Bridging the Gap by MayaFaith

Bridging the Gap by MayaFaith - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

My personal experiences, interests, and sense of identity have influenced my chosen field of study in profound ways. I plan to pursue a career in the field of criminal justice with threads of public policy and sociology sewn in to weave an academic career that provides a solid foundation for my future. My individual background and life experiences have propelled me to a career that touches the lives of those in society affected by our criminal justice system; this includes the victims and offenders.

As a member of the marginalized hispanic population, my search for identity and my interests have met at a cross section and created a bridge in my service path and my self-development. I was born in Guatemala and am 98% indigenous. A recent search led me to uncover my roots in a remote village, isolated from mainstream life, but touched by poverty and injustices. I am proud of my biological diversity and the strength it weaves into my identity.

I recently spent part of my summer in Guatemala giving back to my country through a service project I initiated and implemented. I raised all funds for the project and spent time with the children at the Backyard School in a small Guatemalan village implementing my project. While I carry this connection with me in all I do, I was also raised here in the US by my adopted family. My family is biracial, my mother white and my father black but having grown up in England. Both my parents are highly educated and both hold careers in the education field, contrasting my biological family where literacy is out of reach. I was offered a stellar education spending most of my young life in private school. Again, this is a stark contrast to my birth family in Guatemala.
I feel this broad spectrum background allows me to see wide perspectives and points of view. I am empathetic to people in diverse settings and have chosen a career path in criminal justice to help marginalized populations. I feel connected to a variety of different people, races, backgrounds, education levels, and beliefs. I feel this “wide lens” is one of my greatest strengths. While there is strength and power in diversity, there is also a need for a bridge between populations. I see myself as that bridge and am eager to pursue an academic career in the criminal justice field that builds this foundation.