Where Law Meets Life: Criminal justice major finds her calling

On her very first day with the Columbia County Public Defender’s Office, Yazline Aponte didn’t ease into the work — she stepped directly into its reality.

There were no textbooks, no hypotheticals, no classroom discussions to buffer the moment. Instead, there were real people, real cases, and real consequences.

Sitting just feet away from incarcerated defendants, the Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg legal intern listened to their stories while watching the legal system unfold in real time. At that time, Aponte felt something shift.

“It caught me off guard at first,” said Yaponte, a criminal justice major and legal studies minor. “But it quickly taught me that everyone is human, no matter the charges they have.”

That moment — raw, immediate, and unfiltered — became the foundation for everything that followed.

Aponte had long known she wanted a future in the justice system. But like many students navigating a broad field, she wasn’t sure exactly where she fit.

It wasn’t until a legal studies field trip sponsored by the Diehl Center for Law School Preparation last fall to New York City, surrounded by the energy of law schools and the gravity of the profession, that clarity struck.

“That’s when everything clicked,” Aponte said. “I realized law school and becoming an attorney was what I truly wanted.”

From that point forward, every step became intentional.

Her internship — secured through a recommendation from Kelly Roth, professor of criminal justice and department chair, resulting in an on-the-spot offer from Attorney Janan Tallo — placed her at the heart of public defense work. It wasn’t observational in the passive sense. It was immersive.

Over the course of a demanding 15-credit, full-time schedule, Aponte moved through courtrooms, client meetings, and correctional facilities with purpose. Mondays and Wednesdays meant preliminary hearings. Tuesdays and Fridays brought client consultations. Thursdays often unfolded in Criminal Miscellaneous Court, where she witnessed guilty pleas, ARD hearings, and sentencing decisions that would alter lives in an instant.

Every day was different. Every case carried weight.

And with each experience, her understanding of the justice system deepened.

“What stood out to me most was how complex everything is,” Aponte said. “You start to see how mental health, addiction, family struggles, and homelessness all play a role in why people end up where they are.”

It was between legal documents and lived realities where Aponte said she discovered one of the most important lessons of her journey. Empathy is not optional in this field. It’s essential.

Watching Attorney Tallo navigate cases with both compassion and accountability left a lasting impression. It showed Aponte the law is not just about statutes and outcomes. It’s about people, perspective, and balance.

That balance, however, isn’t always easy to face.

Some of the most challenging moments came when Aponte encountered graphic evidence — autopsy reports and crime scene photos that forced her to confront the harsher truths of criminal law. But instead of turning away, she leaned in.

“I chose to expose myself to those realities,” Aponte said. “I wanted to understand what I might face in the future.”

In doing so, she didn’t just build knowledge. She built resilience.

Bloomsburg’s legal studies program played a critical role in preparing her for those moments. From visiting law schools across the state to sitting in on real law classes, the program emphasized experience as much as education.

By the time Aponte stepped into her internship, she wasn’t just ready to observe. She was ready to engage. Now with graduation, her path forward is both clear and evolving.

She plans to continue building experience as a legal secretary with the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, gaining deeper insight into the profession before taking the next step to law school.

Her ultimate goal of becoming an attorney is no longer a question of “if,” but “when.” What remains undecided, however, is which side of the courtroom she’ll call home.

“This experience showed me how interesting both sides are,” Aponte said. “Defense and prosecution each play such an important role.”

But regardless of where she lands, one principle will guide her forward.

“The biggest lesson I’ll carry with me is that everyone is human,” Aponte said. “No one is perfect. It’s important to listen to both sides of every story and treat people with respect.”

It’s a lesson she learned not from a lecture hall, but from the front lines of the justice system, where law meets life and where her future truly began.