Name: Ailyn

Year: Sophomore

Major(s): History, Legal Studies

Minor(s): 

CFS Program: Field Studies in Social Justice

I declared a Legal Studies major during my second year at Northwestern, and I was fascinated by the social implications of law. During my fall quarter, I was enrolled in a class in which we discussed the effects of law within public schools. While in this class, I decided that it was not enough for me to engage with these issues solely within the four walls of our classroom. Chicago Field Studies provided me the opportunity to pursue my interests in a tangible and meaningful way.

As part of Chicago Field Studies, I have been given the opportunity to intern with an attorney whose focus is in criminal and civil rights litigation. During my time at this internship I have learned and experienced more than I ever would have within an academic setting. I have been able to interact with clients and discuss their experiences with police brutality, abuse within the prison system, and countless other injustices. This internship gave me the opportunity to challenge myself and my notions of our judicial system. I have also been given the opportunity to have an active role in challenging social injustices that I had once only read about. Most of all, this internship has allowed me to redefine my goals as a professional and as an individual pursing social change.