Shy Small Town Girl to Confident Aspiring Lawyer by Sydney

Shy Small Town Girl to Confident Aspiring Lawyer by Sydney - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

Growing up, I always behaved appropriately and was well-mannered because I was terrified of the day that I would somehow disappoint my parents. I lived a very sheltered life during the early years of my life. My mom was battling breast cancer for the second time in her 28 years of life, so my early childhood was spent with my dad or grandparents, staying as quiet as possible to not disturb my mom.
In my teenage years, I was still an extremely shy person and still carried the fear of disappointing my parents. I wish to narrow down where this fear stems from, but I assume it has to do with the psychology of being the first child in the family. I always felt as though I had to be perfect; always get straight A’s, excel in softball, work a part-time job, and help with my little brother. While juggling all of this was difficult at the time, in hindsight, I can see now how beneficial this time of my life was for me. I learned how to have time management skills since I did not have all day after school to work on my homework. I learned how to have compassion and patience for others since I was the one to help my younger brother with his homework every evening after work.
I finally started to come out of my shell once I was promoted from hostess to waitress at my first part-time job. At the time, I thought this was just a job that would help me save money for college, little did I know this was where I would realize I wanted to become a lawyer. I was making small talk with my last table of the evening, and the man at the table asked me about my future. I had told him how I was leaving in a couple of months for my freshman year of college, but how I was lost on what I wanted to study. He pulled out his business card from his wallet and suggested that I should become a lawyer because of how well I carry myself for such a young age, and how I look like someone who doesn’t back down from a fight, and I should put that towards some good. As he was leaving, he told me to give him a call when I graduated from law school. This stranger gave me enough confidence to pursue a career in law, simply because he said not if, but when I graduate law school.
I knew my passion for law was true when I took my first law class in college. I would look forward to reading my textbook for homework every night, excited about what law jargon I would learn that evening. Then I realized I could combine both of my passions: the law and helping people. I would love nothing more than to stand in a courtroom one day as a Prosecuting Attorney or practicing law in the Family Law field.
As a Saint Louis native, I have seen a lot of crime and injustice happen in this city. My parents made it a rule to stop watching the news in our house because it’s too sad to see the crime that happens almost daily, but I don’t think this is the answer. We shouldn’t be ignoring or turning a blind eye to the crime in our city, we should be standing up for the people who can’t stand up for themselves. The families and victims of crimes simply just need to be heard, and a lot of the time they aren’t being heard. The criminal may be put behind bars, so the victims get peace of mind with that aspect, but what about the other aspects?
Mental health has become very important to me, as I lost someone close to me during the COVID-19 Pandemic to suicide. I not only want to advocate and fight for victims of crime, but I want to set them up for success afterward. I want to set the victims and their families up with resources so they can eventually move on from the hardships the crime committed has caused them. How often do we hear about victims taking their own lives because of the fear and mental health issues they face after the crime? I think we need to remember that just because justice is served, doesn’t mean that’s the end of the fight. I hope I get to fight for justice, in and out of the courtroom, and hopefully, I’ll get help doing so because of Saint Louis University.