dream about goals and aspirations. Going to the library growing up was a place where I felt like I could be myself and gain knowledge. No one else in my family read books at home like I did and often got teased about it. I would be called names and was often bullied. One day, there was a book that I read and this book was inspiring. "Somebody's Someone" a book by Regina Louise was a book that I would never forget. The story in this book was filled with moments of happiness, sorrow, joyfulness, and success. Regina Louise has overcome many aspects from being in foster care to going to college and becoming a successful adult by inspiring others who are stuck in the foster care system that there is someone out there who cares. This would be the only book that I can read over and over again. She showed me that no matter what our circumstances are, we can be whatever we want to be and have a good life. I, myself had a difficult relationship with my mom due to her drug addiction hindering our relationship. This book helped me transform my thinking on how people like Regina Louise had to overcome battles and challenging obstacles.

Being a woman of color, life has not been easy. Growing up in the urban part of the Nation's Capital (Washington, DC), seeing crime almost daily on the news with my mother made me wonder why would people go out and commit those crimes. Being that curious child, I grew up reading interesting books such as Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, Clue series, and many other books based on mystery, thriller, suspense, and science. At ten years old, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in law to help people get the justice that they deserve. Growing up watching crime shows on television such as Law and Order SVU, I wanted to be like detective Olivia Benson, who helped victims come forward to get that same justice. my quest of seeking higher education in my family was bold because no one else in my family ever sought a higher education or went. I didn't have a relative who told me how to pay for college, apply to schools, or what to pick as my major. Being the first one in my family to seek higher education was not the norm, coming from a background with a family that had internal issues such as drug and alcohol addictions, mental health problems, and traumatized lives. My trauma came as a little girl, being molested at a young age became some trigger issues that I faced as an adult by being raped by a man that I thought was nice, charming and sweet on the outside until I was alone with him and things went left. I finally took the courage to stand up and made a report afterward, knowing there were victims out there like me facing similar situations. My personal experience of overcoming the adversity of being a victim of a crime myself allows me to share my story with others to let them know that they are not alone. When I would watch Law and Order SVU, I would see Detective Olivia Benson tell her story to victims who were impacted by rape. Working in the legal field with the courts, I read all types of cases that consist of people from all walks of life. Eventually, I want to become a defense attorney, getting people who were victims of being accused of crimes that they did not commit, people who were at the wrong place at the wrong time, and people who are doing time in prison because of testimonies of people who thought they saw the wrong person until they state otherwise many years later. I want to make a difference by showing people that people who are accused of crimes are victims as well, not knowing the uncertainty. One day they are free with their family and friends, and then just like that, they are behind bars facing a punishment that is not theirs to begin serving from the start. As a career, I want to help those people get their justice and know that even in the criminal justice field, errors and mistakes can happen.

In the world we live in today, many events are taking place. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has left everyone in times of need. The cost of living, food, and gas due to inflation has turned the world into a place of desperation. People lost their jobs, homes, and lives. Many families are suffering and do not have the means to survive. Many organizations and non-profits give back to these families that need the services. Since the pandemic, the world has changed our lives drastically. We will not know the future, but we do know that there are families out there that are still recovering from their losses. Without people working out there to give back, there would be families that are not getting the help that they need. When I was young, I went to church and was taught the lessons of giving back to the needy. The pastor would teach us that by giving back to someone in need, God will bless us in our lives. Every Saturday, there will be a food distribution center that partnered with the church to give back to the community. I would attend this event with my Godmother to help give out food to the needy. When I got to high school, I performed community service with clubs in school and loved every single moment. This opened my eyes to seeing people who have less than everyone else and need help. When I got to college, I did community service projects on my college campus to help my campus community. Some peers did not have as much as other peers and needed the support. Being away from home, I did not have the support and I had my peers and others help me in my time of need. I would participate in campus clean-ups and other fun-raising community service events to help my fellow campus community. I went to an HBCU during my undergraduate years and helped out as much as I could. Today, I give back to my community by tutoring elementary students with reading, working at a soup kitchen, cleaning up my community, and working with other organizations to donate to many causes such as the National Suicide Prevention, Autism, Alzheimer's, Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity. I love working with these organizations because these programs relate to my life on a personal level and cause. I plan on positively impacting the world by continuing to support these causes in my everyday life. I love to help and give back to others and love doing community service.

