Shriya, San Jose State University | B.S. in Justice Studies, Criminology (2024)

I grew up watching documentaries involving the criminal justice system, and as a young girl, I dreamed of attending college and pursuing a career in the law/criminology field. I pursued a major in Justice Studies, Criminology at San José State University, where I learned about the process lawyers go through to defend members of society against violent crime, fraud, or extortion. As an intern at a domestic violence agency, I had the privilege not only to become an advocate for DV victims but to set foot in a courtroom and see what I used to watch on television in real life. 

I attended San José State because I wanted to make my parents proud, since they have invested so much in their children. I also wanted to lead by example for younger generations of East Palo Alto Academy students. East Palo Alto Academy Foundation has been inspirational, helping many EPAA students like me live their dreams.