I am committed to giving back throughout and beyond my time in law school. I know what it means to be vulnerable and by pursuing a legal career I am creating a life that will enable me to support and empower others to ultimately help themselves.

My story begins with the journey of a young girl who never wanted to be an attorney. This girl was adopted out of poverty nearly 30 years ago by a loving single mother who was an attorney. She was savagely bullied by her peers growing up and the one thing that brought her the most joy in life was inspiring people and evoking passion in them through her singing voice. She followed her passion and auditioned and was accepted to Berklee College of Music in Boston. She loved it, but her singing career was devastated when she suffered from whooping cough for six months.

It was difficult to swallow the reality that she would need to find a new path. In the interim, she took a job as a bank teller. One night, she was violently attacked in her home by a masked gunman who tied her up, took her hostage, duct taped a bomb to her neck and chest and forced her into the bank to demand money for him.

Surviving this violent invasion upon my most intimate sense of security changed my entire life! It was the catalyst for me to transition to male and to gain the necessary perspective and passion for becoming an attorney. In the aftermath of the attack, I was horrified to experience the inadequacies of law enforcement and our legal system, especially regarding the treatment and rights of victims.

Again, I had reached a critical decision point. Except this time, I knew exactly what I wanted, I knew why I wanted it, and I took massive action to achieve my goals, all the while being mindful of my results and remaining willing to adapt my approach whenever necessary.

In three years, I earned my associates, moved to Tucson to complete my double major in Philosophy and Gender & Women’s Studies, began the process of socially and physically transitioning to male, and applied to law school. I am honored to be named the Gonzales Scholar for the 2018-2019 academic year, funded by the Gonzales-Villarreal Bridge Scholarship, as part of my Dean’s Achievement Full Tuition Scholarship at the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law.

Transitioning has demanded immense courage and willingness to survive and overcome obstacles. Despite the fact that it can be difficult for people to conceptualize my identity, acknowledging my authentic self has brought me great peace. Throughout my transition, I remained willing to afford others the time it takes to understand and accept me as a trans person. I try to convey this value when I mentor young or newly out trans folks.

I think that anger at violent, inequitable, and inadequate systems is most valuable when it is turned into passion that fuels meaningful action and change. Experiencing the world from a marginalized, disenfranchised, or traditionally underrepresented position drives people to connect with others whose suffering they understand and empathize with. This force compels me to become a lawyer, an empathic thinker with the power to effectuate meaningful impacts on real lives.