Journey to Justice by Mary

Journey to Justice by Mary - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

72 hours can feel like an eternity or a fleeting moment depending on the circumstances. Life as we knew it was forever changed by an unexpected knock at the door. It was the KGB declaring my dad an ‘Enemy of the State’ and given seventy-two hours leave. Denied a chance to defend his innocence, we crammed our life into a few fifty-pound suitcases and reluctantly boarded a flight to New Mexico. Squished into my grandparent’s overcrowded home filled with fifty-eight years of memories, clutter, and dust, we tried to process the shock, emotions, and unjustness of being deported from a country we had come to call home.

As the days turned to months; the same seventy-two hours became a never-ending loop. The world retreated into the silence of COVID lockdown, schools closed, and my room felt more like a jail cell than a haven. Covered with unopened textbooks, black squares represented the faces of my classmates, I was desperate for a change.

Enrolling at the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) became an unexpected journey to healing and empowerment. Within the discipline and structure, I discovered a sense of direction and purpose. NMMI provided a platform to engage with a world much larger than my personal grievances.

Life at NMMI is built on honor and duty. In the disciplined routines and the leadership roles I found a constructive outlet for my anger—a transformation from a victim of circumstances to an advocate for change. I realized while my family may never see justice for our deportation, I realized I could commit my life to stopping injustices from happening to others.

I want to use my experience and education to ensure law enforcement practices are equitable. The law has a profound impact on human lives. Within the framework of legislation lies the power to shape societies, rebuild lives, and tilt the scales towards fairness.

The skills and insights obtained with a degree in Public Policy and Public Service with a concentration in Criminology at Arizona State University in the Barrett Honor College will equip me to create initiatives that address the root of injustice and contribute to a society where fairness is a reality. My mission is to defend individuals’ rights globally, challenge unjust laws, and create policies to protect the vulnerable and marginalized.

In the long term, I see myself advocating for legislative changes that protect the rights of the vulnerable and ensure equitable treatment under the law. Whether it's working within governmental agencies or leading advocacy campaigns, my goal is to be at the forefront of shaping policies that foster a just and fair society.

One of my favorite professors at NMMI once quoted Horace, ‘Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant.’ The deportation of my family was temporarily devastating but eventually sparked a passion for justice and a desire to fight against the misuse of power.