My journey to law school has been unique to say the least – and with that, I want to do unique things to change the world for immigrants and people within the LGBTQIA+ community. My name is Sabrina Possia (white, female, Italian-Canadian, she/her pronouns, and a member of the LBGTQIA+ community). I never grew up wanting to be a lawyer – quite frankly, I only knew lawyers from TV/movies as standing in front of a court room arguing someone’s innocence. This did not interest me in the slightest. It was only after having phenomenal personal experiences with many Canadian and US immigration attorneys while attempting to obtain work authorization in the United States for my current occupation as a speech-language pathologist that I knew law was the career for me. I needed to follow my heart to help other immigrants who experience the same immigration stressors I did, the same way my attorneys helped me. I want to be able to help immigrants from a legal perspective who are in the most challenging moments of their lives (or “rock bottom” as some say), just as I have done for years with my patients in the medical field as a speech-language pathologist. That is why I am seeking a career change into becoming an attorney. My long-term career goal after becoming an attorney is to work with (or personally develop) a non-profit organization for LGBTQIA+ immigrants seeking a new life in the United States. I want to ensure safety and security for those individuals who may not be able to live their authentic and true lives in their home countries as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. As a queer woman myself, I know the stigmas, stereotypes, and safety concerns LGBTQIA+ members face daily firsthand. I know I will change the world one day for the better for immigrants and LGBTQIA+ members. As my ex-master’s thesis advisor told me recently: “I cannot wait to see the things you do as you go forward, Sabrina. I have a feeling you’ll make many changes” (Mary Huston, PhD, Minot State University). For me to be able to change the world, I am seeking financial support to attend the University of North Dakota Law school in fall 2023, where I have been accepted and intend to attend. Remember in the beginning of my story I shared my legal immigration issues? Well unfortunately for me those will continue... I am not eligible for financial student aid in the United States as I am not a US citizen or permanent US resident (green card holder). I am also not eligible for financial aid via Canadian student loans as I have been living in the United States with my partner for the past 3 years and do not qualify as a Canadian resident anymore (even though I am a Canadian citizen). Therefore, I will be supporting myself financially through law school – which I am unable to do for 3 years’ worth of tuition fees. I would be forever grateful for your support in assisting me financially to pursue my dream in changing the world for people who are unable to change their world for themselves.

My journey to law school has been unique, to say the least – and with that, I want to do unique things to change the world for immigrants and people within the LGBTQIA+ community. My name is Sabrina Possia (white, female, Italian-Canadian, she/her pronouns, and a member of the LBGTQIA+ community). I never grew up wanting to be a lawyer – quite frankly, I only knew lawyers from TV/movies as standing in front of a courtroom arguing someone’s innocence. This did not interest me in the slightest. It was only after having phenomenal personal experiences with many Canadian and US immigration attorneys while attempting to obtain work authorization in the United States for my current occupation as a speech-language pathologist that I knew law was the career for me. I needed to follow my heart to help other immigrants who experience the same immigration stressors I did, the same way my attorneys helped me. I want to be able to help immigrants from a legal perspective who are in the most challenging moments of their lives (or “rock bottom” as some say), just as I have done for years with my patients in the medical field as a speech-language pathologist. That is why I am seeking a career change to become an attorney. My long-term career goal after becoming an attorney is to work with (or personally develop) a non-profit organization for LGBTQIA+ immigrants seeking a new life in the United States. I want to ensure safety and security for those individuals who may not be able to live their authentic and true lives in their home countries as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. As a queer woman myself, I know the stigmas, stereotypes, and safety concerns LGBTQIA+ members face daily firsthand. I know I will change the world one day for the better for immigrants and LGBTQIA+ members. As my ex-master’s thesis advisor told me recently: “I cannot wait to see the things you do as you go forward, Sabrina. I have a feeling you’ll make many changes” (Mary Huston, PhD, Minot State University). For me to be able to change the world, I am seeking financial support to attend the University of North Dakota Law School in fall 2023, where I have been accepted and intend to attend. Remember in the beginning of my story I shared my legal immigration issues? Well unfortunately for me those will continue... I am not eligible for financial student aid in the United States as I am not a US citizen or permanent US resident (green card holder). I am also not eligible for financial aid via Canadian student loans as I have been living in the United States with my partner for the past 3 years and do not qualify as a Canadian resident anymore (even though I am a Canadian citizen). Therefore, I will be supporting myself financially through law school – which I am unable to do for 3 years’ worth of tuition fees. I would be forever grateful for your support in assisting me financially to pursue my dream of changing the world for people who are unable to change their world for themselves.