Policy Advocacy has always been a pivotal part of my life. Growing up, I had to learn that the world wasn’t always black and white. Learning about Trayvon Martin is not ideal for the average 7-8-year-old who had an epiphany for sports and video games. In addition, my own experience within the law is quite desolate as I had to witness relatives deal with the legal system. I have both family members who are on opposite sides of the legal system. There are former felons and police officers within my family. It was saddening on Thanksgiving, memorial days, or even on Christmas and my younger cousins asked me where a particular relative was. It was rather depressing, but I always wanted to remain in good spirits. My experiences cultivated and fostered my affinity for the law and the legal system. I believe that the justice system is somewhat flawed but there needs to be a balance between fair justice and justice reform. I have participated in policy advocacy trainings where I have advocated for ways to reduce recidivism in all youth but with an emphasis on minority youth since their rates were much higher compared to other youth in Broward and Miami Dade Counties. There are several factors as to why these juveniles/youth commit crimes such as no stable home, poor finances, or substance abuse. The Juvenile Predisposition Services (JPS) is an organization that focuses on preventing recidivism and acclimating youth back into society. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University as a first-time college student. This helps me in creating passionate laws because I am no stranger to adversity as I love to challenge myself. I hope that with this time that I have, I can learn from the various mentors that I met along the way to properly impact advocacy so I can speak for the speechless. Criminal attorneys whether they are prosecutors or defense attorneys only have an impact on the individual of their case. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree as leverage as a method of going into politics. I do not care where I end up: city government, state government, or federal government. For me, there is no preference if I can make a difference. Ultimately, I believe that the sky is the limit for how I want to achieve my goals, but the focus is to help others who cannot help themselves or do not know where to look for help. Therefore, I want to learn from my mentors and utilize my potential scholarship funds so I can focus purely on connections and school, and not on how I will pay for my college expenses. I believe that my ambition combined with my core values will allow me to go on and become auspicious.

Policy Advocacy has always been a pivotal part of my life. Growing up, I had to learn that the world wasn’t always black and white. Learning about Trayvon Martin is not ideal for the average 7-8-year-old who had an epiphany for sports and video games. In addition, my own experience within the law is quite desolate as I had to witness relatives deal with the legal system. I have both family members who are on opposite sides of the legal system. There are former felons and police officers within my family. It was saddening on Thanksgiving, memorial days, or even on Christmas and my younger cousins asked me where a particular relative was. It was rather depressing, but I always wanted to remain in good spirits. My experiences cultivated and fostered my affinity for the law and the legal system. I believe that the justice system is somewhat flawed but there needs to be a balance between fair justice and justice reform. I am currently in college majoring in both public policy and political science on a pre-law track. In my public policy classes, we have held policy advocacy trainings where I have advocated for ways to reduce recidivism in all youth but with an emphasis on minority youth since their rates were much higher compared to other youth in Broward and Miami Dade Counties. There are several factors as to why these juveniles/youth commit crimes such as no stable home, poor finances, or substance abuse. The Juvenile Predisposition Services (JPS) is an organization that focuses on preventing recidivism and acclimating youth back into society. As for my major in political science, I took upon this major to find ways to effectively communicate my ideas in oral and written form. I believe communication is one of the main ways for me to impact these issues that I am passionate about. This major will help me as I utilize it to be an effective law student and lawyer in the future. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University as a first time in college student. This left a lot of space on my college schedule which allowed me to take several other classes and programs. This helps me in creating passionate laws because I am no stranger to adversity as I love to challenge myself. I hope that with this time that I have, I can learn from the various mentors that I met along the way to properly impact advocacy so I can speak for the speechless. Criminal attorneys whether they are prosecutors or defense attorneys only have an impact on the individual of their case. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree as leverage as a method of going into politics. I do not care where I end up: city government, state government, or federal government. For me there is no preference if I can make a difference. Ultimately, I believe that the sky is the limit for how I want to achieve my goals, but the focus is to help others who cannot help themselves or do not know where to look for help. Therefore, I want to learn from my mentors and utilize my potential scholarship funds so I can focus purely on connections and school, and not on how I will pay for my college expenses. I believe that my ambition combined with my core values will allow me to go on and become auspicious.

