The first time I realized being the first person in my family to go to college wasn't normal was when I heard a classmate mention, “My grandpa went to college.” As the granddaughter of Cuban immigrants and a first-generation college student, my immediate thought was “How was this possible?” As a first-generation college student, I couldn't understand how people’s parents, grandparents, or even great-grand parents went to college; it felt so new. As I continued college I heard things like, “I’m interning at my mom’s law firm.” Now not only did college feel hard, it felt like I was in another country where I hadn’t had the opportunity to learn the language. Then I remembered that hard things are not impossible. Leaving Cuba was hard, but my grandparents did it anyway. Being a single mom is hard, but my mother did it with poise. Remembering my family’s resilience gave me power to decode college. I worked hard to maximize my college experience. I sought out resources, found mentors, and met with attorneys all of which helped me learn the grammar of college, including how to find internships and mentors, and plan for law school. I am now fluent in the language of those with “higher education,” but I will never forget where I started. As I watch other students navigate college, I see them struggle as I once did. As a result of my own experiences, I have tried to act as a translator and teacher for others. I discovered my passion as a college translator by being a Provost Academy Leader (PAL). As a PAL, I have created inclusive environments and have provided equitable access to resources to set other students (regardless of their background) up for success. My various identities have allowed me to understand those who are different from me and assist, when needed, through an intersectional lens. College should not feel like an exclusive country requiring special language training; it should be a tool for navigating the even harder aspects of the real world. As an attorney, I will provide similar outlets. While seeking a lawyer is usually a last, vulnerable resort for a client, confusing legal jargon can make clients feel alienated, just like I felt when I started college. Building from my experience as a first-generation college student, my mission as an attorney will be to understand the client and make them feel comfortable. Like college once did to me, the law can feel inaccessible to many. My goals include both translating and making the law and legal system understandable to those new to it. The law affects everyone and so everyone should be able to understand how the law affects them, regardless of background and/or circumstances. My identity as a first-generation college student will always be with me, and has given me a lifelong mission to make the unfamiliar accessible. Whether in classrooms or courtrooms, I will continue to serve as a translator, helping others understand the systems that shape their lives.

The first time I realized being the first person in my family to go to college wasn't normal was when I heard a classmate mention, “My grandpa went to college.” As the granddaughter of Cuban immigrants and a first-generation college student, my immediate thought was “How was this possible?” Because no one I knew went to college, I could not understand how people’s parents, grandparents, or even great-grand parents went to college; it felt so new. This moment was when I realized that college was going to be a challenge. I continue to hear, “My parents pay for my tuition.” or “I’m interning at my mom’s law firm.” Now not only did college feel hard, it felt like I was in another country where I hadn’t had the opportunity to learn the language. Then I remembered that hard things are not impossible. Leaving Cuba was hard, but my grandparents did it anyway. Being a single mom is hard, but my mother did it with poise. Remembering my family’s resilience gave me power to decode college. I worked hard to maximize my college experience, never take an opportunity for granted, and to make the most out of what I had. I sought out resources, found mentors, and met with attorneys all of which helped me learn the grammar of college, including how to find internships and mentors, and plan for law school. As I am entering my senior year, I am now fluent in the language of those with “higher education,” but I will never forget where I started. As I watch other students navigate college, I see them struggle as I once did. As a result of my own experiences, I have tried to act as a translator and teacher for others. I discovered my passion as a college translator by being a Provost Academy Leader (PAL). As a PAL, I have created inclusive environments and have provided equitable access to resources to set other students (regardless of their background) up for success. My various identities have allowed me to understand those who are different from me and assist, when needed, through an intersectional lens. College should not feel like an exclusive country requiring special language training; it should be a tool for navigating the even harder aspects of the real world. As an attorney, I will provide similar outlets. While seeking a lawyer is usually a last, vulnerable resort for a client, confusing legal jargon can make clients feel alienated, just like I felt when I started college. Building from my experience as a first-generation college student, my mission as an attorney will be to understand the client and make them feel comfortable. Like college once did to me, the law can feel inaccessible to many. My goals include both translating and making the law and legal system understandable to those new to it. The law affects everyone and so everyone should be able to understand how the law affects them, regardless of background and/or circumstances. My identity as a first-generation college student will always be with me, and has given me a lifelong mission to make the unfamiliar accessible. Whether in classrooms or courtrooms, I will continue to serve as a translator, helping others understand the systems that shape their lives.

