"But what can I do about it?" The familiar mix of helplessness and anger welled up inside me as I asked myself the question I am sure most people ask themselves when they see suffering. It was the year 2024, and I was reading the news report of the massive humanitarian crisis going on in Sudan. In the pictures, a girl is shown crying with nothing but a thin cloth covering her. She looked my age; in fact, we looked more similar than ever. I am not Sudanese, but we would have been nothing but a plane flight away if I had never moved to Texas. The difference between her and me at that moment was nothing but geography. So, in that instance, the girl in the pictures could have basically been me. The question of "What can I do?" burned in me more than ever. Of course, I couldn't do anything; I was only a 15-year-old girl living in Katy, Texas. However, there were people who could do something: global leaders, policy members, all 295 members of the UN General Assembly, and the 5 members of the UN Security Council, which could be argued to be the most powerful group in the world, could most definitely do something. But they either delayed their action or never took any, so instead of moping about the fact that there was nothing I could do, I planned to make myself into someone who could do something. Throughout the rest of my junior and senior years, I strengthened my academic foundation. I joined the debate team to work on my public speaking skills and to advocate for critical issues. During the summer, I took courses on the lessons of International law and Sociology to understand how power and justice intersect on a global scale, and published my first research paper titled " Justice for All or the powerful? The Failure of International Institutions in the Face of Corruption and Unequal Power." Through my publication, I had the chance to speak with many human rights groups and attend many international youth conferences. I worked hard to get connected and involved in the international world in any way I could. These experiences reflect not only my accomplishments but my commitment to growth and action. Later in life, I will become part of the people who can do something, and when that time arrives. My long-term goal is to pursue international law and diplomacy, positioning myself within institutions that have the authority to respond to global crises. I want to use my education in international law and diplomacy to strengthen international institutions and advocate for vulnerable populations, and to make international responses to humanitarian crises more effective and enforceable. I aspire to be among those decision-makers who do not remain inactive in the face of injustice but instead work to create more meaningful and enforceable change.

During my second semester of senior year, I had picked up the communist manifesto by Karl Marx because I've been doing a deep dive research in the world of capitalism, socialism, and communism, while I was reading I came across one paragraph which i believed was one of the best understandings of human nature without explicility saying it, stating, " What the bourgeoisie therefore produces, above all, are its own grave diggers. Its fall and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable." In this paragraph, Marx was describing the eventual downfall of capitalism, that as a nation continues to push itself towards pure capitalism, then the downfall of capitalism itself is inevitable and is meant to be. Marx's statement that the bourgeoisie "produces its own grave-diggers" is not merely a prediction about capitalism's collapse; it is also an argument that systems built on domination inevitably create resistance from those they seek to control, because we as humans continually seek autonomy and control over our own lives. First, in understanding the paragraph itself, it first talks about how the bourgeoisie in itself are digging their own graves, in context, the bourgeoisie or the class that owns the means of production, and frankly the lords of capitalism, through their buisnesses, with their goals to get the highest profits for the least amount of wages, they wanted to gain more spend less, similar to how it works in our current world, however the labor that made the bourgeoise richer was the proletariats or how we would say the working class. Ultimately, if the bourgeoisie strived to gain more, through more labor while also losing less by paying lower wages, and the proletariat wanted more wages and less labor. The situation would eventually lead to an uprising or revolution, especially in a world where the proletariat always outweighs the bourgeoisie as a population, leading to the downfall of capitalism itself. The Bourgeoisie digging their own grave is the act of pushing more towards capitalism, which leads to their downfall. While describing this phenomenon, Marx additionally hints at how we also are as humans. Marx suggests that when one class depends upon another class's labor while simultaneously suppressing that class's interests, the relationship becomes unstable. The very people whose labor sustains the system can also very much become the force that challenges it. We see this in many examples of history, beginning with the American Revolution, when the colonies wanted to leave British rule and become their own nation, or when nations, especially in Africa, the Middle East, and South America, had revolutions to overthrow their colonizers and escape their rule. When the French monarchy and aristocracy, who depended upon the labor and taxes of the common people, granted them little political power, that very population that sustained the system became the force that overthrew it during the French Revolution. When many labor unions rioted and protested the working conditions during the industrial revolution in the United States, and when women fought for their right to vote, the 19th Amendment was passed in the U.S. The concept of human nature is the refusal to be under any oppressive and restrictive nature of another human, which Marx extensively highlights in this paragraph, when Marx wrote that " the victory of the proletariat is equally inevitable" wans't just because he believed that capitalism is bad, therfore it was going to dismantle, to becuase of the fact the proletariats where being forced to do more hard labor and more work to produce the product or services of capitalism, while also reducing their pay because the Bourgeoise wanted to gain more profit, inevitably guranteed that because this was an oppersive control of one human over the other, and by human nature this practice will always fail, the Bourgeoise would never bee successful and the proletariats will always win. Under the same idea, because of the nature of pure capitalism, in which the goal is to always earn and keep as much money as possible, which undoubtly lead to the idea of one section of human beings being oppressed. Karl Marx highlights that Capitalism will always eventually meet its downfall; similarly, the controllers of capitalism cannot last forever.