Policy Advocacy has always been a pivotal part of my life. Growing up, I had to learn that the world wasn’t always black and white. Learning about Trayvon Martin is not ideal for the average 7-8-year-old who had an epiphany for sports and video games. In addition, my own experience within the law is quite desolate as I had to witness relatives deal with the legal system. I have both family members who are on opposite sides of the legal system. There are former felons and police officers within my family. It was saddening on Thanksgiving, memorial days, or even on Christmas and my younger cousins asked me where a particular relative was. It was rather depressing, but I always wanted to remain in good spirits. My experiences cultivated and fostered my affinity for the law and the legal system. I believe that the justice system is somewhat flawed but there needs to be a balance between fair justice and justice reform. I am currently in college majoring in both public policy and political science on a pre-law track. In my public policy classes, we have held policy advocacy trainings where I have advocated for ways to reduce recidivism in all youth but with an emphasis on minority youth since their rates were much higher compared to other youth in Broward and Miami Dade Counties. There are several factors as to why these juveniles/youth commit crimes such as no stable home, poor finances, or substance abuse. The Juvenile Predisposition Services (JPS) is an organization that focuses on preventing recidivism and acclimating youth back into society. As for my major in political science, I took upon this major to find ways to effectively communicate my ideas in oral and written form. I believe communication is one of the main ways for me to impact these issues that I am passionate about. This major will help me as I utilize it to be an effective law student and lawyer in the future. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University as a first time in college student. This left a lot of space on my college schedule which allowed me to take several other classes and programs. This helps me in creating passionate laws because I am no stranger to adversity as I love to challenge myself. I hope that with this time that I have, I can learn from the various mentors that I met along the way to properly impact advocacy so I can speak for the speechless. Criminal attorneys whether they are prosecutors or defense attorneys only have an impact on the individual of their case. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree as leverage as a method of going into politics. I do not care where I end up: city government, state government, or federal government. For me there is no preference if I can make a difference. Ultimately, I believe that the sky is the limit for how I want to achieve my goals, but the focus is to help others who cannot help themselves or do not know where to look for help. Therefore, I want to learn from my mentors and utilize my potential scholarship funds so I can focus purely on connections and school, and not on how I will pay for my college expenses. I believe that my ambition combined with my core values will allow me to go on and become auspicious.

Policy Advocacy has always been a pivotal part of my life. Growing up, I had to learn that the world wasn’t always black and white. Learning about Trayvon Martin is not ideal for the average 7-8-year-old who had an epiphany for sports and video games. In addition, my own experience within the law is quite desolate as I had to witness relatives deal with the legal system. I have both family members who are on opposite sides of the legal system. There are former felons and police officers within my family. It was saddening on Thanksgiving, memorial days, or even on Christmas and my younger cousins asked me where a particular relative was. It was rather depressing, but I always wanted to remain in good spirits. My experiences cultivated and fostered my affinity for the law and the legal system. I believe that the justice system is somewhat flawed but there needs to be a balance between fair justice and justice reform. I am currently in college majoring in both public policy and political science on a pre-law track. In my public policy classes, we have held policy advocacy trainings where I have advocated for ways to reduce recidivism in all youth but with an emphasis on minority youth since their rates were much higher compared to other youth in Broward and Miami Dade Counties. There are several factors as to why these juveniles/youth commit crimes such as no stable home, poor finances, or substance abuse. The Juvenile Predisposition Services (JPS) is an organization that focuses on preventing recidivism and acclimating youth back into society. As for my major in political science, I took upon this major to find ways to effectively communicate my ideas in oral and written form. I believe communication is one of the main ways for me to impact these issues that I am passionate about. This major will help me as I utilize it to be an effective law student and lawyer in the future. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University as a first time in college student. This left a lot of space on my college schedule which allowed me to take several other classes and programs. This helps me in creating passionate laws because I am no stranger to adversity as I love to challenge myself. I hope that with this time that I have, I can learn from the various mentors that I met along the way to properly impact advocacy so I can speak for the speechless. Criminal attorneys whether they are prosecutors or defense attorneys only have an impact on the individual of their case. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree as leverage as a method of going into politics. I do not care where I end up: city government, state government, or federal government. For me there is no preference if I can make a difference. Ultimately, I believe that the sky is the limit for how I want to achieve my goals, but the focus is to help others who cannot help themselves or do not know where to look for help. Therefore, I want to learn from my mentors and utilize my potential scholarship funds so I can focus purely on connections and school, and not on how I will pay for my college expenses. I believe that my ambition combined with my core values will allow me to go on and become auspicious.

