The most rewarding aspect of my work is hearing about the impact I have on the lives of my students. I typically hear from students themselves but it is even more rewarding to hear from those they hold near and dear. It is an honor when parents and friends know about you before they have even met you. I cherish these moments dearly when I face challenging days or wonder whether I am truly making an impact. Around this time in the semester, I am typically juggling individual meetings with students, reaching out to students who were unsuccessful on the bar exam, reviewing midterms, quailing fears about final exams, helping students strategize for the remainder of the semester, serving on committees, and not to mention preparing for and presenting workshops to 1Ls and LL.M. students in addition to answering numerous phone calls and email messages. I promise you, there is a lot more but I will stop there. I enjoy all that I do but it can seem a little overwhelming at times.
During those more demanding periods of time, students typically remind me of why I do what I do. Simple things like a visit from a prospective student sent by three former students who saw me as a resource, thank you cards collected over the years, and a visit or phone call from a former student make all the difference. What really energizes me are the phone calls from students who have passed the bar exam and attained their goal of becoming attorneys. Sorry again to the individuals I share space with because I typically scream with excitement. How can you not feel good about your students’ accomplishments? I hope that all those who do this work recognize their value and contributions to the lives of each and every student they engage with. During challenging periods of time, it is very easy to forget about the hundreds of students you have interacted with over the years.
As a graduate student, one of my advisors suggested that I keep every card, every note and every email I have ever received from a student in a drawer. She said: “when things get challenging, read some or all correspondence to center yourself and reconnect with who you are and what you do.” I have found this advice invaluable because sometimes the supporter can use a few words of encouragement. I hope that we all take the time to remember why we do what we do, our purpose and our strength. (Goldie Pritchard)
