“I hope you never lose your sense of wonder, you get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger………Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance, and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance….. I hope you dance.” – Lee Ann Womack, “I Hope You Dance.”
In the 1973 movie classic "The Paper Chase," Harvard Law School Professor Charles Kingsfield tells his students, "Look to your left, look to your right. One of you won't be here next year." During orientation last August, I told our first year students, “Look to your left, look to your right. You likely are looking at a friend and colleague for life.”
Is it possible to work hard and still have fun? Is it possible to compete with your fellow students and still be friends?
Our students prove time and again that the answer is a resounding yes. Peggy and I recently attended the Barrister's Ball and the BLSA (Black Law Students Association) Annual Scholarship & Awards Banquet, and we had the chance to see our students in a different context- laughing, dancing, and celebrating their incredible accomplishments and friendships with each other.
The Barrister's Ball (a.k.a. Law Prom) is sponsored by the Student Bar Association (SBA), and this year’s planning was led by Claire O'Connor,SBA Vice President (and Law Review Managing Editor). It was held at the Music Box Supper Club on the West Bank of the Flats with over 190 students and their guests, as well as some faculty, alumni, and staff.
Congratulations to Professor John Plecnik who was announced as SBA’s Professor of the Year and Nancy Erhardt, Coordinator, Career Planning who was announced as SBA’s Staff Member of the Year! During the past three years, Brad Wolfe '16 (Friedman & Nemecek) has been the DJ. Tiffany Henderson is SBA President and Lauren Holler is SBA President-Elect.
The BLSA banquet featured an inspiring keynote address by Judge Carla Moore, recently retired Judge of the Ohio Court of Appeals, Ninth District, and Renee Tramble Richard '88, Vice President/ General Counsel, Cuyahoga Community College was the BLSA Alumni Honoree. BLSA Members of the Year were Brandon Brown and Shayla Davis. Brandon Cox '12, (Tucker Ellis) was given the first-ever BLSA Outstanding Alumni Spotlight Award.
Professor Matthew Green, Professor John Plecnik, and Gina Huffman, Assistant Director of Admission also attended the BLSA Banquet.Taurean Shattuck is BLSA President (and Law Review Articles Editor) and Jeff Carr is BLSA President-Elect.
It was particularly impressive to see so many judges in attendance- Judge Melody Stewart '88, Judge Ronald Adrine '73, Judge Emanuella Groves, Judge Lauren Moore, and Chief Magistrate Greg Clifford '80, President, C|M|Law Alumni Association.
As finals approach, study hard this week. But….. as Maya Angelou wrote, also take some time “in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.”
For copies of past messages, please go to this link: Monday Morning Messages.
Have a great week.
Lee