Everyone has a purpose or “calling” in life. We all just “unlock” it at different times than others. My calling began with an error on my course selection sheet in tenth grade. I accidentally signed up for a class called Constitutional Law. I always liked law, but I never thought I would take it in high school. This was during eLearning, so I thought I was going to dread having the class but to my surprise, my teacher made me find my love for law. I always wanted to become a lawyer; I never knew what type of law I would pursue but I knew I always wanted to become an attorney. I always loved to think outside of the box and find solutions to problems that my teachers and friends would find quite complex. My friends described me as someone who is very helpful and who likes to speak up for others and I researched majors to find out that Public Policy is the best major for me. I want to serve others and I can help provide solutions to communities that are facing complex issues. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University. This left a lot of space on my college schedule which allowed me to take several other classes and programs. As a result, I am currently a double major in public policy and political science on a pre-law track. I added political science because of the complementary skill it provides to public policy, and I want to pursue government. My pre-law track contains two pre-law certificates that will have me take rigorous courses that will prepare me for law school. I believe that challenging yourself while you are young sets you up for greatness as you are essentially taking off your “training wheels” really early. Going to law school isn’t the end goal for me. I participated in a summer legal program with the University of Miami and I kind of know what to expect in law school. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree as leverage to go into politics. I do not care where I end up: city government, state government, or federal government. All I know is that I want to make a difference somewhere. I have participated in advocacy where I went to the Florida State Capitol with students from all over Broward County, FL. We advocated for higher teacher pay and students utilizing their 100 work hours to get Bright Futures. I have also met a Florida state senator in my district, Jason Pizzo, and I have also met the representative in my district who is state representative Marie Woodson. They have been my mentors in a way, and I hope to utilize them as a sense of inspiration to build the legacy I want to leave behind. Ultimately, The sky is the limit for my future goals because I am an ambitious person I volunteered with Uplift Literacy and I am a Reading Pal where I help children K-3 learn to read and become adequate readers. I am big on giving back to the community and in the little time I had during this Fall semester, I devoted it to helping others. I believe that the sky is the limit for where I am going, and I hope to inspire others to make changes.

Policy Advocacy has always been a pivotal part of my life. Growing up, I had to learn that the world wasn’t always black and white. Learning about Trayvon Martin is not ideal for the average 7-8-year-old who had an epiphany for sports and video games. In addition, my own experience within the law is quite desolate as I had to witness relatives deal with the legal system. I have both family members who are on opposite sides of the legal system. There are former felons and police officers within my family. It was saddening on Thanksgiving, memorial days, or even on Christmas and my younger cousins asked me where a particular relative was. It was rather depressing, but I always wanted to remain in good spirits. experiences cultivated and fostered my affinity for the law and the legal system. I believe that the justice system is somewhat flawed but there needs to be a balance between fair justice and justice reform. I am currently in college majoring in both public policy and political science on a pre-law track. In my public policy classes, we have held policy advocacy trainings where I have advocated for ways to reduce recidivism in all youth but with an emphasis on minority youth since their rates were much higher compared to other youth in Broward and Miami Dade Counties. There are several factors as to why these juveniles/youth commit crimes such as no stable home, poor finances, or substance abuse. The Juvenile Predisposition Services (JPS) is an organization that focuses on preventing recidivism and acclimating youth back into society. As for my major in political science, I took upon this major to find ways to effectively communicate my ideas in oral and written form. I believe communication is one of the main ways for me to impact these issues that I am passionate about. This major will help me as I utilize it to be an effective law student and lawyer in the future. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University as a first time in college student. This left a lot of space on my college schedule which allowed me to take several other classes and programs. This helps me in creating passionate laws because I am no stranger to adversity as I love to challenge myself. I hope that with this time that I have, I can learn from the various mentors that I met along the way to properly impact advocacy so I can speak for the speechless. Criminal attorneys whether they are prosecutors or defense attorneys only have an impact on the individual of their case. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree as leverage as a method of going into politics. I do not care where I end up: city government, state government, or federal government. For me there is no preference if I can make a difference. Ultimately, I believe that the sky is the limit for how I want to achieve my goals, but the focus is to help others who cannot help themselves or do not know where to look for help. Therefore, I want to learn from my mentors and utilize my potential scholarship funds so I can focus purely on connections and school, and not on how I will pay for my college expenses. I believe that my ambition combined with my core values will allow me to go on and become auspicious.

