Today, I acknowledge sometimes community support is needed on the road to reaching our educational milestones! As a first-generation law student this past year, I've been fascinated and stimulated by the legal concepts in my classes at FSU College of Law.

I still remember the shock and excitement when I received my acceptance letter. "This is really happening," I thought to myself -- my whole life is about to change. I would be leaving my career as a social worker to take the leap into a new field. I was accepted to my top university of choice! It took me time to process the actual changes that were to come, which I embraced with pure joy and faith.

The journey this past year as a student has taught me that resilience is key. Law school is a rigorous educational experience, which impacts nearly every aspect of life -- schedule, energy, emotions, mental space, etc. It's been a privilege to experience. I recognize the honor of being on this journey. As someone once said, "Law school is still worth it if you want to help people." And that's exactly what I desire to do.

I came to law school to fulfill my desire to help in the field of anti-human trafficking work. Those who know me know that it's my passion. I've traveled to conferences to learn more about the issues surrounding this crime and injustice. I've shared my knowledge with others via a podcast called "Galvanize and Restore" prior to law school, where I was able to host executive leaders in the field. This crime is one of the darkest realities that exists in the world today, and I wanted to see what I could do about it.

Law school has so far allowed me to learn from world leaders such as Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland, and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. President Robinson spoke about the Rule of Law and the power of using our voices. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor told us, "I've learned to overcome imposter syndrome by telling myself, I am not dumb, it's just something I have not learned yet." She spoke about realizing that when we experience new environments as beginners, it can sometimes feel like we are "dumb." But the truth is that we haven't learned what is required for this new environment just yet. So, listen to advice and give yourself time to practice and grow.

Another special guest that was hosted at FSU was the UN President of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis. His calm demeanor and insights proved that world leaders do care about what's happening. His talk confirmed the importance of being involved in our communities and fostering collaboration.

I cannot speak enough about the pleasure of attending this school; however, all this does come at a cost. Today, I ask if you would consider helping me fulfill this requirement for school expenses, which are unavoidable at this time. I appreciate any support provided. Thank you for your consideration in coming alongside my law school experience.

PS -- A few activities I've been able to do while at law school are the following: complete a pro-bono spring break activity, where a group of us met attorneys working in immigration law. We also learned about farmworkers' rights and the issues surrounding these workers in Florida.

I also had the privilege of being a student mentor during this summer, where myself, alongside 3 other mentors, engaged with 50 undergraduate students in a rigorous program focused on giving them a taste of law school. Through this program, I was able to share my experience as a law student and provide a presentation on studying tips for the LSAT/GRE.

Lastly, I'm leading a new student organization called "Human Trafficking and Policy Law Society," where we will engage with experts in the field and spread human trafficking awareness through social media campaigns. We will also engage in discussions, debating about policy ideas surrounding human trafficking.

Thank you for taking the time to read all this. I appreciate any support. This money will be used to purchase my upcoming textbooks for school.