De-briefing the experience of a future lawyer

Escrito por: Alexa Figueroa 🇸🇻

Headshot of Estefany Serrano Molina. (Isai Amaya-Diaz)

Eighth graders aren’t typically worried about college admissions, pero Estefany Serrano Molina no era una estudiante típica del octavo grado.

One day, she barged into her middle school counselor’s office to ask how to get to college after seeing a panel of students discussing their college journeys. 

“They kind of made the idea of college more feasible, like scholarship options and

resources like FAFSA and I saw it, I'm like, ‘okay, I can go to college… I want to go to college. This is my dream. I’m gonna work on it,’” she said. 

Serrano Molina grew up instilled with the idea that education era extremadamente importante. Her educational path has been one of the most significant experiences she has had. Her mother transferred her to different school districts when she was in the fourth grade con esperanzas de que encuentre mejores oportunidades educativas. 

When Serrano Molina graduated high school, sintió que sus ganas y su esfuerzo no eran suficientes para entrar a la Universidad de Maryland. She first went to community college and then transferred to UMD after completing her associates. 

She is a criminology and criminal justice major with minors in rhetoric and Spanish. In the future, espera convertirse en abogada, a dream inspired by a variety of life experiences that have motivated her to help others. 

“I was blessed enough to go and work for an immigration law firm…but seeing family members, kids coming in and getting their work permits and getting status, going through all that, making them happy and feel more secure in this country was the world—just opened my eyes, like I need to be a part of this,” she said. 

Her aunt passed away due to gun violence, which inspired her to become politically involved in the community, particularly with advocating for stringent gun laws in the state so that no one else faces the consequences. 

“That's also another huge aspect of my life that has affected me, especially in my own personal journey, my mental health journey,” said Serrano Molina. 

Family of Estefany Serrano Molina. (Courtesy of Estefany Serrano Molina)

She went to a predominantly white middle and high school where she struggled with imposter syndrome, algo que sigue enfrentando como estudiante universitaria.

“It was hard because most of my classmates, their parents were lawyers or engineers, and I just couldn't fit in with other kids, one because I feel like it was also a racial bias; I couldn't really relate to them, culturally and economically,” she said.

During her time at UMD, she co-founded the Latino Pre-Law Society and was part of Alpha Phi Sigma and Sigma Delta Pi. Additionally, she completed a competitive undergraduate fellowship for the Angela Alsobrooks Senate campaign. 

After graduation, Serrano Molina plans on taking the LSAT and working as a paralegal.

“Estamos tan orgullosos de ti, mija. Todo el sacrificio valió la pena al verte seguir cumpliendo este gran sueño; nunca olvides que tus raíces y nuestra lucha siempre estarán contigo.” - Luis Serrano y Silvia Molina