Policy Advocacy has always been a pivotal part of my life. Growing up, I had to learn that the world wasn’t always black and white. Learning about Trayvon Martin is not ideal for the average 7-8-year-old who had an epiphany for sports and video games. In addition, my own experience within the law is quite desolate as I had to witness relatives deal with the legal system. I have both family members who are on opposite sides of the legal system. There are former felons and police officers within my family. It was saddening on Thanksgiving, memorial days, or even on Christmas and my younger cousins asked me where a particular relative was. It was rather depressing, but I always wanted to remain in good spirits. My experiences cultivated and fostered my affinity for the law and the legal system. I believe that the justice system is somewhat flawed but there needs to be a balance between fair justice and justice reform. I am currently in college majoring in both public policy and political science on a pre-law track. In my public policy classes, we have held policy advocacy trainings where I have advocated for ways to reduce recidivism in all youth but with an emphasis on minority youth since their rates were much higher compared to other youth in Broward and Miami Dade Counties. There are several factors as to why these juveniles/youth commit crimes such as no stable home, poor finances, or substance abuse. The Juvenile Predisposition Services (JPS) is an organization that focuses on preventing recidivism and acclimating youth back into society. As for my major in political science, I took upon this major to find ways to effectively communicate my ideas in oral and written form. I believe communication is one of the main ways for me to impact these issues that I am passionate about. This major will help me as I utilize it to be an effective law student and lawyer in the future. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University as a first time in college student. This left a lot of space on my college schedule which allowed me to take several other classes and programs. This helps me in creating passionate laws because I am no stranger to adversity as I love to challenge myself. I hope that with this time that I have, I can learn from the various mentors that I met along the way to properly impact advocacy so I can speak for the speechless. Criminal attorneys whether they are prosecutors or defense attorneys only have an impact on the individual of their case. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree as leverage as a method of going into politics. I do not care where I end up: city government, state government, or federal government. For me there is no preference if I can make a difference. Ultimately, I believe that the sky is the limit for how I want to achieve my goals, but the focus is to help others who cannot help themselves or do not know where to look for help. Therefore, I want to learn from my mentors and utilize my potential scholarship funds so I can focus purely on connections and school, and not on how I will pay for my college expenses. I believe that my ambition combined with my core values will allow me to go on and become auspicious.

Everyone has a purpose or “calling” in life. We all just “unlock” it at different times than others. My calling began with an error on my course selection sheet in tenth grade. I accidentally signed up for a class called Constitutional Law. I always liked law, but I never thought I would take it in high school. This was during eLearning, so I thought I was going to dread having the class but to my surprise, my teacher made me find my love for law. He looked quite scary until he spoke, and I believe that despite COVID-19 ruining my sophomore year, I had a positive outlook on it and on what I wanted to do with the rest of my life because of him. I always wanted to become a lawyer; I never knew what type of law I would pursue but I knew I always wanted to become an attorney. I always loved to think outside of the box and find solutions to problems that my teachers and friends would find quite complex. However, during my senior year, I had to choose a major for college and I didn’t know what to pick since all I knew was law. My friends described me as someone who is very helpful and who likes to speak up for others and I researched majors to find out that Public Policy is the best major for me. I like to serve others and I can help provide solutions to communities that are facing complex issues. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University. This left a lot of space on my college schedule which allowed me to take several other classes and programs. As a result, I am currently a double major in public policy and political science on a pre-law track. I added political science because of the complementary skill it provides to public policy, and I want to pursue government Political science paired with public policy allows me to exercise the best lesson that I learned from both which is advocacy. Going to law school isn’t the end goal for me. I participated in a summer legal program with the University of Miami and I kind of know what to expect in law school. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree as leverage as a method of going into politics. I do not care where I end up: city government, state government, or federal government. All I know is that I want to make a difference somewhere. I have participated in advocacy where I went to the Florida State Capitol with students from all over Broward County, FL and we advocated for higher teacher pay and students utilizing their 100 work hours to get Bright Futures. I have also met a Florida state senator in my district, Jason Pizzo, and I have also met the representative in my district who is state representative Marie Woodson. They have been my mentors in a way, and I hope to utilize them as a sense of inspiration to build the legacy I want to leave behind. Ultimately, a single degree does not make you, but you make the degree. With my various mentors, professors, and friends, I believe that I can make a difference in the world through advocacy and speaking up for others with the skills I acquired through taking classes in both majors.

Everyone has a purpose or “calling” in life. We all just “unlock” it at different times than others. My calling began with an error on my course selection sheet in tenth grade. I accidentally signed up for a class called Constitutional Law. I always liked law, but I never thought I would take it in high school. This was during eLearning, so I thought I was going to dread having the class but to my surprise, my teacher made me find my love for law. I always wanted to become a lawyer; I never knew what type of law I would pursue but I knew I always wanted to become an attorney. I always loved to think outside of the box and find solutions to problems that my teachers and friends would find quite complex. During my senior year, I had to choose a major for college and I didn’t know what to pick. My friends described me as someone who is very helpful and who likes to speak up for others so I came across Public Policy. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University. This left a lot of space on my college schedule which allowed me to take several other classes and programs. As a result, I am currently a double major in public policy and political science on a pre-law track. I added political science because of the complementary skill it provides to public policy, and I want to pursue government. I believe that challenging yourself while you are young sets you up for greatness as you are essentially taking off your “training wheels” early. Going to law school isn’t the end goal for me. I participated in a summer legal program with the University of Miami and I kind of know what to expect in law school. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree to make a difference in public service. I have participated in advocacy where I went to the Florida State Capitol with students from all over Broward County, FL and we advocated for higher teacher pay and students utilizing their 100 work hours to get Bright Futures. I have also met a Florida state senator in my district, Jason Pizzo, and I have also met the representative in my district who is state representative Marie Woodson. They have been my mentors in a way, and I hope to utilize them as a sense of inspiration to build the legacy I want to leave behind. Ultimately, my major, being an attorney and helping others “called” me. I believe that the sky is the limit for where I am going, and I hope to inspire others to make changes. I want to pass the torch to the next generation as I was passed the torch by my mentors.