Since my childhood, Barbie has always been my favorite doll. From the time I was five years old, I got my own Barbie dream house, bike, and other things. The main reason why my favorite color is pink is because of Barbie. When I was in middle school, I wore pink every day to show that I could be just like her. She was an inspiration to show that a woman can be anything that they want to be, dream big, and accomplish a lot of goals. Barbie was very independent and always had class. I picked up some of my fashion tips from her, from the heels, earrings, dresses, clothing and style. She showed me that no matter what, you can be anything that you want to be. When I found out that there was a Barbie movie, I was beyond excited. I bought a ticket online and went to the movies with my pink dress, purse, heels, and accessories and showed off my super fan outfit. The movie brought back many wonderful memories that I had of playing with Barbie. My dream house would be located on an island that is very far away near a beach. The dream house will be at least four stories high, with pink and white decor. This will be a six-bedroom house with three bathrooms, a backyard and a patio. The steps will be made out of pink glass, the door will be pink and white with light pink flowers, and the windows will be pink and white with pink glass. My garden will consist of pink and white rose flowers. Once inside the hallway, there will be an elevator to travel from each floor. The living room, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and basement will have pink faux fur carpet that will feel soft once a person puts their feet and gets that warm, fuzzy feeling. The walls will have a pink and gold interior in each room, and filled with pink glitter decorations. I will have a balcony with a hot tub that has pink water and a bar with Ken being the bartender. This will be a party house where me and my friends can have a relaxing and wonderful time. My closet will be a walk-in with many shoes, clothing, and accessories to choose from. I will have a library with pink and white decor filled with all of my favorite books and a collection room filled with vintage Barbie dolls, even the original Barbie that came out in the 1950s. My backyard will have a pool, pink grill, trampoline, ball pit filled with pink balls, and a patio filled with pink lights. I wish I could live in a house like this, but one day I can have my own dream Barbie house. It might not be near a beach, but it will be somewhere peaceful, where many people would take pictures of my home and be curious about what is inside.

Where do I start? As a young professional in this world, I know that I want to make a difference in people's lives. I always wanted to help others in their time of need and their time of comfort. As young as 10 years old, I always had a curiosity about the law as far as how some people are guilty of crimes and how the law works. Growing up in Washington, DC I’ve seen many people go through the cycle of being wrongfully convicted of cases in the criminal justice system including members of my own family. Witnessing such behavior, I knew that one day I wanted to fight for those same people who are going through the negative impacts of the criminal justice system. My name is Montia Austin and I am an African-American woman who is in my 30s who works in the legal field right now with the court system. I was born and raised in Washington, DC where there is an extremely high crime rate. I started my journey by getting accepted into college at Kentucky State University majoring in Criminal Justice. My passion for my future career, I always wanted to help others achieve their goals to succeed in the criminal justice system. Once I graduated with my bachelor's degree, my journey in the court field had just begun. Working in the courts so far, I was able to help the public with assistance with court procedures with criminal, civil, and other cases that come across the courthouse. Working with attorneys, judges, and other court personnel allowed me to decide on furthering my career in the law field. One day, I want to attend law school and practice as a defense attorney and practice in the DC area. My goal is to become a defense attorney to help individuals who were wrongly convicted of crimes that they did not commit. I would make a positive impact in the world by using my humanitarian personality to help others who are in need. I have experience with dealing with people who are in these situations, which include people in my own family who are still incarcerated to this day. Every day, many people are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, not knowing how their lives can change from a case. Many people today are sitting in prison or never recovered from civil damages caused by the corruption of many companies and bad business practices.

Where do I begin? Well a little bit about myself, I am an African-American woman who is in her 30s getting her Master's degree in Legal Studies from Purdue University Global. Currently, I am working full-time with the courts, part-time at a really popular grocery store Whole Foods Market, Inc. and volunteering with community service programs from soup kitchens, park clean-ups and tutoring young children with reading once a week. I maintain a 4.0 GPA, am involved in an honor society and balance three other clubs such as Autism Speaks U, BCA (Black Cultural Association), and the Purdue Law Society. Overall, my life is very busy and I wonder every day how I can do all of this while having a social and home life. How did I get this far in my life without totally losing my mind? Well for starters, I was born and raised in the Nation's Capitol (Washington, DC) where life was not about the glamor of the White House, cherry blossoms, or the monument. I grew up in an urban area with a single mother who had little education and was very young when she had me and my brothers. There were times when we did not have food, new clothes or heat in the house. My mother did not work and all she knew was public assistance took care of us. When I was 10 years old, I knew that I wanted to make a huge difference in the world and told my mother that I wanted to be a lawyer and help people. I saw in my community and environment how many people suffered life-changing events in the criminal justice system from other family members and friends. As I got older, college was never mentioned in my household or my family because no one ever sought higher education, just graduating high school or getting a GED was an accomplishment in my family. Eventually, I got accepted into a college/university thanks to my teachers and counselors from high school and being a first-generation college student and the first in my family to seek higher education made everyone in my family very proud. When I arrived in college for my undergraduate degree, I soared high and aimed high for my goal to graduate. I made the dean's list my first semester and got involved in clubs such as a Student Ambassador, Secretary of the Criminal Justice Club, Treasurer of the International Student Association, Baptist Campus Ministry, and worked as a Residential Assistant of a dormitory hall. I eventually graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and wanted to work with the courts to make a difference and continue my journey with the courts today. In my present time, as mentioned having faith in God and pushing for my goals allow me to not give up and succeed. I would use the money to fund my education to finish my Master's degree and enroll in law school in the fall of 2025. I want to be a criminal defense attorney, helping those who were wrongly convicted in the criminal justice system and helping them prove their innocence. This scholarship will help me to achieve that goal of finishing my master's because I am paying out of pocket for school plus balancing other obligations such as bills. It would be an honor to have this scholarship to achieve my goal to pursue my dream of walking across that stage again. Not only I will be a first-generation college graduate in my family, but the first in my family to receive my Master's degree.

