Personal Narrative: Sacrifice

“I did it for my family” a short phrase that most would conceive as symbol of sacrifice. But what is sacrifice? Is it the idea that you put your life on the line for pride or is it the idea you put your life on the line for a purpose. Throughout the time I have worked for the courts I have seen multiple cases in which the idea of sacrifice can be applied. Significantly there are cases where a person is forced to carry drugs across the desert from Mexico; these people are known in society as “backpackers.” Each of the backpackers that come through these courts comes with bold stories of their motives of sacrifice. As they stand before the court confused and alone of the American justice system, they are held with tough legal decision of the

The American Dream has many opportunities but some of those dreams are made so that not everyone can reach them. Being a Hispanic male raised in Phoenix, Arizona with a single parent, I saw many of the sacrifices and obstacles that my own mother had to make in my life that encouraged me to keep fighting when times get tough. I can’t be given most opportunities; I have to earn them by jumping through obstacles just to prove myself. There is a Spanish word vencer meaning to overcome that I closely relate to that reminds me to keep pushing forward when I want to quit. If I would of quit and took no for an answer, I wouldn’t be attempting to continue to get into law

When I use my voice I refuse to be silenced but instead advocate what is right, and to silence what is wrong. I wrote about the backpackers because their stories are never told. They are silenced and expected to follow obligations by the burden of the State being put into the back burner of seasoned but forgetful public defender who just wants to finish their caseload. It is easy to forget that these backpackers represent lives not cases, they come from all walks of life. Personally I feel that a crime is a crime and prison time is a way of determent. But it is forgotten that everyone even criminals are human beings, they should be treated not as an outsider but as someone who deserves a voice. Currently, being able to give back to community, using my voice in different ways to advocate for equality equips me with being able to think outside the box for future endeavors. I know that I can be an image for others to look up to knowing that the word “No” does not mean to seal your fate, but to use it as motivation to find a purpose and pride in accomplishing your