Mariya moved from the Ukraine to the United States at the age of fifteen. While mastering the English language, I graduated high school as a valedictorian, which earned her a presidential scholarship to Wayne State University.  After earning a bachelor's degree from Wayne State, she began working with troubled teenagers.  The satisfaction of helping others prompted her to change her career path and become a teacher.  She taught science and dance at an inner city school.  After a few years of teaching, I began working in the medical field both as a medical assistant and a translator.  Once again, I found the most joy advocating for others who were confused by the medical system or language.  Many of these people would talk about paperwork or legal issues, and she found herself spending more time talking to lawyers and studying the law.  The more she learned, the more she wanted to know.  Becoming a paralegal would immerse her in the legal profession and push her to improve my knowledge and skills while helping others.  her goal is to gain practical experience by working in real-time courtroom proceedings, managing paperwork, and communicating with lawyers and judges.

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***Scholarship Award was not awarded in 2019-2020***