Starting college is an exciting time in anyone’s life. As our first-year students begin to take classes, participate in events, and join different student groups, we, the John Jay community, want them to feel welcomed, supported, and valued. Our First-Year Focus series will serve as a virtual introduction to some of the newest members of our John Jay family. As you’ll see throughout the series, these students are exceptionally talented, creative, and driven to change the world for the better. Enjoy getting to know them.

First-year student Ciomara Dominguez ’23, a Political Science major, embodies what being a John Jay student is all about. She works hard, she’s driven to make the world a more just place, and, she’s not letting any obstacles get in her way. Like her classmates, Dominguez is attending classes this fall in a distance-learning environment, but unlike most, she’s living in Honolulu, Hawaii, where there’s a six-hour time difference. “I say I’m a night owl because most of my school work happens when everyone at home is sleeping,” says Dominguez. “My classes are between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Hawaii Time, so I find I’m tired all the time. But, I really care about my education and the sacrifice of waking up extremely early for class is totally worth it. It’s been my dream to come to John Jay and I’m just happy to be here.” We spoke with Dominguez to learn more about her upbringing in Hawaii and the role she hopes John Jay will play in helping her become a lawyer.  

Tell us about your life before John Jay. What was life like growing up in Hawaii?
I’m the daughter of a Puerto Rican father and Filipino mother who were both raised in the Bronx, New York. They moved out to Hawaii and I was born and raised in Honolulu. I’m thankful I grew up here. I may not be ethnically Hawaiian, but I am Hawaiian in spirit. I identify with the Hawaiian tradition and culture. I love the food and how ethnically diverse the people are. I grew up dancing the hula, and I even surf, though I’m not the biggest fan of it. In school, we celebrated all the Hawaiian holidays, including Prince Kuhio Day, which marks the birthday of the last prince of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole. And, we are very relaxed here, which is nice.

What made you want to come to John Jay?
It was really three big things for me that made me want to the come to John Jay. I like New York City and wanted to experience the City life. I also know John Jay is the school to go to if you want to pursue a career in the legal field and I hear great things about the Pre-Law Institute, so that really drew me to the College. But the biggest, and most personal reason for coming to John Jay is my dad. He’s my inspiration for coming to the College. He actually went to John Jay for a year and was studying Forensic Science. But, he had to leave because my mom had just given birth to my oldest brother and it was a lot for their young family to handle at the time. Growing up, he would tell me about his time at John Jay. I always found it so interesting. In many ways, I see my coming to John Jay as a way of finishing what my dad started years ago. I hope I make him proud.

You have dreams of becoming a lawyer. What is it about the legal profession that appeals to you?
In high school, I was in the Model United Nations club and it really focused on diplomacy and human rights issues, mostly in international settings. Being in the club sparked my interest in politics and law. Then, I began learning more about the different types of law, and I was really drawn to criminal law. Here in Hawaii, I was able to attend a summer program at the University of Hawaii’s William S. Richardson’s School of Law. The program helps low-income students get exposed to the legal profession and it was such a wonderful experience for me. I was able to participate in mock trials. I learned to prepare a court case and how to bring a case to trial. It really opened my eyes to the profession.

You’re clearly passionate about becoming a lawyer. Where does that passion come from?
I have family members who have personally been affected by unfair practices in the system. I know someone who was wrongfully convicted because he didn’t have the money to get a good lawyer. Because he didn’t have adequate representation, he lost his case and was put in prison—thankfully he’s free now. My hope is to prevent any family from experiencing that pain. In America, poverty is criminalized. If you look at the statistics, there’s an overwhelming amount of over policing in low-income, Black and brown communities. So, what you have is this criminalization of poor people of color and they don’t have the resources to get proper legal counseling. And, with the bar being made up of mostly white lawyers, these Black and brown defendants may not have a legal representative that understands them, their background, or their struggle. I want to change that. I want to see reform in policing and our legal system, and I really want to see the diversification of the legal profession.

With the six-hour time difference, what has the distance-learning experience been like for you?
It’s been hard on my sleep schedule and my social life. A lot of my friends stayed local, so they’re going to school here in Hawaii, and I haven’t been able to interact with them given my schedule. Most of my classes are between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. I catch up on sleep when I can, but I’m doing okay in terms of my schoolwork. I’m willing to be up at 2:00 a.m. because I actually want to be in class and learning. I had the option to defer my freshman year to next year, but I wanted to start my John Jay journey as quickly as possible.

Are there any clubs that you’re hoping to join, or any particular opportunities you’re looking forward to experiencing this semester?
I’ve already applied to the Model United Nations club. I cherished my high school experience in Model U.N. and look forward to learning more about diplomacy, human rights, and international issues through John Jay’s Model U.N. club. This semester, I will also be interning with Karen Smythe, who is running for New York State Senate in Hudson Valley. I’ll be doing phone banking for her and helping with voter registration. I’m looking forward to learning more about the political process and getting people to vote.

It’s so important for people, especially young people, to vote. What does voting mean to you?
For me, voting is speaking your mind and standing up for your community. Black, brown, Latinx, and Asian people need to vote so they can be heard. Your vote matters. I know a lot of times it’s easy to think it doesn’t, but it does. When you vote, you’re voting to help your community and the people in your community. It’s about people’s lives and their economic, mental, and social well-being.

In five or 10 years, where do you see yourself?
I hope to be a lawyer working for a non-profit where I can help people who need legal assistance but can’t afford it. That’s something I feel really passionate about doing. I know that with John Jay, I’ll make that dream come true.