Everyone has a purpose or “calling” in life. We all just “unlock” it at different times than others. My calling began with an error on my course selection sheet in tenth grade. I accidentally signed up for a class called Constitutional Law. I always liked law, but I never thought I would take it in high school. This was during eLearning, so I thought I was going to dread having the class but to my surprise, my teacher made me find my love for law. He looked quite scary until he spoke, and I believe that despite COVID-19 ruining my sophomore year, I had a positive outlook on it and on what I wanted to do with the rest of my life because of him. I always wanted to become a lawyer; I never knew what type of law I would pursue but I knew I always wanted to become an attorney. I always loved to think outside of the box and find solutions to problems that my teachers and friends would find quite complex. However, during my senior year, I had to choose a major for college and I didn’t know what to pick since all I knew was law. My friends described me as someone who is very helpful and who likes to speak up for others and I researched majors to find out that Public Policy is the best major for me. I like to serve others and I can help provide solutions to communities that are facing complex issues. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University. This left a lot of space on my college schedule which allowed me to take several other classes and programs. As a result, I am currently a double major in public policy and political science on a pre-law track. I added political science because of the complementary skill it provides to public policy, and I want to pursue government. My pre-law track contains two pre-law certificates that will have me take rigorous courses that will prepare me for law school. I believe that challenging yourself while you are young sets you up for greatness as you are essentially taking off your “training wheels” really early. Going to law school isn’t the end goal for me. I participated in a summer legal program with the University of Miami and I kind of know what to expect in law school. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree to make difference in public service. I have participated in advocacy where I went to the Florida State Capitol with students from all over Broward County, FL and we advocated for higher teacher pay and students utilizing their 100 work hours to get Bright Futures. I have also met a Florida state senator in my district, Jason Pizzo, and I have also met the representative in my district who is state representative Marie Woodson. They have been my mentors in a way, and I hope to utilize them as a sense of inspiration to build the legacy I want to leave behind. Ultimately, my major, being an attorney and being a politician “called” me. I believe that the sky is the limit for where I am going, and I hope to inspire others to make changes. I want to pass the torch to the next generation as I was passed the torch by my mentors.

As a Christian, my belief in Jesus Christ has been the foundation upon which I've built my life. From the young age of 14, I officially gave my life to Christ after being in the Church my entire life. Throughout these years I was instilled with the values of love, compassion, and resilience that are central to the teachings of Christ. These values have guided me through the darkest valleys and propelled me to the mountaintop experiences of success. One of the greatest challenges I faced was when I encountered a period of deep personal struggle. I felt lost, directionless, and unsure of my purpose. I felt as if I had impostor syndrome and as if I was not good enough for life in general. I felt alone despite being the oldest of 6 boys with a large and loving family. I always felt as if I should have had the newest Jordans on my feet or that I should seek the validation of others. However, through my large community of friends and fellow Christians at the Tabernacle of Glory, I was able to focus on improving my walk with Christ and not worry as much about my financial struggles. This Church is where I had made great friendships that I would never trade for anything else. With unwavering faith by my side, I navigated through obstacles, whether they were financial hardships, health issues, or professional setbacks. Each challenge became an opportunity for spiritual growth and a testament to the power of faith. And with each triumph, I saw the hand of God guiding me, opening doors, and bestowing blessings beyond measure. Looking to the future, I am committed to continuing to let Christianity and the example of Jesus be my guiding force. I aspire to become a lawyer that focuses on public service. I understand as a lawyer I will swear an oath to uphold the Constitution which I will, but I know that there is a law above the law which is God’s Law. By staying connected to my faith community, I know that I will find strength, support, and encouragement to press on toward my goals. Moreover, I aspire to embody the teachings of Jesus in all aspects of my life, whether it's in my interactions with others, my professional endeavors, or my community involvement. Jesus' commandment to love one another and to serve those in need will be my guiding principles as I seek to make a positive impact on the world around me. Ultimately, this opportunity is not just about personal success but about living out my faith in a way that honors God and blesses others. With Jesus as my guiding force, I am confident that I can continue to reach greater heights, knowing that I walk in His light and His grace.

