Despite never going to college themselves, my parents strongly instilled in me the value of a good education. Through hard work and the encouragement of mentors, I became a first generation college graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in Family Studies & Human Development. After graduating, I worked with disadvantaged teenagers and young adults to help them develop the skills they would need to succeed in life.

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Although I enjoyed my work, I knew more education would allow me to make a bigger difference in the lives of people. So, after serving as a missionary, I decided to pursue a law degree at Brigham Young University. At BYU I was blessed to learn from brilliant and kind professors. While in school, I also worked in the Education Division of the Utah Attorney General's Office and spent a summer in Washington, D.C. working for a non-profit involved in juvenile justice reform.

 

After law school, I briefly worked for the FBI, before family needs necessitated a change. I spent the next several years as a Guardian ad Litem Attorney, advocating for children in Utah and surrounding counties who had been abused and neglected by their parents or guardians. Although it was tough to see what people could do to their own children, I loved my work. The only thing that could pull me away was a desire to spend more time with my own children, so I stepped away to be a full-time, stay-at-home mom.

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I know many of the challenges faced by families in Orem today, and I hope I can bring my life experience and education to bear to strengthen our community.