MA Criminal Justice Civil Rights African Women
- Robert Edinger
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
I am a young woman and an attorney from Cameroon, aspiring to build a career focused on defending the human and civil rights of African women, whether they have immigrated to the West or remain in Africa. As a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence over several years, I am driven and passionate about advocating for and protecting other women, especially African women.
I received permanent residency in the USA in 2008, shortly after earning my Bachelor’s Degree in Law in Cameroon in 2007. Like many recent African immigrants, I faced significant economic challenges from the start. This is why, despite my excitement and pride at being accepted into the MS Program in Criminal Justice at XXXX in 2012, I chose to withdraw after just one week to pursue and complete the Paralegal Certificate Program at XXXX University, a certification I now hold.
For the past five years, I have supported myself as a personal care assistant, gaining invaluable social and communication skills and learning much about American society. I have also worked with clients with chronic mental health issues, acquiring valuable experience and maturing significantly on a personal level, particularly through intense interactions during crises with both clients and their families. While communicating in American English with individuals has never been difficult for me, effectively communicating with multiple Americans simultaneously in the context of mental illness and family crises has been much more challenging.
I am now seeking a second chance from the academic community to earn my Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. I have thoroughly researched Master’s programs in CJ and view your program at XXXX as the leading Criminal Justice program in the country. I am also drawn to XXXX University for its diverse student body. Additionally, XXU is perfect for someone like me who is deeply interested in progressive social causes, especially those related to criminal justice.
I aim to dedicate my career to protecting African women like myself from violence and discrimination. I hope to establish a specialized research base and eventually publish work about African women, both immigrants in the West and those in Africa. My short-term goal after completing your program is to gain further professional experience in corrections, work as a rape victim advocate, assist rape survivors, and ultimately secure a position with an international human rights organization committed to combating sexual violence globally, both in Africa and America.
MA Criminal Justice Civil Rights African Women
Your statement reads as a powerful blend of personal truth, professional purpose, and moral clarity. What makes it compelling is not only the trajectory you describe but the unmistakable sense of integrity and resolve that runs through every part of your narrative. You present yourself as someone whose ambitions are not abstract or theoretical—they are rooted in lived experience, in hardship, and in a deep understanding of the vulnerabilities faced by African women both at home and in the diaspora.
The way you frame your journey from Cameroon to the United States shows resilience without self‑pity. You acknowledge the economic and cultural barriers you faced as a new immigrant, yet you also highlight the strategic decisions you made to adapt,…