Escort service pays for my law degree

Rosheika Grant

When Cassandra Herman* walks into a room, she looks like a normal law student. But when you get to know her, you'll realise things are far from what they seem.

Herman, 22, has been living a double life since age 19, when she made the decision to become an escort to finance her university education.

A few months before Herman was about to start university, her father suffered a heart attack and died.

"My father was my main source of financial support because my mother died when I was four so I couldn't start university the September with him gone, so I sat a year out," said a teary-eyed Herman recalling what she calls one of the most difficult times of her life.

childhood dream

Despite support from relatives, Herman was still unsure of how she would achieve her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer. Then one fateful night she was approached at a popular nightclub by a woman telling the then 19-year-old a way she could make lots of money.

"She started asking about my life and what I wanted to do and then she told me she operated an escort service," recalled Herman.

Although it took some time, Herman decided to accept the woman's job proposal.

"It started out small, I would go events with rich guys, usually foreign businessmen but as time went on, some of them started requesting me to pose as their girlfriend," explained the third-year student who is reading for her Bachelor's of Law degree.

Herman declined to name how much she is paid or whether sex is a part of the escort package but stressed that she does not see herself as a prostitute.

developed friendships

She says she lives a double life and because of that she refrains from being in a relationship.

"I don't have boyfriends because I don't want to have to explain my situation to anyone. It's the same for friendships, I have very few friends," she explained.

After three years as an escort, the service is not as hideous as it sounds as she has developed friendships with many of these men.

"One of them helped me to get an internship at a law office, several others have helped me in other ways with law school," she added.

But Herman plans to retire when she finishes law school.

"Although I am grateful for this job which has helped to pay the millions that this degree costs, once I become a lawyer I will no longer do this as I won't need it," said Herman.