I grew up in a middle-class family, between the south of France and Paris. My childhood is my Proust’s madeleine.*1 To me, childhood is undoubtedly the most important part of one’s life. It determines your very dear memories, those that you will never forget and those in which you will take solace in moments of doubt. I will never forget when I was 5, running barefoot between olive trees, alongside my German shepherd Sam. I was not a girl, nor a woman. I was a child. My mother educated me on her own, and I learned very soon that a family is comprised of the members that you want in it, rather than indispensable Mum and Dad figures. Thus, my very first experiences in life determined the woman that I am today.
I am currently a law student at Panthéon-Assas University, where I chose to learn about criminal law at the Paris Institute of Criminology. Why? Because when growing up, I noticed that not everyone has an equal chance at success, nor a fair chance to keep their childhood dreams and innocence. Innocence is what protects us from negativity. That naivety and sense of wonder keep every child within us alive. Before becoming anxious and stressed-out adults, each one of us had the spirit of a free child running between olive trees. A spirit that funnels our dreams and ambitions—one we ought to protect and remember.
If I have learned one thing from the criminal institute, it is that legislation is lacking to protect our endangered children and to organize effective reinsertions of juvenile offenders. Our future is in our youth, and their protection is paramount to our tomorrows. I want to become a lawyer for them. This was my childhood dream. A lawyer that would defend them and protect those that do not have the chance to be shielded from violence at a young age. A lawyer that would strive to educate on their struggles and push for preventive measures. I chose to dedicate my professional career to this political and educational fight, as I am well aware of my luck and privilege.
I believe in a brighter tomorrow, shaped through our efforts and will to fight. Those that live for their dreams can withstand any adversity that comes their way. Just as I have been able to advance toward my dreams and fight for them, I wish to help create the same future and opportunity for future generations by protecting their childhoods, imaginations, and the forces inside.
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