Everyone has a purpose or “calling” in life. We all just “unlock” it at different times than others. My calling began with an error on my course selection sheet in tenth grade. I accidentally signed up for a class called Constitutional Law. I always liked law, but I never thought I would take it in high school. This was during eLearning, so I thought I was going to dread having the class but to my surprise, my teacher made me find my love for law. He looked quite scary until he spoke, and I believe that despite COVID-19 ruining my sophomore year, I had a positive outlook on it and on what I wanted to do with the rest of my life because of him. I always wanted to become a lawyer; I never knew what type of law I would pursue but I knew I always wanted to become an attorney. I always loved to think outside of the box and find solutions to problems that my teachers and friends would find quite complex. However, during my senior year, I had to choose a major for college and I didn’t know what to pick since all I knew was law. My friends described me as someone who is very helpful and who likes to speak up for others and I researched majors to find out that Public Policy is the best major for me. I like to serve others and I can help provide solutions to communities that are facing complex issues. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University. This left a lot of space on my college schedule which allowed me to take several other classes and programs. As a result, I am currently a double major in public policy and political science on a pre-law track. I added political science because of the complementary skill it provides to public policy, and I want to pursue government. My pre-law track contains two pre-law certificates that will have me take rigorous courses that will prepare me for law school. I believe that challenging yourself while you are young sets you up for greatness as you are essentially taking off your “training wheels” early. Going to law school isn’t the end goal for me. I participated in a summer legal program with the University of Miami and I kind of know what to expect in law school. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree to make difference in public service. I have participated in advocacy where I went to the Florida State Capitol with students from all over Broward County, FL and we advocated for higher teacher pay and students utilizing their 100 work hours to get Bright Futures. I have also met a Florida state senator in my district, Jason Pizzo, and I have also met the representative in my district who is state representative Marie Woodson. They have been my mentors in a way, and I hope to utilize them as a sense of inspiration to build the legacy I want to leave behind. Ultimately, my major, being an attorney and being a politician “called” me. I believe that the sky is the limit for where I am going, and I hope to inspire others to make changes. I want to pass the torch to the next generation as I was passed the torch by my mentors.

Everyone has a purpose or “calling” in life. We all just “unlock” it at different times than others. My calling began with an error on my course selection sheet in tenth grade. I accidentally signed up for a class called Constitutional Law. I always liked law, but I never thought I would take it in high school. This was during eLearning, so I thought I was going to dread having the class but to my surprise, my teacher made me find my love for law. He looked quite scary until he spoke, and I believe that despite COVID-19 ruining my sophomore year, I had a positive outlook on it and on what I wanted to do with the rest of my life because of him. I always wanted to become a lawyer; I never knew what type of law I would pursue but I knew I always wanted to become an attorney. I always loved to think outside of the box and find solutions to problems that my teachers and friends would find quite complex. However, during my senior year, I had to choose a major for college and I didn’t know what to pick since all I knew was law. My friends described me as someone who is very helpful and who likes to speak up for others and I researched majors to find out that Public Policy is the best major for me. I like to serve others and I can help provide solutions to communities that are facing complex issues. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University. This left a lot of space on my college schedule which allowed me to take several other classes and programs. I added political science because of the complementary skill it provides to public policy, and I want to pursue government. My pre-law track contains two pre-law certificates that will have me take rigorous courses that will prepare me for law school. I believe that challenging yourself while you are young sets you up for greatness as you are essentially taking off your “training wheels” early. Going to law school isn’t the end goal for me. I participated in a summer legal program with the University of Miami and I kind of know what to expect in law school. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree as leverage as a method of going into politics. I do not care where I end up: city government, state government, or federal government. All I know is that I want to make a difference somewhere. I have participated in advocacy where I went to the Florida State Capitol with students from all over Broward County, FL and we advocated for higher teacher pay and students utilizing their 100 work hours to get Bright Futures. I have also met a Florida state senator in my district, Jason Pizzo, and I have also met the representative in my district who is state representative Marie Woodson. They have been my mentors in a way, and I hope to utilize them as a sense of inspiration to build the legacy I want to leave behind. Ultimately, my major, being an attorney and being a politician “called” me. I believe that the sky is the limit for where I am going, and I hope to inspire others to make changes. I want to pass the torch to the next generation as I was passed the torch by my mentors.

