Hi,

My name is Quane Robinson, and I am a proud Father of two brilliant High School twin daughters. My daughter Jada has been invited to attend the Law and Trial Summer Program at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, this summer. We are creating this GoFundMe campaign in efforts to cover the cost of the program. We appreciate any donations. No amount is too small. She is very passionate about the law, is excited about the program, and should not be prevented from attending because of the cost. Help make a young lady's dream come true. She deserves this experience. As her Father, of course, I'm expected to say that, so I will let her explain in her own words why she should be a part of this Summer Program. Thank you.

Why I Want to Attend the Stanford Law and Trial Summer Program

"You talk a lot. You should be an attorney." "You love arguing, you should be a lawyer" are sentiments I've heard from family, friends, and others throughout my life. I've brushed them off, as, despite being intended as compliments, they reduce leadership potential and curiosity to a tired stereotype equating a young girl's voice with being argumentative or noisy whenever it challenges something. However, going into my junior year of high school, I've learned more about the legal profession, I've come to realize what I want from my future career path, and that's law. The stereotype that lawyers spend their days screaming in courtrooms is inaccurate. Being a lawyer is so much more than that; it involves listening, negotiating, compromising, and researching. I dream of working in a high-stakes arena where the concepts of justice, equality, and respect are forged in legal victories. Working as an attorney to blend intellectual strategy and emotional advocacy would be an honor. When I close my eyes, I can almost hear the sound of a gavel banging, a sharp, final sound that both fights injustice and validates the years of tireless work and studying to come. But I'm getting ahead of myself, for all great lawyers began with great education, and Stanford Law School is one of the greatest.

The Stanford Law and Trial Program gives students academic and career insights into the legal field with the support of legal mentors and classes from Stanford Law School professors. It's unique in its prestige, curriculum, hands-on-experience, and networking opportunities. With the Mock Trial Simulation, students can step into the role of a trial attorney or witness and bring a case to life in a real courtroom, which makes for an unmatched once-in-a-lifetime immersive experience. As a homeschooled high school student, despite being in the Debate and Leadership clubs, there aren't a lot of opportunities for me to receive such an immersive-in-person experience in an educational setting. Not only that, but this program gives high school students the opportunity to gain experience and confidence in litigation, trial prep, public speaking, critical thinking, theory, and more. All those foundational concepts will leave participants with knowledge they'll hold for the rest of their lives and future careers. However, this unique experience comes at a cost, a steep one at that, with a tuition price starting at $5,699.00, not including the cost of flying across the country from South Carolina to Palo Alto, California.

I don't believe money should be a barrier to a student's access to such prestigious and unique opportunities, and that's where fundraising comes in. As editor for my school's National Blog Publication, a first-place winner of the 13th annual South Carolina Honors College Writing Competition, and an officer for three of my school's honor societies: President of the National English Honor Society, Secretary for the National Honor Society, and Secretary for the National Art Honor Society, I've proven myself as a hard worker, willing to seek support via fundraising and scholarship awards. Financial support would make a huge difference in my journey as an aspiring civil-rights-attorney. Attending such a life-changing program will help me become a better leader, student, and person. The foundational concepts I'd gain from the program align with my goals to become a better public speaker, collaborator, researcher, and advocate. The long-term benefits include, but are not limited to, a more competitive college application, an enhanced future legal career, and the ability to see what law school would be like at a fraction of the cost.

Justice, equality, and dignity are not just words to me; they're principles I live by and principles I hope to bring in my future career, whether that be law or otherwise. I hope I'm able to become the attorney I know I'm capable of being, to not only make myself and my family proud, but to honor the landmark court cases and civil rights efforts that have made this opportunity possible: Brown v. Board of Education, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and so many more. I’m beyond grateful if you’ve made it this far. Your support is beyond meaningful to me. This opportunity would make me closer to making my dream of becoming an attorney a reality.