After hours upon hours spent studying law materials, she began to make connections for her own case and understand how the legal system worked. At this point, she also realized she might have an actual knack for law. A calling even.
Little did she know that studying these dense legal volumes would eventually come in handy when she decided to go after approval from the Ohio Medical Board for her medical massage license after getting released. But years after stepping into her prison cell, determined to carve out a life after incarceration, she hired an attorney, put in the work to present her case, and her license was approved unanimously.
“That victory is what gave me confidence to achieve more," she said. "The Board was amazing. They let me prove myself and it propelled me into where I am now.”
While her medical massage and eyelash extension business ran successfully for five years, on days when business ownership was particularly hard, dreams of becoming a lawyer crept into her mind. Stopping her from dreaming too big were her own doubts about being able to get into law school, along with the trauma and the shame of incarceration.
“I realized that I had more to offer – but for a long time I was scared,” she said. “I just prayed on it and leaned on my faith and decided that once I set my mind to something, there's no stopping me. That’s when I decided I was going back to school.”
It was that moment of vulnerability and courage that led her to apply to Cincinnati Law.
“When I applied to Cincinnati Law, I was terrified. I had backup schools because with my background, I knew there would be schools that wouldn't take me,” she said. "It was so amazing when UC accepted me, I was thrilled. Then to get a scholarship… I am so happy to be here. UC means everything to me right now.”