Everyone has a purpose or “calling” in life. We all just “unlock” it at different times than others. My calling began with an error on my course selection sheet in tenth grade. I accidentally signed up for a class called Constitutional Law. I always liked law, but I never thought I would take it in high school. This was during eLearning, so I thought I was going to dread having the class but to my surprise, my teacher made me find my love for law. He looked quite scary until he spoke, and I believe that despite COVID-19 ruining my sophomore year, I had a positive outlook on it and on what I wanted to do with the rest of my life because of him. I always wanted to become a lawyer; I never knew what type of law I would pursue but I knew I always wanted to become an attorney. I always loved to think outside of the box and find solutions to problems that my teachers and friends would find quite complex. However, during my senior year, I had to choose a major for college and I didn’t know what to pick since all I knew was law. My friends described me as someone who is very helpful and who likes to speak up for others and I researched majors to find out that Public Policy is the best major for me. I like to serve others and I can help provide solutions to communities that are facing complex issues. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University. This left a lot of space on my college schedule which allowed me to take several other classes and programs. As a result, I am currently a double major in public policy and political science on a pre-law track. I added political science because of the complementary skill it provides to public policy, and I want to pursue government. My pre-law track contains two pre-law certificates that will have me take rigorous courses that will prepare me for law school. I believe that challenging yourself while you are young sets you up for greatness as you are essentially taking off your “training wheels” early. Going to law school isn’t the end goal for me. I participated in a summer legal program with the University of Miami and I kind of know what to expect in law school. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree to make a difference somewhere in public service. I have participated in advocacy where I went to the Florida State Capitol with students from all over Broward County, FL and we advocated for higher teacher pay and students utilizing their 100 work hours to get Bright Futures. I have also met a Florida state senator in my district, Jason Pizzo, and I have also met the representative in my district who is state representative Marie Woodson. They have been my mentors in a way, and I hope to utilize them as a sense of inspiration to build the legacy I want to leave behind. Ultimately, my major, being an attorney and being a politician “called” me. I believe that the sky is the limit for where I am going, and I hope to inspire others to make changes. I want to pass the torch to the next generation as I was passed the torch by my mentors.

“Legliz, Lekol, Lakay.” This is a popular saying in Haitian culture and being Haitian, this translates to church, school, and home. These were my main drivers in life, and where I can say all my achievements have come from. Being a mother of 6 children, my mother placed heavy emphasis on education with the hope that all 6 of her boys become something greater in life. I am the oldest of 6 boys and my mom would often push me the hardest so I could set the example for my younger brothers. She would often have us experiment and have us figure out what we wanted to do in life. We excelled due to her instilling traits such as making us hardworking and eager for our curiosity to learn. As a result of this, I was able to take very academically rigorous courses such as AICE, AP, and dual enrollment courses while transferring over 50 college credits to Florida International University while currently being a first-time in college freshman. I am not afraid of hard work, and I am thankful I was instilled with these values. I fell in love with the law after understanding how broad people from many educational backgrounds can utilize the law. I am a double major in both public policy and political science, and I love public service because I like to find ways to give back to my community. Currently, I am volunteering with Uplift Literacy, a nonprofit, that helps students, K-5 with their reading comprehension and literacy. I have also volunteered for Teach For America where I was a college student panelist where I spoke to a plethora of middle school students about college and where they would like to go. Although I want all the experience I can get, I hope to make meaningful connections that will help me reach new heights. I have already met my Florida State senator for my district senator, Jason Pizzo, and my Florida State representative, Marie Woodson. I believe that with these connections and their mentorship, I will be able to accomplish my goal of public service in government and leverage my law degree to give back to others and the generations after me. Ultimately, my family is a large one and I do not want to place the burden of having my mom pay for my schooling. I always felt as if that was the least, I could do because my mother has done a lot for me, and this scholarship would allow me to alleviate the expenses of my undergraduate career and when I complete law school. Therefore, I want to learn from my mentors and utilize my potential scholarship funds so I can focus purely on connections and school, and not on how I will pay for my college expenses. I believe that my ambition combined with my core values will allow me to go on and become auspicious.