Sometimes when we lose something or the lack of motivation, we give up. But it is something in us that keeps us from "staying in the fight" to never give up and know our goals are going to overcome obstacles and those bumps on the road. When my aunt died when I was in the third (junior) year of my undergraduate degree, I sat there and cried in my dorm, thinking about all of the good memories and conversations we had over the phone, text messages, and Facebook chats over time. When I lost my close aunt to cancer back in 2010, I knew that I wanted to finish my undergraduate degree. She was always very proud of me to attend college. She would brag about me all the time to her friends, stating that I was going to make something of myself. She has always kept me to keep my head in my books and focus on the prize. This family member was my aunt on my father's side. She was my father's older sister, promising my father that she would look out for me and make sure that I was ok. When I started my freshman year in school, she made sure that I had everything that was needed, even though my father was barely around. But she always told me, "Do not give up, keep going". I always remember her voice in my head, making sure that I listen to every word she tells me. I still want to continue that fight, making sure that I achieve the goals that I want to achieve.

As a working adult at my job with the District of Columbia courts full-time, I knew that I wanted something greater, something that I know I can learn and grow and expand my skills, talents, and bring my full potential. Being a first-generation college graduate was not only an accomplishment, but a fulfilling dream that came true when I was that little ten-year-old girl watching re-runs of crime shows in front of the television screen (we only had one tv in our household). In 2022, I decided to make that sacrifice to pursue my master's degree with no financial aid or student loans and go all in with paying out of pocket. I told myself if I could save 20,000 to purchase a home, why not put that same energy into going back to school? From then until the present, I am working not only full-time, but part-time, volunteering, and working on my master's degree at the same time (yes I am superwoman). My life would be something that I can do, based on my hobbies, interests, and desires. I want to be near a site with nothing but peace, hearing nothing but the sounds of birds chirping. Seeing pretty flowers that are blooming from the ground. I am enjoying a game room with all of the vintage games that I love (Pacman, Mortal Kombat, etc). I want to have all of the sweets in the world from different countries, consisting of cakes, cookies, and milkshakes. I would like to have a waterfall with chocolate and my beautiful house will be in my favorite color (pink). I would wear a pink dress, and shoes, drive a pink car (something like the Barbie movie) and live in a world where there is no arguing, violence, or drama. I will have Hello Kitty (which is my favorite character) would be my decorative of choice as far as the decor of my home. I would house as many people as I can that do not have a place to go or food to eat. I would have an unlimited amount of money and pay to build houses or apartments for people in need such as low-income or the homeless population. I would donate to many students who cannot afford to pay for college and will not have to worry about student debt or loans. To me, this looks like the perfect life, the life that I would dream of and would want to live forever. Overall I know this life will never happen, but there is nothing wrong with dreaming of this life and knowing that dreams can always come true if you put your mind to it.