I have been involved in student sustainability activism at the University of Pittsburgh since my freshman year. My main initiative has been through my role as Managing Director of the Student Office of Sustainability, which is co-writing a single-use plastic water bottle phase out proposal. Pitt is large institution that relies on plastic heavily, and even get rebates from utilizing it; so my ask has met with contention. Despite the university's and society's dependence on plastic they agreed to forward, but I was still met with contention. My role as a student and a young woman has made it difficult for my ideas to be taken seriously. For example, despite my role as a co-writer I have been left out of important decision-making processes that make my role as a co-writer challenging. I argue lack of information is a form of censorship because it creates an untrue perspective. Perspective and access to information matters when it comes to being an effective advocate because it sets ones reality. An untrue narrative creates false perceptions that hurt people. Additionally, my role as a student employee has made it challenging for me to effectively advocate for sustainability in appropriate avenues. For example, I am not allowed to speak to my school news source without approval of my school. This limits what I am able to say about the work that I do and where the university is at fault. My role as a student leader has limited what I am able to say, I have seen those that have talked to the press get punished. A friend of mine is an R.A and spoke to our news source about what R.A.s do. This person said nothing negative about the university, but was still met with disciplinary action. This is a direct violation of free speech, which is something that a lot of student advocates experience. Free speech is incredibly important and is a vital part of advocacy. Censorship limits advocacy because it inhibits the truth which is a vital part of creating meaningful change. Free speech is a vital part of advocacy and this is something that I hope to do in my career as an environmental attorney. My role as a student leader and environmental advocate gave me first-hand exposure to free speech violations and this is something that I hope to challenge. I am attending Vermont Law and Graduate School in the fall, where they have a strong Environmental Justice (EJ) program. At Vermont, I hope to advocate for EJ communities who are often censored by large fossil fuel companies that take advantage of them. Censorship limits freedom and makes vulnerable populations more vulnerable this is something that I will strive to dismantle.

The first time I realized being the first person in my family to go to college wasn't normal was when I heard a classmate mention, “My grandpa went to college.” As the granddaughter of Cuban immigrants and a first-generation college student, my immediate thought was “How was this possible?” Because no one I knew went to college, I could not understand how people’s parents, grandparents, or even great-grand parents went to college; it felt so new. This moment was when I realized that college was going to be a challenge. As I continued college I began to hear, “My parents pay for my tuition.” or “I’m interning at my mom’s law firm.” Now not only did college feel hard, it felt like I was in another country where I hadn’t had the opportunity to learn the language. Then I remembered that hard things are not impossible. Leaving Cuba was hard, but my grandparents did it anyway. Being a single mom is hard, but my mother did it with poise. Remembering my family’s resilience gave me power to decode college. I worked hard to maximize my college experience, never take an opportunity for granted, and to make the most out of what I had. I sought out resources, found mentors, and met with attorneys all of which helped me learn the grammar of college, including how to find internships and mentors, and plan for law school. As I am entering my senior year, I am now fluent in the language of those with “higher education,” but I will never forget where I started. As I watch other students navigate college, I see them struggle as I once did. As a result of my own experiences, I have tried to act as a translator and teacher for others. I discovered my passion as a college translator by being a Provost Academy Leader (PAL). As a PAL, I have created inclusive environments and have provided equitable access to resources to set other students (regardless of their background) up for success. My various identities have allowed me to understand those who are different from me and assist, when needed, through an intersectional lens. College should not feel like an exclusive country requiring special language training; it should be a tool for navigating the even harder aspects of the real world. As an attorney, I will provide similar outlets. While seeking a lawyer is usually a last, vulnerable resort for a client, confusing legal jargon can make clients feel alienated, just like I felt when I started college. Building from my experience as a first-generation college student, my mission as an attorney will be to understand the client and make them feel comfortable. Like college once did to me, the law can feel inaccessible to many. My goals include both translating and making the law and legal system understandable to those new to it. The law affects everyone and so everyone should be able to understand how the law affects them, regardless of background and/or circumstances. However, sometimes advocacy can compromise integrity. This can involve withholding key information, or using tactics that undermine fairness. I would navigate this boundary by adhering to professional ethical rules and prioritizing honesty. If I am uncertain, I would seek guidance to ensure my advocacy remains both effective and ethical. Although advocacy is important, so is upholding the integrity of the law, and I would make sure to balance both.