“Legliz, Lekol, Lakay.” This is a popular saying in Haitian culture and being Haitian, this translates to church, school, and home. Faith, Education, and family were my main drivers in life, and where I can say all my achievements have come from. Being a mother of 6 children, my mother placed heavy emphasis on education with the hope that all 6 of her boys become something greater in life. I am the oldest of 6 boys and my mom would often push me the hardest so I could set the example for my younger brothers. She would often have us experiment and have us figure out what we wanted to do in life. We excelled due to her instilling traits such as making us hardworking and eager for our curiosity to learn. As a result of this, I was able to take very academically rigorous courses such as AICE, AP, and dual enrollment courses while transferring over 50 college credits to Florida International University with all A’s. I am not afraid of hard work and I am thankful I was instilled with these values. I fell in love with the law after understanding how broad people from many educational backgrounds can utilize the law. I am a double major in both public policy and political science, and I love public service because I like to find ways to give back to my community. Although I do not know which area of the law I want to go into yet, I aspire to intern with the Broward Public Defender office as a legal volunteer so I can get my foot in the door and learn the intrinsic features of being an attorney. Although I want all the experience I can get, I hope to make meaningful connections that will help me reach new heights. I have already met my Florida State senator for my district senator, Jason Pizzo, and my Florida State representative, Marie Woodson. I believe that with these connections and their mentorship, I will be able to accomplish my goal of public service in government and leverage my law degree to become the best candidate possible. Why do I need this scholarship? Coming from a Caribbean household, the third aspect of the saying, “’legliz, lekol, lakay” which is home/family is big for my family and I do not want to place the burden of having my mom pay for my schooling. I always felt as if that was the least, I could do because my mother has done a lot for me, and this scholarship would allow me to alleviate the expenses of my undergraduate career and when I complete law school. Although I arrived at college as a first-time college freshman, I have so many credits that I am also considered a sophomore and after my spring semester, I will be halfway into my junior year. I hope that since I am on the younger side only 19 years old, I want to learn from my mentors and utilize my potential scholarship funds so I can focus purely on connections and school, not on how I will pay for my college expenses. I believe that my ambition combined with my core Haitian values being “legliz, lekol, lakay,” will allow me to go on and become auspicious.

Everyone has a purpose or “calling” in life. We all just “unlock” it at different times than others. My calling began with an error on my course selection sheet in tenth grade. I accidentally signed up for a class called Constitutional Law. I always liked law, but I never thought I would take it in high school. This was during eLearning, so I thought I was going to dread having the class but to my surprise, my teacher made me find my love for law. He looked quite scary until he spoke, and I believe that despite COVID-19 ruining my sophomore year, I had a positive outlook on it and on what I wanted to do with the rest of my life because of him. I always wanted to become a lawyer; I never knew what type of law I would pursue but I knew I always wanted to become an attorney. I always loved to think outside of the box and find solutions to problems that my teachers and friends would find quite complex. However, during my senior year, I had to choose a major for college and I didn’t know what to pick since all I knew was law. My friends describe me as someone who is very helpful and who likes to speak up for others and I did research on majors to find out that Public Policy is the best major for me. I like to serve others and I can help provide solutions to communities that are facing complex issues. Fortunately, I was an overachiever in high school, and I was able to take AP/AICE/Dual Enrollment/Honors and every rigorous course I could find in order to transfer 50 college credits to Florida International University. This left a lot of space on my schedule for college which gave me an opportunity to take several other classes and programs. Currently, I am a double major in public policy and political science on a pre-law track. I added political science because of the complementary skill it provides to public policy, and I want to pursue government. My pre-law track contains a pre-law certificate that will have me take rigorous courses that will prepare me for law school. Going to law school isn’t the end goal for me. I participated in a summer legal program with the University of Miami and I kind of know what to expect in law school. I want to work as a lawyer but utilize my law degree as leverage as a method of going into politics. I do not care where I end up: city government, state government, or federal government. All I know is that I want to make a difference somewhere. I have participated in advocacy where I went to the Florida State Capitol with students from all over Broward County, FL and we advocated for higher teacher pay and students utilizing their 100 work hours to get Bright Futures. The sky is the limit for my future goals because I am a very busy person and I like to have a multitude of tasks to complete. I despise having nothing to do and if I have free time, I will occupy myself with a hobby. My hobbies are currently: reading, basketball, football, video games, and volunteering. I am currently volunteering with ReadingPals and I will help children K-5 learn to read and become adequate readers. Ultimately, my major, being an attorney, and being a politician “called” me. I believe that the sky is the limit for where I am going, and I hope to inspire others to make changes.

One personal finance lesson that I hold dearly is buying things you need not things you want until you are financially comfortable buying things you want. I know everyone has heard this saying before, but my parents and I did not have the best experience with money growing up. I remember wanting the same gifts as my friends on Christmas and my parents only being able to get me a similar and lesser version of it. So, if it was the newest Madden football game, I would get the ones 2 to 3 years behind because Madden releases a game per year. I wasn't sad or anything because I was often grateful. It was still a football game, and it still played the same, and all I needed to pass the time for my younger years was just "a" game. However, as I got older and my parents became more prosperous and they would offer me gifts that were the "hottest" thing out, but I found myself appreciating what I already had. In real-world terms, you would often see many people buying expensive things that they would use to "fit in" and that would end up hurting their budget. Since my parents were confined within their budget constraints, they couldn't go above and beyond for things that I wanted. As a kid, I am glad I learned that on my own, and I would love to explain to people that they should buy things they need first before buying other luxury items. In addition, I am not dissuading buying luxury goods or things that would make them happy. I am just letting people know to understand to set priorities and wait until you are financially set to buy things you want.