This past year has been one filled with major life transitions for me personally. I am honored to say I graduated magna cum laude from Barnard with departmental honors for my senior thesis on the Penn Center on St. Helena’s island. Even though graduation was virtual, like my entire senior year, I was really happy I got to celebrate the accomplishment with my family at home. Especially with my grandmother who I was really proud to have at my graduation. In May, my grandmother passed away, and as many of you may know we had a very close and special relationship that was hard to have to see transition. The spring of 2021 was challenging for me and my family but knowing my grandmother had been able to see me through this chapter before her passing was truly a gift I am grateful to have gotten.

I know last year I had intentions of moving to Philadelphia but I actually ended up moving to Houston, Texas in June. I am living with my aunt and uncle as I work as a client advocate at the Harris County Public Defenders office. I am working at the Public Defenders office through a national non-profit called Partners for Justice. Partners for Justice trains non-attorney Advocates to provide clients with case navigation and wraparound support while assisting public defenders in advocating for more favorable case outcomes. One of the co-founders of the program recently moved to Martha’s Vineyard and it has been great to connect with her through our shared love for the island community. Navigating my early 20’s during a global pandemic has had its fair share of challenges, but I also have grown and learned so much in these past few months since graduation. I will be in Texas until 2023 when (if all goes to plan) I will be attending law school. I am so grateful for the platform and opportunity MV Youth provided me throughout my 4 years of undergrad and beyond, and I am so excited to see what other young adults and island programs get the honor to be a part of the MVYouth family.