““The opposite of poverty is not wealth. In too many places, the opposite of poverty is Justice.”- Bryan Stevenson I have always been incredibly passionate about helping others and ensuring every single person is able to access the necessary resources in order to live a just and peaceful life. Growing up with a criminal defense lawyer as mom meant that I was always surrounded with ideas relating to the criminal justice system, but it wasn’t until middle school when my true passion for creating a more just society came to fruition. I first became interested in the criminal justice system after watching the movie “Just Mercy.” “Just Mercy” changed my entire worldview about what truly mattered in life and my life plans shifted from wanting to be a veterinarian to wanting to become a lawyer who fights for the rights of those who do not have the resources to fight for themselves (just like my mom). After watching the movie, I completed several projects on subjects ranging from bail reform to solitary confinement. Through these projects, reading articles from the ACLU, and listening to investigative podcasts such as In the Dark, I have become intrigued by social issues and our justice system. I have discovered so much through these mediums. Learning how unfair the justice system can be has made me extremely passionate about studying social work at UT Austin and continuing to pursue this interest by going to law school.

Throughout high school I continued to pursue my passion in any way possible. Whether it was a class assignment, project, or even internship opportunity I always attempted to write about how we can better the criminal justice system or at the very least spread more awareness of the issues present. Over the past four years I have completed several criminal justice internships, given several presentations on a wide variety of topics including prison reform and the death penalty, written essays relating to criminal justice reform and even organized my own death penalty course for my fellow classmates to take. I am excited to learn more about the criminal justice system and how we can address the issues present over the next four years.

Majors:
Social Work and Plan II Honors

Honors Program:
Plan II Honors Program

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
Growing up I have always attended small Montessori schools with an extremely tight knit community. When applying and exploring my options for college I strived to find a similar environment where I would be able to connect with a small group of students and not only share common interests and passions but also learn new things from them. I am very fortunate to be part of such an amazing group of scholars and while I have only spent a little time with them I truly believe these friendships will be lifelong. Additionally, I was excited to use UT’s unparalleled alumni network to connect with experienced legal experts. The program's service and research opportunities will broaden the perspectives from which I learn and gain experience in the real world. I hope to research topics such as prison systems in Western Europe and children in the justice system.

What makes your scholar cohort unique?
Our cohort is an amazing group of people, friends, and even mentors. I see the passion and drive in every single one of my fellow scholars and I am excited to see how they grow throughout the next four years. Our cohort is an incredibly diverse group of people with a wide variety of different majors as well as different interests, hobbies, and life stories. I am thrilled to be a part of such an incredible community.