Adriana Amaya

Hello! My name is Adriana Amaya. I’m a current senior in the Law and Government magnet at James Monroe High School located in North Hills, California. Both Mock Trial and Speech have undoubtedly been the most impactful experiences throughout my high school career.

Mock Trial introduced me to different legal terms, courtroom decorum, but most importantly it taught me teamwork- from being an expert witness and having to work with my lawyer and fellow expert witness, to being co-captain and managing both witnesses and lawyers.

Speech, however, changed me in a different way. I remember the long nights trying to write my advocacy speeches hoping they would be impactful enough for people to care about my topic, but also to find a balance in sharing details about my personal life as an immigrant so I wouldn’t put myself in danger. But delivering them gave me a glimpse of the person I hope to become someday– an activist lawyer unafraid to speak up for others, to advocate for change, and to use my voice with purpose. As someone who once avoided speaking because I feared my accent would stand out, that transformation feels especially significant.

I’ve also been able to write many articles and editorials on the pressing issues of our country through our school’s newspaper The Vanguard, of which I’m a Co-Editor-In-Chief. Specifically, I enjoy writing about politics from the perspective of a Monroe student and how it affects our school directly.

Starting this fall, I will be attending Yale University majoring in Political Science and hopefully get two additional certificates in Spanish and Economics. Afterwards, I’ll be attending law school to become a civil rights or immigration attorney.