AMERICA | A young lady named Zarina Sementeli has achieved an inspiring milestone, overcoming homelessness and multiple life challenges to earn a Doctor of Law (JD) degree from California Western School of Law in the United States.
With this achievement, she becomes the first lawyer in her family. Zarina’s journey portrays how faith, perseverance, and purpose can make the impossible possible.
Zarina's Story and How She Did It
Zarina began her academic journey at Spelman College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services. From there, she pursued her long-held dream of becoming a lawyer, enrolling at California Western School of Law.
In 2025, she completed her law degree. However, the journey to reaching this point was a challenging one for Zarina.
At just 15 years old, Zarina faced homelessness and moved into a transitional living program run by the Salvation Army. Living independently and paying subsidized rent, she was finally able to focus on her education, work, and personal growth.
With support from the program, she received academic tutoring, including help preparing for the ACT, which became a turning point in her life.
Determined to give back, Zarina became deeply involved in community service and youth advocacy from a young age. While still in high school, she balanced academics, sports, and a part-time job at a law firm, while serving on the Saint Paul Youth Commission and other advocacy groups.
She also founded a girls’ group called “Empower Me,” creating a safe space for young girls to learn, grow, and build confidence.
During her undergraduate years at Spelman College, Zarina continued serving her community through organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Destined for Greatness Outreach Youth Center, and Spelman’s NAACP chapter, where she served on the board.
As a first-generation college student, she leaned heavily on community support systems, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped her navigate housing and academic challenges and eventually transition to law school.
In law school, Zarina relied once again on community, particularly the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), which provided mentorship, support, and a sense of belonging in a demanding environment.
Inspired by this experience, she now serves as President of BLSA and is also the Founder and President of the First Generation Law Students Association (FGLSA).
Through these roles, she has created platforms that support first-generation and Black law students through mentorship, panels, and community-building initiatives.
Beyond academics, Zarina has gained hands-on legal experience through internships at the Public Defender’s Office and an externship at the U.S. Naval Base San Diego, strengthening her commitment to advocacy and justice for marginalized communities.
Reflecting on her journey, Zarina says community has been the foundation of her success. She hopes to use her legal career to amplify underrepresented voices, promote equity, and mentor young people facing similar challenges.
Sharing the achievement on Instagram, Zarina encouraged others not to give up, saying her journey is proof that faith, resilience, and community can turn even the hardest beginnings into powerful success stories.
”Don’t you dare give up. Silence every voice telling you that you can’t do it. When you fall, get back up and try again. Trust that God has a plan for you. There is nothing you cannot accomplish when you call on the name of the Lord,” she wrote
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