Personal Statement
A JTC 460 project with infographic.
I grew up in a home split by one absent parent who was heavily involved in crime and drugs, while the other remarried an alcoholic. My father chose drugs over his children. That decision left a dark mark on my siblings’ and my future paths. Between the known fact that my father chose drugs over visitation and my stepfather chose beer over paid bills, I didn’t think my life was worth anything. So, I poured my heart and soul into others. Whether it was being helpful to teachers, students down on themselves, or community service, I strove to make a difference.
I went to college with the goal to help others. I earned my BSN and started work at Christus Mother Francis. Upon moving to South Dakota, I transferred to Avera to continue my work in healthcare. My passion to serve those around me still shone brightly, but after COVID, it began to fade. I didn’t want to give up my career in healthcare, but my body and brain demanded something different. As I considered an exit plan, I received devastating news. My brother overdosed on meth. The sheer weight of the news nearly crushed me. The news began a life-altering path.
Then the final blow hit. My phone rang; my sister informed me that our father went back to prison for dealing and attempted homicide. After only a year and a half out, he was right back where he started, with no chance of parole. My head spun. He was supposed to be better. He was supposed to get the help he needed. Probation had mandatory rules, but obviously they weren’t followed. This was his last chance. Upon sentencing, he lost his last chance at freedom. On the heels of the loss of our brother, this news further warped my siblings’ and my entire existence. We tried to help him, but support can only go so far when there isn’t mandatory rehabilitation put in place. Again, my life path changed.
Time ticked by; I re-enrolled in school to earn a B.A. in Journalism and Media Communications. But I didn’t feel fulfilled. As I neared the end of school, I felt an undeniable urge to do something. I took law classes to better understand how laws work. I volunteered with Midwest Street Medicine, meeting unhoused people where they were. The teams provide peer support, resources, medical care, and compassion to those we reach. It hit like a bullet. I had to help. I knew I needed to go up against the broken system and fix the perpetual loop of prisoners stuck in a pipeline they can’t escape.
I intend to use my law degree to create positive reintegration steps for those released from prison. A path forward that keeps them from returning to institutionalization. For years, I have seen firsthand people who want to change but get caught in an endless loop with no way out. Rehab, hospital stints, halfway houses only go so far. My intimate knowledge of the outcome of prisoners with no exit plan shapes my future goals of reintegration. My ultimate goal is to draft compassionate policy that enables a seamless transition from prison to society while respecting inmates as what they are: humans.