1. Every black person, but most especially black girls, knows the phrase "you have to work twice as hard as them, to get half of what they have." I migrated to America from Nigeria when I was 7 years old, and I heard this phrase almost every day of my life. And though I was in a new country, the values were the same. As a woman from West Africa, the expectation for you to be perfect both in the house and to excel academically was serious, because hard work and perseverance were the only things that mattered, and this is what shaped who I am today, someone who will always be the best at what they do, and hard work can always pay off. However, I only applied these values to who I am, and in my academics, I refused to apply them in the house, where you are meant to be perfect and hardworking in your household chores to become perfect for the man I was meant to marry. This was the end goal for mostly all West African women, and it was an end goal I did not want. I had ambition and aspirations, and I did not want to hold myself down because of some future man I didn't even know. This cause made me more ambitious and hardworking than ever, so that anyone would describe me as someone who does not back down, and always perseveres through any obstacle. 2. Living in America is definitely a huge cultural shock from how life is in Nigeria. First, in education, I believed that education in Nigeria progresses faster and is more strict than in America, and the fact that many things that would have led to you being caned in school in Nigeria are simply passed on here. Another huge difference is the idea of being black, I did not know I was black until I got to America, being of a different skin color is something that makes you be treated differently here, it determines how people talk to you, look at you, and even how they percieve you and it's something you never experience until you live here, however I believe the training and values I've had as an African woman is also what differntiates me from a native born American, because we are trained to work harder and put in more energy than any average person and I believe that is the reason that we are also able to excel in many areas. 3. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to be in America, because I was able to discover that I had other options, I have so many options to pursue, and so many things I could be, and I did not have to tie down my life, or the end goal for me does not have to be marriage. The opportunity to be able to gain this perspective of life and to experience this holds great importance to me. 4. In the future I plan to be an International human rights lawyer, I recogonize the oppurtunity I have and I want to help liberate many other women across the world, and help give them the same oppurtunity, including many women in middle eastern countries in which they have had their rights trampled upon, and women in different parts of Africa who might be forced to inhumane practices like child marriages or fgm simply because of their gender. This is the reason I pursue a higher education to serve and help others who cannot help themselves.

"But what can I do about it?" The familiar mix of helplessness and anger well up inside me, as I ask myself the question I am sure most people ask themselves when they see suffering. It was the year 2024, and I was reading the news report of the massive humanitarian crisis going on in Sudan. In the pictures, a girl is shown crying with nothing but a thin cloth covering her. She looked my age; in fact, we looked more similar than ever. I am not Sudanese, but we would have been nothing but a plane flight away if I had never moved to Texas. The difference between her and me at that moment was nothing but geography. So, in the instance, the girl in the pictures could have basically been me. The question of "What can I do?" burned in me more than ever. Of course, I couldn't do anything; I was only a 15-year-old girl living in Katy, Texas. However, there were people who could do something: global leaders, policy members, all 295 members of the UN General Assembly, and the 5 members of the UN Security Council, which could be argued to be the most powerful group in the world, could most definitely do something. But they either delayed their action or never took any, so instead of moping about the fact that there was nothing I could do, I planned to make myself into someone who could do something. Throughout the rest of my junior and senior years, I strengthened my academic foundation. I joined the debate team to work on my public speaking skills and to advocate for critical issues. During the summer, I took courses on the lessons of International law and Sociology to understand how power and justice intersect on a global scale, and published my first research paper titled " Justice for All or the powerful? The Failure of International Institutions in the Face of Corruption and Unequal Power", through my publication, I had the chance to speak with many human rights groups and attend many international youth conferences. I worked hard to get connected and involved in the international world in any way I could. These experiences reflect not only my accomplishments but my commitment to growth and action. Later in life, I will become part of the people who can do something, and when that time arrives. My long-term goal is to pursue international law and diplomacy, positioning myself within institutions that have the authority to respond to global crises. I aspire to be among those decision-makers who do not remain inactive in the face of injustice, but instead work to create meaningful, enforceable change.

"You can never go wrong with education", my aunt said as we were walking towards the poultry aisle in Walmart, looking for the perfect Chicken thigh. " No matter what anyone says, the more education you have, the higher you rise; education is key". At the ripe age of 12, though, I was just mad that she was using confusing language to scold me on the 66 I got on my 8th-grade math test, even though I repeatedly told her that numbers and letters don't make sense together. Five years later, as I repeated my aunt's words in my head, I realized my aunt could be no further from the truth. As I have grown older, I have realized that education is about far more than grades or test scores. Seeking higher education, is me striving to be a better person than I already am. It provides me with something far more valuable than a grade; it provides me with deep understanding, allows me to view things through multiple perspectives, makes me more informed, and gives me the ability to think critically about the world around us. Like the quote says, "Knowledge is power." Being knowledgeable about a wide array of things can take you nowhere but up. Being educated allows one to easily recognize the injustice around them and make informed decisions that shape communities and institutions. For me, higher education represents an opportunity not only to grow personally but also to develop the skills needed to contribute meaningfully to the world. My career goals are deeply tied to international law and diplomacy. I hope to study international law in college and eventually work in a position where I can help strengthen the global legal system within international law and advocate for better responses to humanitarian crises and conflicts. International law has the potential to protect vulnerable populations and hold powerful leaders accountable, yet it is often weakened by political interests or a lack of enforcement. I want to be part of the generation that works to improve these systems so that international law serves its true purpose of protecting people and promoting justice across borders. For me to achieve this, education is essential. To understand the complex world of international law and global politics requires me to be deeply knowledgeable and expose myself to diverse perspectives. Through college, I can develop the academic foundation and professional opportunities necessary to develop those skills. My aunt’s words, which were once frustrating to me, are now one of my guiding principles in my life. I have discovered that education is not simply a pathway to a career; it is a pathway to understanding the world and improving it. By pursuing higher education, I hope to gain the knowledge and perspective needed to contribute to stronger international systems and help create a more just and accountable global community.

