Since graduating high school and beginning my undergraduate career at The Ohio State University back in 2017, I have dreamed of serving my communities as a legal advocate. During my time at OSU as a Sport Industry major and African American Studies minor, my drive to uplift and advocate for the underserved took on a specific focus aimed at advocating for the rights of participation and be full recognition within the sporting world for those belonging to the Black, Indigenous, POC and Queer communities. 

Since graduating from OSU in the Spring of 2021, have been engaged in a year of service through an AmeriCorps program based in Columbus, OH where I work as an Intervention Specialist within a city middle school. As an AmeriCorps member I am compensated through a biweekly living stipend of only $720 ($613 after tax). As my rent ($701/ month) and bills (average $250/ month) far exceed the amount that I am paid, I have had to take on a 2nd job as a Sales Associate in a gift shop in Columbus’s Arts District where I am only paid $12/hour, and a 3rd remote grading position where I am also only paid $12/hour for this work. The additional income only allows me to break even on rent, bills, and other living expenses such as food and hygiene products. For the past year I have been juggling 45+ hours of service a week, as a full time staff member at my school, an addition 15/20 hours a week with this part time job (4/5 hours a week for the remote position) and the labor of studying for the Law School Admissions Test and completing Law School applications. 

I am overjoyed to have been accepted and to be committed to pursuing my legal education at Tulane University however I am in need of substantial financial assistance if I’m going to be able to make it there. Upon the completion of AmeriCorps service in June I intend on taking on another part time job before moving to New Orleans in July. This next step has been 2+ years in the making and any support that can be offered would mean the world to me and the future I am trying to build.