Seeing President Barack Obama's inspirational ascent filled me with hope and a sense of possibility as a middle schooler from Northeast Philadelphia. Obama's rise to prominence on the national and global stage resonated in my mind—demonstrating how a man who looked like and dreamed like me could manifest his destiny into reality.

Above all, I wanted to be a lawyer so that I could inspire those who come after me to achieve their wildest dreams. Representation matters in that it provides an inspirational foundation for youth. From the Founders of the United States to the 44th president of the United States, attorneys have held high prestige in our society. I wanted to demonstrate to other Black teens, regardless of socio-economic circumstances, that we deserve a place among those prestigious individuals in society. As a recipient of public and charter school education, I did not want the circumstances that I was born into to be my destiny. If I could provide that same level of inspiration and drive that Obama provided me, then I would be fulfilled.