Anonymous Student's Story

I'm not sure if my story can be described as uplifting per se, but I think I should share it. 

 

I'm currently on track to getting into Law School. A lot of people in my academic circle know this. But what they are not aware of is why I want to go to law school. 

 

I spent almost a decade of my life, wrongly incarcerated for a crime I did not commit. I can't afford a lawyer. So decided to go back to school to learn the law in order to do my own appeal. I'm ashamed to say that at the time of my arrest, (at 18 years old), I was a homeless, functionally illiterate boy, so while in jail, I learned to read. Then I finished high school.

 

Upon my release on parole, I started in university and worked hard to get an ‘A’ average in my third year.

 

Now that my grades seem good enough, I plan on going to Osgoode Law school.

 

I'd rather not share my name. Many of my fellow students don't know about my past. In fact other than a handful of Black supportive professors, no one in academia really knows why I'm choosing the law school route. Also, my employer will most likely fire me if he finds out that I have a criminal record (I didn't check "the box" when I applied). You don't have to keep the school anonymous. Right now, I'm finishing my third year at York University. My fourth year is set to begin this September. and I plan on attending Osgoode Hall Law School the following year.

 

Also, I would really appreciate it if you could help by bringing attention to my friend, who is serving a life sentence on a wrongful conviction. I'm not just going to law school for myself. Unfortunately, the plight of the wrongly convicted is one that is hauntingly familiar to the Black experience. My best friend, Micheal Kassa, is serving a life sentence for a murder he did not commit. He and I spent almost 6 together in prison. I promised him I would get him out. I plan on keeping that promise.

​

WRITTEN BY:

Anonymous Black male student

​