Born and raised in central Los Angeles, I moved to the nation’s capital at the age of 18 to attend American University. During my junior year, I studied abroad in Buenos Aires, where I had the opportunity to practice my knowledge of the Spanish language. I also interned at the Center for International Policy, a think tank devoted to U.S. relations with Latin America. I received a B.S. in International Studies, with a focus on Latin American Studies. In 2008, I volunteered full-time in Toledo, Ohio for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign for three months. Thereafter, I returned to Los Angeles, CA to work with the Law Offices of Vivian Szawarc as an administrative assistant for a year. Working with Vivian inspired me to become an attorney and practice immigration law. I returned to Washington, D.C. to attend U.D.C – David A. Clarke School of Law. During my years in law school, I participated in the Low-income Taxpayer Clinic, where I assisted clients in resolving their tax liability issues with the Internal Revenue Service. I also participated in the General Practice Clinic, where I helped mothers with Guardianship and Child Custody matters. After receiving my Juris Doctorate degree, I worked as a Program Manager for the Gordon and Julia P. Tuthill Family Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to providing affordable housing as well as college scholarships to students from the central Los Angeles area. While waiting to take the bar exam and then waiting for the results, I volunteered at two immigration law firms, first at the Law Office of Christine M. Stouffer, in Berkeley, CA, and later at Bromberg, Kohler Maya & Maschler, PLLC in Washington, D.C. Shortly after being admitted to the District of Columbia bar, I began my career as an immigration attorney at the Immigration Center for Women and Children, where I assisted clients with U Visa, Adjustment of Status, and DACA applications. A year later, I returned to the Law Offices of Vivian N. Szawarc as an immigration attorney, where I am now.