From Rambling to Reform: My Journey Toward Justice by Kyra

From Rambling to Reform: My Journey Toward Justice by Kyra - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

“Kyra, you’re rambling again.”
I froze, my face flushing with embarrassment. “Sorry, I didn’t even realize.”

A few days earlier, I had stumbled upon a San Diego Union-Tribune article, detailing the case of a woman from Chicago whose wrongful conviction inspired the founding of the California Innocence Project. I couldn’t stop thinking about it—the idea that someone could spend years in prison for a crime they didn’t commit, simply because of mishandled evidence. My excitement over the CIP’s efforts consumed my every thought, and spilled into my lunchtime conversations maybe just one time too many.

This interest in the implications of flawed systems in public policy ultimately inspired me to take an introductory political science course at a local community college, through which I began to understand systemic issues like inequitable legal systems and poorly implemented policies. It became clear that wrongful convictions are just one of many injustices perpetuated by our political systems, and fixing these broken systems requires an understanding of political structures.

This realization sparked my desire to pursue political science. I want to engage in advocacy that drives reform and ensures that justice systems are equitable, and UC Berkeley is the perfect environment to cultivate these aspirations.