Allaina Escano

Because many of her family members had careers in the medical field, when Allaina Escano was a community college student, she majored in nursing. But this career choice never really inspired her.

Meanwhile, while she was working at a gym in Schenectady, Allaina was getting to know members who were lawyers. And as she got into conversations with these attorneys she discovered that law would make a nice fit for her.

“I knew I wanted to do something that would help people,” Allaina says. “I also know that I feel very protective of people. I stand up for what I think is right and I want to help.”

Today, Allaina is a student at Sage majoring in Criminal Justice, Law & Behavioral Science.

“I just love this place,” she says. “Oh my gosh, the professors really care about you.”

This caring, in Allaina’s case, has taken on great importance. She’s been struggling with a medical problem for most of the year.

But she knows everyone at Sage has been on her side. “It’s such a supportive environment,” she says. “From the librarians to the public safety officers, everywhere I go, everyone is so kind. So helpful.”

Allaina says her professors have been beyond understanding.

“They check on me. Every one of my professors has been super easy to talk to about what I’m going through. That means a lot. This has been such a tough time for me. It’s been test after test after test.”

But being in the criminal justice program has been exactly what Allaina hoped it would be. She finds all her classes, whether its writing or psychology, somehow connect together in helping her to understand the law.

“It just makes it that much easier to learn,” she says. “It’s really been a fun semester.”

Which is saying a lot when you consider all the challenges she’s faced.