If you could have any career in the world, what would that career be? This was an important question I had to ask myself before deciding what I intended to do with my life. I’ve always been naturally curious about the world and how it works, in addition to a fascination with history. Two of my favorite pastimes as a child included reading and writing. I didn’t just want to write for the sake of completing school assignments, instead aiming to expand my creativity and thought process. This may seem a bit overboard for elementary school. However, I learned early on that I enjoyed creating something that I was both proud of and fully believed in. During my junior year of high school, I decided to take a class titled “Law and Justice”. Prior to this, I had no experience with anything related to law. I simply had a feeling that this class would be interesting and enjoyable. My intuition was correct. The material was intriguing, exciting, and even challenging at times. I loved every minute of it. This was the point where I decided that if I were going to go to college for anything, it would be to achieve my Bachelor's Degree in Legal Studies and after accomplishing that, I would apply to law school. It was important for me to attend college with a purpose aside from graduating to find a decent-paying job. If I couldn’t engage in a subject that didn’t alert areas of my brain that I didn’t know existed, I wasn’t interested. The classes that I’ve participated in for the completion of my undergraduate degree have been highly beneficial, not only for my legal career but for my growth as an individual. I have encountered assignments that cause me to further my general line of thinking, interact with classmates who have vastly different perspectives than I do, and research unfamiliar material. I appreciate and acknowledge the way each class is preparing me for law school and beyond. Another aspect that has shaped my experience thus far is working as a legal assistant. Coming into this job with no experience in the legal field, there was a sense of nerves on my end. However, those nerves washed away as I found my confidence with each new task. I’m learning how to draft motions, file documents in civil and federal courts, and generally get accustomed to the law firm environment. I’ve enjoyed working on civil cases, family matters, employment cases. It’s been a pleasure to meet with clients and assist them with the obstacles they have encountered. Client interaction is an important factor when it comes to deciding which special areas of law I want to target. I look forward to exploring uncharted territory such as criminal law and medical malpractice, both of which I am also interested in. My legal journey has taught me that I’m not only pursuing this career for myself but for my community. While I personally find the law fascinating, it’s fulfilling to be able to use this knowledge to advocate for others during their time of need. There is a level of trust being built between myself and the clients I work with. It’s important for clients to know that they’re not alone and I am on their side. I recognize that I am a voice for many who do not have the means to speak up for themselves. Acting as a voice for justice is my primary goal to accomplish as an attorney.

I don’t remember very much about the small apartment I was born in. In fact, it wasn’t much of an apartment, more so a basement area under someone else’s apartment. My parents were very young and newly married. This small space was all they could afford, but they did their best to create a safe and loving environment for me. This was the only point where my parents raised me as a couple. I can’t recall what it was like to be a family with the three of us. All I’ve ever known is being a part of a blended family, with three brothers and two sisters on my father’s side and one brother on my mother’s side. Planning for my college education was the last thing on their minds. Who could plan for my financial future when my adolescent present needed to be tended to? With having other siblings, finances were constantly being divided and stretched. Some days there wasn’t electricity and some nights we ate ramen noodles for dinner. These were the moments when I decided I wanted better. I desired stability and consistency. Not just for myself, but for my family. Every year I have to explain to my mom why I need her financial information to fill out my FAFSA form. I had no one to talk to about student loans, and I am just now realizing the importance of applying for scholarships. Furthermore, I didn’t even enroll in college until August, the month classes were set to begin! My mother dropped out of college upon learning of her pregnancy. She completed less than a year of higher education. My father did not finish high school, instead opting to join the workforce. Despite this, they have been absolutely nothing less than supportive and encouraging. I’m almost to the finish line with only eight more courses left to complete my Bachelor's Degree in Legal Studies. I’ll be applying to law schools early next year. The decision to pursue a legal career wasn’t one I discussed with anyone. Part of being a first-generation student coming from a low-middle-class family is having to find a way to create your own path. It’s not that my parents didn’t or wouldn’t help me, they just didn’t know the best ways to do so. I am learning new things every day about what it means to break the generational curses that have been imposed on so many of us. It’s been nearly a year since I started working as a legal assistant at a local law firm. Prior to this, I had never even met an attorney. Aside from all of the positive experiences I’ve had as a result of this opportunity, one thing that means a lot to me is being able to contribute financially to my family. Now, I’m able to ease some of their burdens. Nothing makes me happier than being able to buy groceries or birthday presents for my loved ones. This is just the beginning of my legal career, yet I already feel so fulfilled when I think of what’s to come. Conversing with my siblings about their plans for the future gives me the motivation to continue on. I want them to know that there are numerous paths to success and that they don’t have to sacrifice their happiness to get there. Money isn’t everything, and this is a valuable lesson I have learned from my parents. They didn’t always have it all but the amount of unconditional love and support has never faltered. This is what I am most grateful for.