Ruth

I am the person I am today because of my parents. They came to America from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.  Although my father was very bright, he was not able to attend college because of social and financial reasons.  My mother also stopped attending school at a very young age, as many women do in Haiti. Despite their struggles, I witnessed my parents’ strong will and determination to provide a better life for their children, myself included.  As a result, I was shaped by witnessing them struggle to give me the American Dream that they could not attain themselves.

As a young adult, I understood that my parents’ sacrifice was the reason I always had clothes on my back, a place to stay, and food to eat. This greatly influenced my educational and professional aspirations.  My goal in life is to make my parents proud by pursuing my dreams, and by making sure those who are less fortunate can reach their highest potential.  I can do this as a lawyer because I will have the power to influence others and to be an agent of change in the community. 

NYNY is one of the best fellowships I could be involved in, and it is helping me in ways that I never imagined. Before NYNY, I was unaware of all of the possible career opportunities, and now I am learning about the flexibility of a law degree and the many ways that law can be used to impact the community.  I am also gaining confidence.  Until recently, it was very hard to explain to someone what makes me a unique person, but with every NYNY workshop, I become more aware of the qualities that distinguish me as an individual.  Forcing me out of my comfort zone to speak about myself and asking others about what they do, I can use the skills I learn from NYNY in law school, my career, and in everyday life.