The plight of the oppressed/economically-disadvantaged in our society is stark. Abject injustice within our judicial system is an ever-present issue, which all lawyers should be working to alleviate. Economic strains and societal propriety have absorbed and dissipated the energy of change and betterment which need to be stalwarts of our judicial system.

Jane Goodall once said, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” For myself, I want to make a positive difference for others regardless of which path I take in life. My undergraduate degree is in Community Health Education with a minor in Women’s Studies. After graduation, I went to Burkina Faso, Africa with the Peace Corps. My original plan had been to return from Peace Corps and go to law school, but life had other plans for me. I got sick in Africa, and it took some time for me to recover.

I am passionate about becoming the best lawyer that I can while here at Boyd because I want to be a valuable tool for vulnerable populations in my career. Specifically, I hope to be an advocate for children, refugees, and animals. I’m very grateful to be a part of an institution that prioritizes pro bono and public interest work. It is a great honor to be not only a recipient of graduate level education, but to be a public interest fellow as well. My work in Washington D.C.

I believe the basis of success is through commitment to your immediate community. By giving back and supporting the growth of your immediate community, you are not only supporting your colleagues, but contributing to the success of all communities because of the inevitable connection between places. Prior to law school, I enjoyed a short career as an environmental biologist and dedicated my volunteering to local environmental non-profits and government agencies. I am also passionate about supporting and assisting victims and veterans.

Part of what makes Boyd stand out against other law schools is its devotion to serving our community. Being selected as a Public Interest Fellow is a privilege for not only getting exposed to so many amazing community leaders such as lawyers, judges, and alike, but also allows you to participate in the betterment of our community right along-side those leaders. After earning my degree in psychology, I took a year off to work as a mental health associate in our community.

Throughout my entire life, I have considered myself to be an advocate; and being selected as a Public Interest Fellow is what truly solidified my decision to attend Boyd.

Boyd is a special community that places a high value on public service and helping those in need. I was drawn to this vibrant community because of its genuine passion for seeking to get law students and young attorneys excited about giving back. Whether that means doing pro bono work on the side while working at a private firm or working full-time at a public interest agency, the collective vision is for everyone to be involved in public interest efforts in some form or another.

I decided to become an attorney in high school, but the question remained: how could I best combine a legal career with my own particular skills and passions to be as effective as possible in helping others? In my freshman year at Boise State University, a documentary on sex trafficking pointed my life in a new direction.

Being named a Public Interest Fellow was the driving factor for me in becoming part of the Boyd family. I am proud and grateful to be part of a school that is centered on giving back to the community and those in need. Since I was a child, I was determined to change the world and make a difference. As I have grown, my dreams have become slightly more realistic and my determination has shifted to helping my community and making a difference in the city I love. I am a native Las Vegan and I love this city and state.