One of the biggest issues facing the criminal justice system today is the huge dependence on plea bargaining. Roughly 98% of federal cases end in plea deals, leaving only about 2% to go to trial. This practice not only deeply undermines the Sixth Amendment: the right to a fair and speedy trial it also often forces many defendants, including those who might be innocent, to accept guilty pleas. For some, it feels like a choice between taking a deal and risking years in prison. When people plead guilty just to move forward with their lives, justice isn’t truly being served. This dependence of plea bargaining has multiple causes, however the biggest cause is underfunding of our public defense system and courts. Public defenders are some of the most overworked and underpaid professionals in law, yet they represent the people who need help the most. Many defenders handle hundreds of cases at once, making it almost impossible to give each client the time and attention they deserve. Combined with an underfunded court system that prioritizes efficiency over fairness, plea bargaining becomes the default rather than the exception. In my future career as a defense attorney, I want to challenge this imbalance and work toward restoring true fairness within the justice system. My goal is to advocate to state representatives for increased funding toward public defense offices and court resources. I believe change can begin on the state level, where representatives are often more open to hearing from their constituents than federal senators. Alongside funding, I also want to push for programs that make studying law more accessible. By creating scholarships or incentives for law students who pursue public defense, we can increase the number of public defenders in our system. This would not only reduce the burden on current attorneys but also ensure that every defendant receives fair representation, regardless of their income. I’ve already begun preparing myself to make this vision real. I am currently interning at the Ciment Law Firm in Katy, Texas, where I’ve had the opportunity to visit courts, observe live sessions, and ask attorneys and judges about their work. Those conversations have given me valuable insight into both the rewards and challenges of practicing law. During my junior year, I also took Advanced Legal Studies, where I learned about the structure of the legal system, studied landmark cases, and explored how the Model Penal Code shapes judicial interpretation. That class also allowed me to visit the Fort Bend District Court, where I witnessed trial procedures firsthand and understood how critical proper funding and resources are for a fair trial. These experiences have not only educated me they’ve also grounded me in my purpose. Watching attorneys defend clients in real courtrooms, seeing the weight that one decision can have on someone’s entire life, and talking to professionals who dedicate their careers to justice have all strengthened my conviction to pursue law. They’ve also made me realize that reform doesn’t start with slogans it starts with people who understand the system deeply enough to change it from within. As I continue my journey toward becoming a defense attorney, I carry these lessons with me. I’ve seen how underfunding can silence voices that deserve to be heard, and I want to be part of the generation that fixes that.

We came to America when I was six years old, it was just me, my sister, and my mum we planned to go to Florida but we ended up in Texas after a 2-day airplane trip, confusion of direction, and airplane sickness we finally arrived in the golden country the U.S.A. The greatest challenge my family faced when coming to the U.S. was fitting in. It was 2018 and my sister and I had just gotten into this American public school where we did not know the language, or the accent, the culture was weird to adjust to, I remember at lunch as I brought my African food to the lunchroom the judging eyes I always got with the white kids and their peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I would get made fun of or bullied for my big lips, my strong accent, and weird food, I was the weird African kid but at least I was smart I was the smart weird African kid. When I went home I never bothered my mum with my problems because she found it hard to find a job, we were living in a one-bedroom apartment with a stranger I was calling Dad whose job was nothing special just enough to pay for a one-bedroom, minimum food, and little clothes—my mum who had the strong African accent, and not even been in America that long. No one wanted to hire her, the stranger we called dad telling us how we do things whether he was right or wrong we had no idea he had been here for 15 years surely he would know better than us. My mum who had one of the best jobs in Nigeria, made good money now couldn't even work and had to sit home all the time. I who never had that much attention from my mum as we had nannies instead, now had the full attention of her mum on her, which I didn't like, but I didn't have a choice. Now we have our high-rise apartment, we no longer live with the stranger I called dad and my mum has her own business, I'm starting junior year not as the smart weird African kid, but as the smart, pretty black girl. The challenges we faced during our first year in America got us to work harder than before we also learned a lot of lessons about people and how people can act when they meet someone they do not know or do something they are not used to. This is the knowledge we use to live our everyday living life.