Amber
James graduated high school from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, a Christ-centered,
nondenominational college preparatory school. In 2007, she graduated from Charleston Southern University
in South Carolina. The school was
originally the Baptist College of Charleston. The university's mission is promoting
academic excellence in a Christian environment, focusing on values and ethics, communication, leadership,
service and wellness. Recruited on a full
athletic scholarship, Amber reached her goal to play Division One Basketball
there. She will take her bar exam in 2011.
“My college
major was sociology with a minor in business administration. Charleston is a diverse city, so I found
diversity in the classroom at first.
However, as I advanced into my senior classes, minorities began to disappear.
Part of what separates Charleston Southern from other colleges, is that it is a
Christian school affiliated with the South Carolina
Baptist Convention. Life in the
dorms was diverse, because there was diversity in the student body. I never observed any issues pertaining to
racism. Charleston is a conservative city, but there was not much diversity on
the faculty. Although we had a lot of conversations about diversity, none of my
professors was Black. There are numerous Historically Black Colleges in the
south, and many of the Black professors were pulled into those universities. I
joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
What’s interesting is that there were no White Greek sororities or
fraternities on campus.”
“I have
completed two years of law school at Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern
Kentucky University. When I was young, I
initially wanted to be a judge. I don’t know why. I suppose going to private school in
Cincinnati, seeing how Blacks were perceived by some people, put a fire in me
to want to make change. Recognizing that small changes can be made on an
individual basis, sometimes there is a need to effect change on a larger scale,
and I see the law as a way to make that change happen.”
“This
summer I am working at the Georgia Capital Defender office in Atlanta through a
fellowship sponsored by them. They don’t tend to hire first year associates
fresh out of law school, but I’m hoping to make some networking connections to
look into other offices. Georgia Capital
Defender does criminal defense for indigents prisoners facing the death
penalty. I believe I want to start in
criminal defense, because I want to litigate, and I see no better way to learn than
in a public defender’s office. I am not
looking to stay here in Cincinnati. After
I pass the bar next year, my plans are to work in the public defender’s office
in Washington, DC.”
“I was
a little apprehensive when I first went to college. My parents had given me
great support, pushing me, advising me and attending my basketball games. But,
I knew they couldn’t do that when I went to school in Charleston. They used to warn
me to watch the company I kept: “You are the company you keep on a daily
basis.” “If you hang with trash, you’ll end up smelling like it.” My advice to those going to college is to
have self-control, to discipline yourself and watch the company you keep. You’re
away from home, no one is forcing you to go to class and you have to make the
choices yourself.”
“I
think you have to step back and look at the big picture. Think about where you
want to be in four to five years. Your
goal is to finish, so keep that in mind. However, be realistic. If you feel that a big university is not
right for you right away, there is no shame in going to a smaller college or getting
an associate’s degree and then going on to one of the larger institutions
later. Know yourself, and parents have
to know their child.”
“If you
always want more than you have now, you’ll strive for more. I had personal goals. Even if you don’t reach yours, you’ll be
further along than if you hadn’t tried.
Even if you don’t have a parent pushing you, you have to want more for
yourself. You can’t be satisfied with
the status quo.”