When I was a young child, my grandfather told me stories of his life in Luanda, Angola. He once owned 3,000 acres of farmland and operated a thriving fishing boat company. He was respected, admired, and deeply rooted in his community. His success wasn’t just personal—it was shared with the people he employed and served. But one day, everything changed. A woman tricked him into signing a document he could not read. That single act—signing a paper he didn’t understand—resulted in the loss of everything: his land, his business, and his dignity. Because he was illiterate, he had no defense. His life’s work was stripped away in a matter of moments. That injustice became a defining part of my family’s story, and it’s the reason I want to become a lawyer. I plan to use my law degree to combat economic injustice and protect vulnerable populations from exploitation—particularly within immigrant, underserved, and low-income communities. I want to specialize in contract and business law, because I’ve seen how legal documents, when misunderstood or misused, can destroy lives and legacies. My mission is to make sure people like my grandfather are never taken advantage of again simply because they lack legal knowledge or resources. My experience in communications and public service has prepared me for this mission. As a City of Boston employee, I worked to make government programs more accessible. I helped simplify city messaging, created inclusive materials, and ensured information reached residents in multiple languages. I’ve also worked closely with local artists, freelancers, and small business owners—many of whom are first-generation Americans or immigrants. I’ve helped them promote their work, navigate contracts, and understand their rights regarding intellectual property and digital assets. In these moments, I realized that legal literacy isn’t just a protective shield—it’s a powerful tool for empowerment. I envision myself as a legal advocate who offers pro bono business and contract consulting to those who need it most. I want to develop workshops, resources, and online content that demystifies legal language and builds people’s confidence to ask questions, read closely, and stand up for themselves. My long-term goal is to work with nonprofit organizations or establish my own initiative focused on bridging the gap between legal literacy and economic opportunity. I believe that education is prevention, and informed people are less likely to be exploited. Why does this matter so much to me? Because my grandfather’s story isn’t just his—it’s a story shared by countless others. Coercive tactics and predatory behavior still thrive in communities where people lack legal representation or understanding. People are routinely misled, manipulated, and bullied into contracts that don’t serve them. I believe access to legal knowledge is a form of justice. Knowing what a contract says, what rights you have, and what responsibilities you hold should not be a luxury—it should be a basic human right. With a law degree, I will have the tools to fight injustice not only in the courtroom, but also in boardrooms, living rooms, and classrooms. I want to use my voice to educate, protect, and empower. I want to be the person who reads the fine print so others don’t have to fear it. No one should lose everything because they didn’t understand a document—and I am committed to making sure that fewer people ever do.

Question 1: When are you going to start law school? I plan on attending law school in the Fall of 2025 at New England Law | Boston. I have been accepted and will be matriculating there. I have already made my seat deposit and am preparing to begin the program. Question 2: What are your short- and long-term career goals? In the short term, my goal is to attend a part-time evening law program while continuing to work during the day, allowing me to finance my education and remain connected to my professional community. After graduation, I plan on passing the bar and beginning the practice of public interest law or civil litigation with a focus in contracts and small business advocacy. In the long run, my goal is to return to Cape Verde and help carry out legal reforms safeguarding property rights and facilitating local entrepreneurs, using my knowledge of the law to strengthen justice systems in underrepresented communities. Question 3: What are some methods through which you proactively pursue learning and intellectual growth beyond the classroom? Beyond the classroom, I actively pursue intellectual growth through reading law books, attending court hearings, listening to law-related podcasts, and engaging in online policy forums. For example, I signed up for the JD-Next course so that I could familiarize myself with learning in law school and develop my analytical thinking capabilities. I also commit time to the study of contract law and the right of ownership due to personal family history which intrigued me toward legal protection. Independent study motivated me to embrace the career as an attorney and a voice of those who stand vulnerable to abuse, especially in developing regions. Question 4: Describe a time when you held a position and advocated for that which was morally correct despite your being against the decision and/or knowing you'd be negatively affected. When I was working in city government, I noticed that a tweet promoting a community event omitted some organizations that had been essential to the success of the event. I protested the exclusion even though I risked being in conflict with senior staff members who had coordinated the communications. Although I knew that it could affect my reputation, I insisted on a revised entry that gave credit to all. My integrity drew both negative and positive comments but ultimately resulted in a better outcome. Through this experience, I learned to appreciate professional courage and to speak out with respect and integrity. Question 5: Assume that you have unlimited resources to fund a philanthropic project. What cause would you choose, and why? If I had funds, I would set up a legal literacy and micro business empowerment program in Cape Verde and Lusophone Africa. The project would consist of contract education, free legal consultation, and seminars to allow persons and households to defend property and establish sustainable ventures. This is a matter of the heart—for my grandfather, his whole holdings were lost as he signed away an exploitive agreement he couldn't read. I believe access to legal information can prevent generational losses and empower communities to thrive with dignity and security.

As a child, my grandfather would tell me the story of his life in Luanda, Angola, where he owned 3,000 acres of land and a very successful fishing boat company. He was respected, admired, and well-rooted in society. It all came crashing down when a woman tricked him into signing a document he did not understand. He lost everything his land, business, and ego. Because he was illiterate, he was vulnerable. That injustice tainted my view of the world, and it's also why I want to be an attorney. I plan to use my law degree to combat economic injustice and protect vulnerable populations from exploitation, especially among the immigrants and poor communities. I want to focus on contract law and business law because I’ve seen firsthand how legal documents when misunderstood or misused can destroy livelihoods. My mission is to ensure that people like my grandfather are never silenced or stripped of their legacy due to a lack of education or access to legal resources. My work in communications and public service has already laid the foundation for this commitment. During my tenure at the City of Boston, I helped make city programs more accessible by demystifying government messages and reaching underserved residents through multilingual and multimedia communications. I've also helped local artists and small business owners market their work, often negotiating contracts, copyrights, and digital rights for them. Through these experiences, I learned how legal information, coupled with effective communication, can empower people to take charge of their futures. I see myself as a pro bono contract and business counsel for immigrants and small business owners. I dream of creating workshops and materials that untangle the legal jargon and inform people about their rights and responsibilities. One day, I'd like to collaborate with non-profit groups or start my own organization that aligns legal literacy with economic opportunity. Why should I care? Because my grandfather's story is not an exception. Predatory practices still plague communities that are not legally informed. People are still being misled, misinformed, and exploited. I believe that access to legal information is a form of justice and that it should never be a privilege to know a contract. With a law degree, I will be in an excellent position to fight for justice, stand up for the voiceless, and ensure that no one loses everything just because they were unable to read the small print.