May 5, 2009, a day that I will never forget. It was a beautiful sunny day, with the breeze of summer in the air and families gathering to celebrate the greatness of Memorial Day. On this day, I was attending the Memorial Day Parade in my hometown of Elmwood Park, New Jersey. Often filled with joyful dancing, vibrant marching bands and endless cheering, this parade is meant to be a time of reflection and celebration. However, for me, this parade was a sad realization of my reality growing up in Elmwood Park, New Jersey. This was the day I realized I was different from everyone else in my town; I realized that I was different in my looks and my skin was much darker than my counterparts.
I never knew this growing up, but my parents moved to Elmwood …show more content…
I began to notice that many children would not play with me, invite me to their homes or sit with me at town games. I felt as if there was no one in my town that looked like me; no one on the police department, no one in the fire department and no one in the City Council. After researching the history of my town, I found that in its 100-year history, there has never been a person of color to serve as Mayor or a Council member. However, in the midst of insecurity, feeling alone and marginalized, I finally decided what I want to be when I grew up. I want to be an advocate, a public servant, and a voice by obtaining a law degree. I want to be that voice for the voiceless and advocate for those who feel marginalized as I did growing …show more content…
One of the first law schools I came across was Columbia University Law School. After looking through the schools website, I was hooked. I was so mesmerized by the alumni who went on to be great public servants. From this day on, the seal of Columbia University Law School became my laptops screensaver and if anyone asked what I wanted to do when I grew up, I said: “Go to Columbia Law School and become a great lawyer.” It was years later that as a freshman in high school I was given a brochure with information about Columbia University Law School which expanded my interest even more. I saved that brochure and still use it today as motivation to achieve my
I never knew this growing up, but my parents moved to Elmwood …show more content…
I began to notice that many children would not play with me, invite me to their homes or sit with me at town games. I felt as if there was no one in my town that looked like me; no one on the police department, no one in the fire department and no one in the City Council. After researching the history of my town, I found that in its 100-year history, there has never been a person of color to serve as Mayor or a Council member. However, in the midst of insecurity, feeling alone and marginalized, I finally decided what I want to be when I grew up. I want to be an advocate, a public servant, and a voice by obtaining a law degree. I want to be that voice for the voiceless and advocate for those who feel marginalized as I did growing …show more content…
One of the first law schools I came across was Columbia University Law School. After looking through the schools website, I was hooked. I was so mesmerized by the alumni who went on to be great public servants. From this day on, the seal of Columbia University Law School became my laptops screensaver and if anyone asked what I wanted to do when I grew up, I said: “Go to Columbia Law School and become a great lawyer.” It was years later that as a freshman in high school I was given a brochure with information about Columbia University Law School which expanded my interest even more. I saved that brochure and still use it today as motivation to achieve my