A Glimpse in the Mirror

As the judge rules acquittal, my fellow defense attorneys turn to me beaming. We have just done the impossible and cleared the Big-Bad-Wolf of all charges. To me, It doesn’t matter that it was an eighth-grade summer law camp; or that the prize was a ten-dollar Starbucks gift card. That slow-motion celebration is ingrained in my memory forever.

A boisterous voice at the warm summer block party, screaming news to the neighborhood about which Chicago politician had been indicted that day. Word travels quickly, the way a paperboy used to run his morning route. My parents know by dinnertime, and as we pass the potatoes, I begin to learn why we call it the Windy City.

A starry night campsite at the tip of Wisconsin, the eve before beginning college. An ecosystem protected and observed. A joyful week, free of technology, but filled with connection. My father and I venture through uncharted territory, exploring the snake and mushroom populations on the island. 

These moments represent an amalgamation of the experiences I’ve learned from, the disciplines I was introduced to, and the places I want to protect, all leading me to pursue a specific niche in policy, law, and sustainable development.