At the tender age of 8, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer when I saw a schoolmate get in trouble for something I did not believe she should be in trouble for. As I got older, I saw more examples of people, particularly women and children, being treated unfairly in Grenada. In the Caribbean, gender issues are troubling because they are blatantly present and subconsciously exist due to how we are socialized.
I grew up very shy and reserved, speaking only when spoken to or when completely comfortable with the people around me. It took me a while to develop a voice and speak out against what I thought was wrong.
In Grenada, there aren’t many opportunities for youth to speak out. So, I took hold of every chance, such as joining the Girl Guides Association, different student representative councils, and groups for young leaders. My growth, however, catapulted when I attended the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus in Barbados and joined Students Today Alumni Tomorrow (UWI STAT), a group that connects students and alumni. While there, I became heavily involved in the CARICOM Relations Committee and learned about the issues facing the Caribbean.
At the end of my three years there, I was given the opportunity to be the Youth Speaker at Grenada’s Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Referendum Committee. My time in UWI STAT helped me build a voice against rising gun violence in Barbados and even organize a virtual Caribbean conference on climate change.
Now, at the age of 25, I have completed my legal studies and I am a practicing attorney, for I have a voice that is no longer scared to speak out against wrongs. My dream is to help everyone develop a voice to stand up for themselves when mistreated and help put an end to corruption in society. The shy girl I used to be is long gone.
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