My work with FPD and my conversations with my alumni mentor, Marina Nuzhdova, have provided me with invaluable insight into the legal system. With guidance from lawyers at FPD and Marina, I have decided over the summer that I am going to take a gap year before entering law school. Assistant Federal Defender Snayha Nath said she did not take a gap year but wishes she had. She told me that I have so much time in the future to practice law, but I have the time now to pursue other interests. Marina had taken several gap years, and she said the time before commencing her legal education helped her forge a unique path and figure out her passions. I have known I wanted to go into law for a long time. For me, the idea of taking a year off from my goal of becoming an attorney is intimidating, which is exactly why I think it would be good for me.
My experiences with translating this summer have inspired me to pursue further Spanish education so I can more effectively communicate in the legal field with Spanish speakers. I will finish my Spanish major, but I will also spend time outside of class talking to my friends in Spanish. I am committed to practicing the language after this summer!
Looking back on the goals I had set for myself, I feel proud of my efforts to make the most of my summer with FPD. I understand so much more about the criminal justice system now, especially as it relates to immigration law. I now know more legal words in Spanish, but I still have more to learn. Initially, I was nervous to speak to and intimidated by the employees at FPD. In each of them, I saw who I always wanted to be. Looking back, I am so proud of how I took the initiative to say hi to everyone in the office in the mornings and start conversations. I can confidently say that I did not leave FPD with shallow connections, but with friends.
