2. LAWYER Tainaris Gomez

3. CRIMINAL JUSTICE I chose this program to know more about laws and to grow in mind. Since I was a child I dreamed about being a lawyer because I am a single mother and I have to teach my two sons that they have to be someone in this life and that no matter the obstacle you can reach your goals.

4. LAWYER The lawyer is not only in charge of defending the interests of a third party during a trial. One of its most important functions is preventive, which is concerned with advising clients and drafting documents and contracts so that no legal conflicts arise. I chose this career when I was little, my mother always told me you came into the world to do something great and the first thing I thought about was in being a lawyer. I like this career because I think there are many things put into it. I grow up in a family that wasn’t well economically. Today I have two children and one of my greatest dream is to give my kids what I didn’t have when I was a child. I am passionate for this career because I think this career is one of the closest career that will help me to give my kids a better and safest place to live.

5. CAREER-AT A GLANCE Salary: the average salary is $78,500 and the expected lifetime earnings is 3,277,00 Job growth: the Bureau labs statistics estimates that employment of lawyers will grow about 10 percent from 2012 to 2022. Jobs available: In Springfield there are 37 lawyer jobs available and surrounding areas there are about 400 jobs available.

6. SPRINGFIELD COMMUNITY COLLEGE The reason why I chose this college was because I like the teachers are outstanding. I also can focus more on what I like. This college was the best option is because is near to my house and I'm sure I’m going to improve my English more in this college

7. COLLEGE PROGRAM The program I chose is criminal justice (LECJ.COC) I chose this college program because is the one that will prepare me to be a lawyer in a future.

8. DEGREE/CERTIFICATE I will earn the doctorate degree.

9. SKILLS Social skills Coordination Instructing Service orientation Monitoring Negotiation Active listening Speaking

10. LENGTH OF PROGRAM To earn a PhD in criminal justice it can take up to seven years to earn the required 90 credit hours.

11. ROAD BLOCKS The short time that I have to study and to concentrate sometime is in my way because I have to take care of my two kids and nobody helps me. I’m going to look for a job to be able to pay school. I will try to find afterschool programs for my kids to have time to study and to come to school. I can keep practicing my speaking, writing, and listening in English class to prepare myself. I can stop talking Spanish outside English class all the time and get use to talk in English only to make it easier for me when it comes to talk English only.

12. NEXT STEPS I can reach my goal to go to college by doing researches about my career and also by saving money to pay college. The next step I need to take to reach my goal is to finish my English classes to be able to start criminal justice in college.

13. MASTER’S DEGREE to be a lawyer, the program is 8 years.

14. CONCLUSION I learned a lot of things about how I can become a lawyer and I also realize that to become a lawyer will not be easy but nothing is easy in this life and I’ll reach my goal soon or later. My advice is to never give up on your dreams no matter how hard it seems to reach them.