Jason Conge explains what it means to be a public defender and how he gives himself to the people he represents in order to give others a second chance. If you asked 18-year-old Jason what he wanted to be when he grew up, the title “deputy public defender” was not included in his top 10 list. But as things turned out, he couldn’t think of a better fit for his career. Life can take you on some unusual twists and turns, but ultimately, Jason believes you end up where you’re supposed to be. Defending the accused is an extremely stressful, challenging, and sometimes insurmountable task that requires relentless effort. But there is an old saying, if you want to save someone from hell, you have to go there first, to get them out. Jason will share with you his experiences as a public defender, what led him down this path, and the trials and errors he endured along the way. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx