Newland & Newland Single Parent Scholarship

Sheraya Bernard

Sheraya’s essay is a testament to someone continuously progressing in their personal growth in order to achieve professional excellence. As a lifelong dancer, Sheraya looks to use her unique experiences in ballet to assist her in becoming a successful attorney. We are honored to present Sheraya with the Spring 2024 Single Parent Scholarship.

Read Sheraya’s Essay:

At the tender age of 3, I was not just watching Mardi Gras parades; I was dashing into the streets and attempting to dance with the marching bands, setting the tone for a journey that has been exhilarating. Fast forward to today, where my career pursuit parallels my dance journey. They collectively stand as a testament to a life filled with passion, discipline, and personal growth. Dance played a fundamental and central role in my life, providing both solace and challenges as well as unexpected opportunities that I could not have anticipated.   At 3 years old, noticing my enthusiasm for dance, my mother enrolled me in dance school. Despite my physical attributes being at odds with the traditional ballerina standard, ballet was my favorite genre. As a dancer with a short, muscular build, aspiring to dance en pointe posed a significant challenge. However, I was determined to dance in pointe shoes! Being from a disadvantaged background I was unable to afford technical training beyond the normal one-hour ballet class. Realizing I needed additional technical training as a high schooler, I overcame financial barriers by bartering with my instructors. I took on the role of a student teacher, assisting around the studio in exchange for additional training. Spending more time at the studio expanded my technical knowledge and provided opportunities to experiment and learn from my teachers by posing as their muse. The culmination of my efforts led to acceptance into pointe class! Overcoming hurdles like sore ankles and bloody toes, I eventually took the stage to perform gracefully in pointe shoes. Performing en pointe was a spiritual experience that allowed me to communicate and connect with people through movement. Yet, the impact of my dance journey was not limited to childhood. My lifelong passion for dance influenced my mothering, and single motherhood set the stage for my journey to becoming an attorney. As a single parent, I faced unique challenges that demanded resourcefulness and adaptability. Balancing parental responsibilities with academic pursuits sharpened my time-management and organizational skills. Witnessing firsthand the impact of education on opportunities, I became driven to break the cycle of limited access that often accompanies single parenthood. My educational journey became a personal pursuit and a means to provide a better life for my family. The struggles and triumphs of being a single parent instilled in me an appreciation for education as a transformative force. It set me with a sense of purpose, empathy, and a relentless drive to make a positive impact on the lives of others facing challenges. While balancing a full-time undergraduate schedule, community advocacy, motherhood, and teaching dance, I began working as a file clerk at a law firm. As I advanced to becoming an assistant and then a paralegal, I inadvertently drew parallels between legal processes and dance productions. Working up cases mirrored the creative process of producing shows. The sequence of drafting, reviewing, revising, corresponding, researching, thinking, and exchanging information between parties applies to both. Presenting a case to the court became akin to performing a dance and both experiences feel like home!  My impact as an attorney will echo the influence that dance had on my life. I am enthusiastic about applying skills I learned as a dancer to enhance problem-solving, communication, stress management, and client relations in my profession. Understanding that conventional methods aren't always the most effective in achieving goals puts me in a position to offer a unique perspective in client service. I am grateful for my journey from the ballet barre to the American Bar Association—a unique and fulfilling progression of personal growth and professional excellence!