I chose to go to law school because I want to work with children. When I was looking for a summer job, Emory's Child Advocacy Program appealed to me because it looked like it would give me the opportunity to see exactly what being a child advocate in the court system would be like. After a year of law school, I was beginning to lose sight of what had made me go there in the first place. This summer has reminded me and spurred me on toward my goal.

It is easy to become complacent with bad things in society. Child abuse and juvenile crimes receive lots of media coverage, and eventually people just start to accept it and become callous to it. I don't want to ever accept these things. I don't want to ever feel so overwhelmed by the problems that children in this country face that I refuse to do anything to help them. This summer has taught me that there are people who are willing to dedicate their lives to making children safer, and though the work that these people do may not always be rewarding, it is possible to push on and continue giving a voice to the voiceless.

Seeing a court from the inside was amazing. Every single person that works in the juvenile court is doing their part to make their community a better, safer, happier place. The Division of Family and Children Services' attorney, the public defender, the judge, the secretaries, the clerks, the bailiffs -- each person does their own unique part that makes the system work. I think a lot of attorneys don't see or appreciate this. Working in juvenile court isn't merely an occupation; it is a calling. To be willing to see the things that the court personnel see day in and day out and to work to prevent what seems inevitable from happening again is as much a service as it is a job. I was amazed this summer that the staff here is able to keep coming in to court every day, facing the same problems over and over. For a while it was depressing -- I wondered how long anyone could work in this court, seeing all the sad things and knowing that even if you "win" one time, there are hundreds more cases coming in that you might lose. It is their love of children and commitment to making a change that makes these amazing people come face the same problems time and again.

Juvenile delinquency cases also fascinated me. I was interested to learn that the point of the juvenile court system is to treat and rehabilitate the offenders, not punish them. Again, this takes people who are willing to just bite the nail and push forward as the same children came in numerous times during the summer. The prosecutor and juvenile defenders worked together with the Department of Juvenile Justice to find the best options to keep the offender (as well as possible victims) safe while giving the offender the opportunity to reform.

My summer project was on the appropriate role of the judge in the community. I also put together power point presentations for Judge Walker on the Judge's Role in the Community and Resilience in Children. I wrote some court orders, compared orders to transcripts, and updated some of the judge's research. Attending CORE meetings, DJJ meetings, and office staff meetings provided me the opportunity to see how everyone works together to make the system work. Additionally, I attended the signing of the new child support bill by Governor Perdue. I spent a lot of time observing the proceedings of the court and doing odds and ends for the Judge and clerks.

The week of training at Emory University that kicked off the summer got me even more excited about my summer job than I already was. I was thinking I'd arrive at court and immediately start doing amazing and important tasks helping children. When I got to court, I realized that this vision was not only completely erroneous, but completely ridiculous as well. By being allowed to sit and watch and become familiar with the court, I learned to appreciate what each person brings when they enter the courtroom. It allowed me to see things that I wouldn't have been able to see if I was interviewing families or running around with the caseworkers. I got to see the parents that came into court and sat in the back of the courtroom, having no idea what is being said or what is happening. I was able to see the child who enters the courtroom in handcuffs and is trying to act brave, but whose hands are shaking as he signs his admission. I got to see the frustration of the staff here, the time they spend making things run smoothly, and the way that they manage to encourage each other and make it through another day.

When I am an attorney, I hope that I remember the things I've seen and learned this summer. I hope that, like the staff here, I keep sight of my calling and can find the support and strength to dedicate my life to working to protect children.