Michael O'Key

My mother's three wishes for me growing up were simple enough: to finish high school, to avoid illegal substances, and to stay and not be incarcerated. To some, this may represent a low bar. But for my mom, these goals reflected what success looked like in her small Louisiana town--a place that didn't offer her the opportunity to pursue higher Education but instilled in her a relentless work ethic that she passed down to me. However, there was a time I didn't even meet those three expectations.

At age 11, I came into contact with the legal system for the first time, and at age 12, I was incarcerated. When I was finally released at age 16, I faced the daunting task of entering high school with a sixth-grade education while grappling with the weight of a criminal record and the expectation that I would never succeed. Yet, with persistence and the unwavering support of my mother and a select group of teachers, I transitioned from remedial classes to advanced placement classes within a year, earning admission to Auburn University. In the short span of a year and a half, I had gone from incarcerated and futureless to the first in my family to attend college.

It has been 10 years since my reentry. Since then, I have earned bachelor's degrees in landscape architecture and public policy from Auburn University. I have also earned master's degrees in Urban Planning and Sociology from Cornell University and Stanford University, respectively. My path eventually led me to UCLA School of Law, where I am now a J.D. candidate, and Stanford University, where I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Education.

In the four years I have lived in California, I have dedicated myself to addressing some of the state's most urgent challenges, including mass incarceration, systemic racism, and educational inequity. California's diversity is its greatest strength and a complex challenge, demanding legal practitioners who can approach its issues with empathy, understanding, and a commitment to equity. My work with system-impacted individuals has reinforced the importance of meeting people where they are and crafting solutions that honor their lived experiences. Whether I am advocating for policy reform, mentoring first-generation and system-impacted students, or assisting individuals in clearing their criminal records, I have sought to make the law more accessible and empower those excluded from its protections. These efforts have deepened my resolve to build a more just and equitable legal system for all Californians.

At Stanford, I have centered my work on amplifying the voices and needs of system-impacted individuals. As Teaching Coordinator for the Stanford Jail and Prison Education Project, I have helped facilitate educational opportunities for incarcerated students, bridging the gap between academic institutions and those behind bars. My research as a PhD candidate in Education has explored the intersection of race, Education, and the criminal justice system, examining the pathways of incarcerated youth and evaluating juvenile justice policies. In addition to research, I have mentored first-generation and system-impacted students, fostering opportunities for those often excluded from educational and professional spaces. These experiences have strengthened my belief in the transformative power of Education and advocacy to disrupt cycles of incarceration and create pathways to equity and opportunity.

I have continued this work at UCLA by engaging directly with the law school and broader communities. As an Underground Scholar and a Bruin Guardian Scholar, I have found a space to support and mentor formerly incarcerated and system-impacted students, creating opportunities for them to succeed in higher Education and beyond. Through my volunteer work with the UCLA Reentry Legal Project, I assist individuals in navigating the complex and often intimidating process of clearing their criminal records, a critical step in helping them rebuild their lives. These experiences have reinforced my conviction that the law must serve as a tool for empowerment, not exclusion. They remind me daily that progress comes from meeting individuals where they are, listening to their stories, and working to ensure the system reflects their realities.

Together, these experiences have been transformative, shaping my understanding of the challenges California faces and solidifying my commitment to justice. From Stanford's classrooms to UCLA's legal clinics, I have seen firsthand how Education and advocacy can disrupt cycles of inequity and open doors for those who have long been left behind.

A singular focus has driven my academic and professional journey: dismantling the barriers perpetuating poverty, incarceration, and inequity cycles. My perspective as a first-generation college student, shaped by my mother's values and my journey, drives my commitment to service. I see the law not just as a profession but as a means of empowering those who, like me, have felt excluded from its protections but are also being called upon to right those wrongs. Through unwavering advocacy, research, and relationship-building on educational and criminal justice reform, I have sought to create pathways for individuals to rebuild their lives and policies that make it so that they don't need to be dismantled in the first place.

I don't know what's next for me--whether I will become an attorney or go into legal academia. To be fair, I didn't think I'd make it this far. In the meantime, I hold dearly every person and opportunity that has allowed me to exceed my mother's, as well as my own. But her lessons remain central to my journey: success is not measured by accolades or titles; It is measured by the ability to live a life of safety, health, happiness, and freedom. Until every single person can experience that, there is work to do.