Soon many of you will join me in what is a time-honored and often celebrated milestone—graduation from law school. For some of us, it is the day the bane of our shared existence, as law students, comes to an end. Only the bar exam stands in the way of what will be happier, or hopefully at the very least, wage-earning days. For others, it represents the looming specter of a certain kind of loss—one that is unique and truly extraordinary—of a remarkable experience that is coming to a close, perhaps all too soon for our liking. With neither embarrassment nor reservation, I include myself among those who wax nostalgic about what we are about to leave behind.
Law school has defined you. Not in a way that necessarily reflects your deepest moral values or your commitment to other aspects of your life but, rather, in a way that reflects your development as an analytical and scholarly mind. You have been introduced to the greatness that is intellectual discourse; class time has been thought-provoking, frustrating, and enlightening. You have become attached to your professors—they are masters of theory, the kings and queens of metaphors and allegory. But they represent more than just Socratic methods, rhetorical inquiry, and the bits of insight they parcel out in class. They have trained you, they have pushed you, you have learned to stand your ground and push back—deferentially. Now you shamelessly borrow their wiles and witticisms. You plagiarize their pat phrases and make them your own. Some have become your mentors. You will look to them during the course of career events when you are faced with an ethical dilemma or a challenging question, or when you just yearn for the fulfilling stimulation of a philosopher who has become your friend.
When you stop to consider the true measure of your success, you must realize that it is the people surrounding you who have elevated your game. The brilliant people who challenge you, exceed your expectations, and propel you to exceed on your own. Your ability to succeed has been amplified beyond your wildest imagination.
Some of these kindred spirits have studied and suffered with you through the rigors of law school. They have become your friends, not only because you enjoy their company, but also because they have challenged you to be a better advocate, compelled you to relish discussions about the nuances of the law, and confronted you with the depth and superficiality of our all-too-human nature. They have enlightened you and increased your understanding of yourself and others.
For some, law school was a means to an end. For others, this was a most-memorable journey. Don’t forget where you come from or where you have gotten, but most important, don’t forget what you have learned along the way—such a bittersweet goodbye! On behalf of the ABA Law Student Division, I wish you all the best in your future endeavors, whether you are graduating or preparing for a productive summer.
Chris Sprowls
Chair, ABA Law Student Division
Stetson University College of Law
