Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Jackson.
Jasmine, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Miami Florida. From a young girl, I always knew I wanted to become a lawyer and then a Judge. I found this passion to be God sent because many people struggle with career choices even as adults. I attended Miami Carol City’s Magnet Law program and would participate in any and everything that involved the law and debates.
I went on to study at Florida State University and received my bachelor’s degree in Criminology. While on my quest to becoming an attorney, I had an opportunity to live in Germany for three months. Little did I know that this experience would be an intricate part of my identity today. While living in Germany, I ran a summer camp on a military base for children whose parents were in the military.
Not only did I love my job, I fell in love with living and traveling abroad. The unique experiences and the things you learn living someone totally different than your normal environment. Fast forward a few years later, I am now a licensed attorney in Illinois who has traveled to over 20 countries. I have traveled solo, with groups, and with family.
I enjoy the adrenaline rush that I get when I first book a trip, to the full-length word document itinerary I create to plan my trips, to choosing my favorite outfits and all the research that goes into securing lodging and finding things to do and things to see.
Traveling for me is an exhilarating, and it’s an important part of my storing believe in maintaining a healthy work/life balance.
Has it been a smooth road?
If it were a smooth road, everyone would be able to easily accomplish what you have. Life is filled with many obstacles and challenges, but it builds our character. It strengths us as people and all of our obstacles add to the unique person that we are. One of my biggest struggles was dealing with rejection. I’ve always been a student who excelled well in school.
However, law school was a very different road for me. I came to law school extremely young. I completed college in three years and started law school the same summer I graduated from college. Law school is a competitive place, and if you’re not careful, you can easily fall into the trap of comparison. I struggled a bit in law school competing with the best of the best and got rejected from many jobs, internships, and organizations.
Rejection was a humbling experience for me because as a person who always had her life planned out, rejection is not something you set out to do, expect or strive for. So when it hits you, it hits hard. I quickly learned that a delay is not a denial. Rejection allows you to strengthen your mind and spirit, clarify your passions, check your pride and most importantly it gives you a testimony/story to tell about how you made it through.
My current struggle is finding a way to incorporate all my passions outside of being an attorney to be a blessing to other people. I am a firm believer in positivity and positive affirmations. I love everything about living a happy life with happiness beginning from within yourself. I have a deep passion for helping people (hence why I became an attorney), traveling, food, fashion, health, and living your best life on your own terms.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Staytraveledup – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Currently, I am an Assistant State’s Attorney for the nation’s 2nd largest prosecutors office. I know what many are thinking, why would you enjoy sending people to jail? Well, that statement isn’t necessarily true. I do not enjoy sending everyone to jail, and that is not always the consequence.
My job entails me ensuring the safety of citizens of my community, prosecuting criminals and advocating on behalf of victims. However, a large part of my job involves decreasing recidivism. It takes a team effort which largely includes the prosecutor in providing rehabilitation resources, alternative sentencing, and treatment courts to help decrease crime and reduce recidivism.
I work closely with treatment courts for veterans, mental health candidates and serious drug abusers to avoid putting them in jail. There are ways to helping people get better and lower their chances to commit more crimes. The impact on receiving justice on behalf of a victim can feel just as good as helping a defendant get treated for an issue that contributed to them committing a crime or giving that person that made their first felony mistake a chance.
I’m most proud of my life’s unique experiences, the trials, and tribulations that shape me into the hard-working, compassionate attorney that I am. I am set apart from others because I look at life and people through my own personal life’s lens. It is through my life and the experiences as an African American woman that I relate and understands people in many ways that some of my coworkers can’t.
On a side note, I’m working on creating a lifestyle brand that encompasses a strong focus on living a positive life. This will include but not limited to, lifestyle blogging, traveling, photography, food, social interaction, advice/motivational quotes. I want people to know that you can be a professional and an all-around fun lover of life person.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least?
Miami: I love the weather all year around. I love that my family still resides there. I love the cultural melting pot and all the ethnic people. I love the Caribbean and seafood. I love the luxury, high class of Miami’s style especially when it comes to nightclubs, VIP, fashion and overall living.
From an attorney’s perspective, I wish Miami paid more.
Contact Info:
Image Credit:
@blacklovepage
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