I am the son of a sawmill worker and a nurse — who themselves were born to coal miners, farmers, peace officers, and homemakers — in the Western Coal Fields of Kentucky. In 2019, I achieved two generational firsts when I became the first of my grandparents’ descendants to earn a bachelor’s degree, graduating summa cum laude, and just a few months later, the first of my great-grandparents’ descendants to pursue an advanced degree, starting law school in St. Louis.Upon completing my juris doctor and gaining admission to The Missouri Bar, I embarked on my legal career as an immigration attorney at a boutique law firm in downtown St. Louis. There, I advocated for a diverse clientele in obtaining immigration benefits and relief before relevant federal agencies and facilitated the removal defense of noncitizens before immigration courts nationwide.However, the Bluegrass was calling me home. Heeding this call, I have begun a new chapter as legal counsel for an energy company in Owensboro. Here, I plan to honor my family’s legacy by contributing to my communities through hard work and decency.