My name is Vanessa, and I am the daughter of Mexican immigrants who grew up in Compton, CA. Becoming a lawyer is most often out of reach for many people of color because these institutions were not built for us.

I grew up in a one-bedroom home in Compton, CA. My parents crossed the southern border as minors (without their parents) and met here in the US. My family struggled financially but did their best for us to have basic needs. Growing up, school was always my favorite place, and I was always reading books. I navigated helping my mother who suffers from Epilepsy and helping care for my younger siblings while staying dedicated in school. I graduated high school with honors and a recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship-awarded to 1,000 recipients in the US out of over 20,000 students who applied.

I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2015 and worked for a few years in the nonprofit and legal world before I applied to law school. A year ago, my father passed away. He had been suffering for many years with Cirrhosis, a deadly illness. My father is the reason I was always so dedicated in school. I have always looked up to my father because of his hardworking and humble qualities that he has instilled in me. His death has been very difficult for me, and I continue to make sure I prioritize my mental health. I have continued to push forward to continue to honor him through achieving my academic dreams.

I decided to postpone taking the bar exam until February 2023. Thank you to everyone who was able to donate last time. I successfully used the funds I raised last time to apply for accommodations to the bar exam. Although I worked for the last few months, it was not nearly enough to save for living expenses while I study for the bar. The Bar exam is a rigorous exam, and I will need to devote all my time to studying for it. I have tried my best to find other avenues to have living expenses while I study for the bar but have been unsuccessful. Here I am today, asking for your support so I can fully devote my time to studying for this test. Thank you!