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At only 23 years old, Schulich Law student Jazmyne McLaughlin has written a book for children and youth in New Brunswick’s child welfare system titled What I Wish I Knew. The book, which launched in mid-September, condenses 54 articles from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into 11 key points and serves as a resource to help others understand their rights.

Lexie Temple, a Fredericton tattoo artist and McLaughlin’s close friend, contributed the book’s artwork. Together, they used illustrated case studies to help young people recognize when their rights are being ignored, alongside practical resources such as contact information for the Advocate’s Office.

McLaughlin brings a rare depth of perspective to the project. She entered foster care in British Columbia as a young child before being adopted and moving to Fredericton at the age of seven. At 15, she returned to care, but this time in a group home. She recalls often feeling powerless and afraid while navigating the system, unsure if those tasked with her care truly had her best interests at heart. She explains that her goal in writing the book was to give others the knowledge they need to build more secure futures.

“As a Black woman who grew up in and out of the child welfare system, I have seen firsthand how systems take advantage of marginalized and vulnerable people,” she says.

After years of advocating for herself, McLaughlin’s path shifted at the age of 16 when one of her teachers and her husband offered to take her in for a period of time to help her get on her feet, providing her with some stability and support. She spent several months with them and was then able to move out and live on her own.

Despite her unstable upbringing, she recognized early on that she was in control of how hard she worked and how much effort she applied to her life. She excelled academically and athletically, earning scholarships that allowed her to pursue higher education. While she considered studying social work, she ultimately chose law.

“I’ve always been the one to stand up for the underdog and to have the tough conversations – even when they’re uncomfortable – because not everyone has the privilege of staying silent without that silence costing them,” she shares. “The legal profession offers the chance to challenge systems at their roots and to push for seats at the tables where lasting change happens.” 

Since arriving in Halifax for law school, McLaughlin has immersed herself in opportunities that align with her values. She served as the 1L Representative for the Dalhousie Black Law Students’ Association, collaborated with Professor Naiomi Metallic on a project addressing child welfare reform, and channelled her love of sports into intramural soccer, which she says helps her to stay balanced and build friendships.

McLaughlin, now a second-year student at the law school, also feels a deep connection to the Weldon Tradition of unselfish public service, the Schulich School of Law’s commitment to giving back to the community.

“To me, the Weldon Tradition is about viewing the privilege of a legal education as a responsibility, not just an opportunity,” she says. “It’s a call to lead with purpose, to put community above self, and to measure success by the impact you leave on others."

She shares that she has seen how often marginalized and vulnerable people are left without support and how deeply it matters when someone chooses to step up. “The Weldon Tradition pushes me to carry that lesson forward, to use my voice and training to expand access to justice, to strengthen systems that fail too many, and to help open doors for those who are too often left outside.”

Free copies of What I Wish I Knew, including a downloadable version, are available through New Brunswick's Advocate’s Office in English, French, Mi’kmaq, and Wolastoqey, with plans to distribute copies to all children in care in that province. McLaughlin hopes the book will eventually find its way into group homes and schools as well.