By Nicandria Nungaray, Fellow Class of 2019
University of Denver
When I first applied to be a fellow at Law School Yes We Can (LSYWC), I never imagined the number of opportunities I’d receive from not only the program but from every individual there. Being able to be a part of LSYWC has allowed me to not only gain knowledge on topics everyone should know about; such as how to have a successful interview, how to build a resume, and even taking a practice LSAT, but it has also allowed me to have amazing mentors who care and inspire me. I was fortunate enough to be invited by one of my mentors to the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association banquet this year. Attending this event and seeing not only all the amazing attorneys but one of my mentors receive an award was eye-opening and motivating. I also had the amazing opportunity to meet Justice Samour. Learning about his early life and how his family fled from El Salvador and the hardships they passed inspired me. Justice Samour is a role model for anyone with hardships. His story on how he succeeded, and his life is a motivation for every person of color. We, as a community, often shed light on the fact that minorities have harder times succeeding. But that moment served to celebrate successful people like us in the workforce in contrast to telling us and engraving into our minds that our odds of success are lower than others. This was such a memorable moment in my life because on that night at that specific event, all I wanted was for every person of color to see how many successful people like us there are in the workforce and know that nothing is stopping us from being celebrated the way they were that night.
Growing up, I never felt like I was not equal to others because of the color of my skin, and that didn’t change when I started attending the University of Denver in the fall as a first-generation Hispanic student. I did, however, notice how I had been raised entirely different from the people there, and what was expected of me from my parents was not the same for them. As first-generation students, we feel the pressure from our family to succeed with little help from them because of their knowledge. We see other students have that help and have the luxury to blow off certain things we cannot afford to. We also acknowledge that succeeding as people of color is more difficult than those around us. I felt pressure and stress around my winter quarter at DU, but through it all, I was lucky enough to have my mentors to talk to. My mentors gave me advice and reassured me that I would be okay. They regularly checked up on me and gave me motivation.
Being in LSYWC has given me a more optimistic feeling about my future in law school and as a lawyer. Every workshop given teaches me something new that I use in my everyday life. Every event allows me to make connections and network with judges, lawyers, and others. And every meeting with my mentors opens my eyes to a new perspective on life. I am taking the LSAT this upcoming year and attending law school in 2022. Although I am still unsure as to what type of law I want to practice, I know I have the resources and the connections through LSYWC to tackle that uncertainty and much more.