I remember reading the poem by Langston Hughes "Mother to Son". I am not a son, but I am a daughter to someone. Remembering that first line when it was stated that "life is no crystal stair". That poem stuck through me with life and what obstacles I may face with challenges. No one is perfect in this world, but we put our best foot forward and take the right steps. By keeping my faith in God, this is my story of how I overcame adversity. I grew up with the lessons from my mother with life. I saw how she struggled to raise me and my brothers with limited education, being an addict, no job, and no positive role models. I saw how we struggled with simple things such as new clothes, food and other items. As I got older, I became more independent by pushing forward to obtain a part-time job such as tutoring young elementary children and working in a department store at a mall. While in high school, I knew that I wanted to go to college. I faced many challenges such as no one in my family talking about college or pursuing college. I knew this is what I wanted and after applying to so many colleges and not giving up, I found the college that was for me and started my journey. From the time I graduated from undergrad, I did not get a career right away. I started from the bottom and took whatever job that was offered. After many years of trying, I finally got into my dream job of working in the courts, which I always wanted with my degree in Criminal Justice. When the pandemic hit in 2020, I thought I was going to lose everything, everything I worked so hard to obtain. One day, I was on the phone with my best friend and she told me about Amazon was hiring part-time. I applied of course, and was able to save to purchase my own home and go back to school to obtain my master's degree. I never thought that I would obtain all of this in three years and when I was on the verge to give up, God has always been there and helped me to keep the faith no matter what. I will always remember the verse "he will never leave you, nor forsake you" in my mind. With every challenge, every disappointment, every loss, I knew that another door will open and will be there to see me succeed. From the time when I thought I would never get into the courts, be a homeowner, or never been able to go back to school. I wish to become an attorney one day to help others in the legal/criminal justice system. There are people in our community that faced many challenges such as being at the wrong place at the wrong time or making bad decisions. It is not our place to judge why they committed that crime or how. My ultimate goal is to help those people in need to fight legal battles and make sure that they get the justice that they deserve.

What does volunteering mean to me? It means not getting paid for services that are provided, services that are given from the kindness of your heart and desire, and the dedication that it takes to make the time to make someone else have a great experience and have such a positive influence among the community. Volunteering is not something that should be taken lightly, this is a lifestyle for people who love to give back and help others in their community in their time of need. In my career in law, I want to be able to help people in the legal field by them being able to help them get the best legal representation and the importance of being treated fair in the criminal justice system. By helping others in the community by volunteering, I can make that difference by putting a smile on their faces, knowing that there is someone out there that cares enough. My experience with volunteering has always been positive in my life. Since I was young, I was involved in clubs in high school and in church where we had to volunteer to give food and clothing to the homeless. I love to help others and give back to those there are unfortunate. It influences my core values because volunteering allows me to get to know those people who are affected by many life obstacles. As an adult, I volunteer by tutoring young children with reading because reading is a hobby that I love and enjoy, serving at the soup kitchen to help feed families, the homeless, school children and other non-profit organizations, and doing park clean up from litter and trash that is in my community. I have experienced meeting people from all walks of life that are giving back to the community and sharing ideas on how to improve things in the community as well as the people. Donating items such as clothing at the Salvation Army and Goodwill, and donating food to food pantries in my neighborhood have always been in my life growing up seeing other family members that do these manly deeds to serve others. I volunteer at the same places frequently and love to help others in the role of being a volunteer and meeting my peers and other people. Overall, volunteering is not something that should be taken lightly, but it is a great way to help others.

The dream version of myself is a beautiful, excellent, and powerful African-American attorney who believes in getting justice and helping those who need to fight the legal battle for those who cannot or do not have a voice.

Over the years, I have read many books in my lifetime. From the time when I was four years old, reading has always been my hobby of choice. I would just sit there and read a good book in my bed, at my lunch break, between classes and so forth. But there was one book that stood out to me that I read, which was “I Am Somebody’s Child” by author, Regina Louise. I would pick this book because of the testimony that this woman went through with being in the care of the state over the many years of her life. She did not have anyone in her family to show her love and there was a woman who was not her family that showed her lots of love. But in the 1970’s the woman could not adopt her and was denied due to the woman being unmarried at the time. So, she was kept in a home where she read the whole dictionary and applied to go to college. She was told that she would never amount to anything and that she was nobody and no one loved her. She grew up as a successful woman who wrote a book on her life story and finally met up with the woman that she lost contact with all those years. She was finally adopted years later, and that woman became her legal mother. The same court that denied the petition years ago is the same court that granted the adoption. This book inspired me that no matter what my life is like, I will never let someone stop me from fulfilling my dreams. Regina Louise accomplishes so much in her life all on her own. I can relate to her in a way because growing up without my father and a sick mother who was an addict, I pushed myself to where I am today. This book is a must-read book for everyone in the world because there is someone out there that wants and needs to be loved, someone who needs that positive guidance and role model. My final words would say that this book would be a book that someone can never put down, the testimony, story, and inspiration that the author gave was very phenomenal. I would read this book over again and will suggest this book to many people all around the world.