The best way to understand my story is to watch my brief video.
When I was born I had drugs in my system which meant that Child Protective Services had to take me away from my mother. This part of my life is the only part that I don’t remember; I guess you could call it that peaceful time when my mind was at rest. My mother suffered from depression and adding drugs and alcohol to the illness did not help. I didn’t understand the situation at the time and often hated her and any other person who left me so it had its effects on me. Being a kid in a low income community was a challenge to say the least. There were many barriers and challenges that I had to face that I’m still facing today in order to grow and mature into the person I want to become. Up to this point in my life there has been two important factors to my success, one my grandmother who has always supported me and two The Intersection that has helped to nourish my gifts and start the healing process by giving me confidence.
The Intersection is an organization that has built my self-confidence, self-respect, and self-worth through leadership development and using my voice to better my community. Since joining The Intersection I’ve had the opportunity to join with Congressmen Elijah Cummings, both the Congressman and I spoke at a press conference supporting the Dream Act which was passed on Tuesday November 6th. In addition to speaking with Congressman Cummings, I have been on the radio, been interviewed by the local news, and talked to voters all over Baltimore. I have been transformed from a young woman afraid to speak to a young woman driven by the power my words can bring to people.
I am so excited about the opportunity to further myself and my goals by attending the Law & Trial program at Stanford University. Going on this trip means coming that much closer to the goal that I have of helping, loving, and building other youth who have potential and who aspire to be and to grow just like I did. I know that it is important to know and to understand a system before you can truly change it and that is why, I, a youth from Baltimore, want to go and be a part of this program. Going to this program will be a monumental step in me changing communities, schools, enviorments, and homes. I can't do it by myself: I need others to help me in my ventures. Please support my campaign.