I love pink! Pink is more than just my favorite color, it is a symbol of my femininity and identity. My upbringing in Levittown, Pennsylvania, was the start of my journey. In Levittown, a ‘woman’s role’ is to stay home and ignore your dreams; however, I have never been interested in this. As I sat in my childhood bedroom with hot pink walls and Barbie dolls covering the floor I wondered, “If women are not meant to have a career, then why do I want one so badly?” I was perplexed with how it was possible to love traditionally feminine things, but not want to live a traditionally feminine life. This fueled my curiosity about the world beyond Levittown furthering my love of pink, and my desire to redefine the boundaries of my femininity. As a young girl I was fueled by challenges, differing opinions, and speaking my mind, allowing my love of pink to prosper. However, as a teenager in the middle of my parents’ divorce, my father was determined to win the war he created. My father used the legal system to make me collateral damage in his emotional, mental, and financial warfare. I lost myself, I stopped speaking up, and stopped liking pink. I finally understood what it was like to be a Levittown woman. However, my mother’s divorce attorney demonstrated that women are capable of speaking up too. I was impressed with how she navigated difficult situations and resolved conflict. She was a reminder of who I was when I liked pink, I missed it. Her vibrancy inspired me, and from that point forward I knew I was going to be an attorney. My environmental advocacy work in college taught me to see my femininity as a source of empowerment and to love pink again. My first job at the University of Pittsburgh required me to make myself heard and engage in constructive challenge; allowing me to emerge as an influential advocate at Pitt. Sustainability reconnected me with my authentic self, who loves pink and loves to speak her mind. Now as the Managing Director of the Student Office of Sustainability, pink has become my signature color where I continue to provide a platform for student concerns. I am a key factor in the creation of new policies alongside influential university leadership; amplifying students’ voices. Environmentalism reconnected me with the young girl with hot pink walls, and has created my mission to foster inclusive spaces. I will continue this mission as an attorney, making the law and the systems that construct our lives more accessible. The ability to interpret the law is an immense privilege, one that can be easily used to others’ detriment. The world needs people-centered lawyers who are not afraid to speak up. My experiences have taught me to soak up opportunity, and to be the change that I want to see in the world. I have reconnected with my younger self where I am speaking up and love pink!

I love pink! Pink is more than just my favorite color, rather it is a symbol of my femininity, identity, and the rediscovery of my voice. My upbringing in Levittown, Pennsylvania, was the start of my journey. As a child, everything I owned was pink; however as I grew up I started to lose myself, changing my favorite color to blue. In Levittown, a ‘woman’s role’ is to stay home and ignore your dreams; however, I have never been interested in this. As I sat in my childhood bedroom with hot pink walls and Barbie dolls covering the floor I wondered, “If women are not meant to have a career, then why do I want one so badly?” I was perplexed with how it was possible to love traditionally feminine things, but not want to live a traditionally feminine life. This fueled my curiosity about the world beyond Levittown furthering my love of pink, and my desire to redefine the boundaries of my femininity. As a young girl I was fueled by challenges, differing opinions, and speaking my mind, allowing my love of pink to prosper. However, as a teenager in the middle of my parents’ divorce, my father was determined to win the war he created. My father used the legal system to make me collateral damage in his emotional, mental, and financial warfare. I felt alone and unheard, making it hard to advocate for myself. I lost myself, I stopped speaking up, and I finally understood what it was like to be a Levittown woman. Suddenly the pink obsessed girl I used to be, began to like blue. As my love for blue prospered, my mother’s divorce attorney demonstrated that women are capable of speaking up too. I was impressed when I saw how she navigated difficult situations and resolved conflict in the way that I wanted to, but could not seem to figure out. She was a reminder of who I was when I liked pink, I missed it. Although my walls were painted blue, her vibrancy inspired me to ask questions about my parent’s divorce process, what different aspects meant, and how it impacted me. From that point forward, I knew I was going to be an attorney because that would give me the opportunity to be a voice for others who could not find their own. The law was the first step to rediscovering my passion for pink and power that is inside me. My environmental advocacy work in college taught me to see my femininity as a source of empowerment and to love pink again. My first job at the University of Pittsburgh as an EcoRep, working to advance sustainability in Pitt’s residence halls, was where I rediscovered myself. This role required me to make myself heard and engage in constructive challenge; allowing me to emerge as an influential advocate at Pitt. This was the first time I felt like myself and started to like pink again. As I continued to pursue sustainability advocacy, I found myself getting more comfortable speaking up, just as I did as a young girl. Sustainability helped me reconnect with my authentic self, who loves pink and loves to speak her mind. Now as the Managing Director of the Student Office of Sustainability, I continue to provide a platform for student concerns. I am a key factor in the creation of new policies alongside influential university leadership; amplifying students’ voices when they are usually not included. Environmentalism reconnected me with the young girl with hot pink walls, and has created my mission to foster accessible and inclusive spaces for people to be heard, because I understand how it feels to not be. I will continue this mission as an attorney, making the law and the systems that construct our lives more accessible. The ability to interpret the law is an immense power and privilege, one that can be easily used to others’ detriment. The world needs people-centered lawyers who are not afraid to speak up, when change needs to happen. My experiences and struggles have taught me that I need to be the change that I want to see in the world. I have reconnected my younger self, I am asking questions, speaking up, and love pink!