[MUSIC]. On the very first day on Harvard Law's campus. I knew this is the place I wanted to be. Yes, I did [LAUGHTER]. I think that coming to Harvard Law School is probably the best decision [LAUGHTER] I've ever made. The caliber of the students here is incredible. I have friends who are former veterans, poets, authors, former consultants former political staffers, people that come from every single walk of life. To get to share the space with those people and to hear their perspectives and laws being truly amazing. Since I was at high school, I dreamed about coming to Harvard Law School. I chose Harvard Law School because it is Harvard Law School. It's the most renowned [LAUGHTER] law school in the country. You tell anyone you go to law school and then you throw in Harvard Law School, it just resonates with people. And really the opportunities that the school affords you are quite incredible, engaging with really prominent alumni to going on a Paris trek with the Harvard Association for Law and business. It's really lived up to the name and I'm really excited to be here. Before we even began at Harvard Law School, the school was trying to prepare us to be able to be successful in the classroom environment. Part of that was the Zero-L program. The Zero-L course definitely prepares you well, especially for that first few weeks of law school when you have no idea what to expect. It does help seeing Harvard Law School professors who are on camera and then seeing them on campus and they kind of look like little celebrities to you. She says boys, boys [BACKGROUND]. Some of the highlights of my time at Harvard Law have been the very incredible mentors that I've been able to spend time with and learn from. I have been in a very privileged position to benefit from a very bright set of minds, who were willing to put their time into me as a student. I very, very, very much am appreciative of that. When you come into law school, law school professors are very intimidating and just having somebody show you a lot of warmth and personal interests, it's been amazing. One of the most important things I've learned while being at Harvard Law School is to really value the relationships that you build with people those late nights in Langdell or those days you're really stressed about preferencing clinics or classes. There's a huge support system here that's here to help you. So really capitalizing on it and forming those meaningful relationships is the one thing I'm glad I did during my one-L year. Clinics are among the most valuable things that I think students can pursue while they're at law school, actually sitting down and applying the law and working with clients. It shows you what the profession is all about. I'm super pumped about clinics and I actually find out today what clinics I got into for next year. Alumni support has a significant impact on my educational experience. I think almost the entirety of my financial aid over the past three years have come from alumni funds. Given the expense of law school, it's very important to make sure you have a way for folks coming from a lower-income background like mine, so that we can diversify the kinds of voices that are getting access to the legal education and legal system. Without alumni support financially, I could never be here. Connecting with alumni has made me feel like I've jumped over steps. It's easily been the most valuable thing that I've done since I've set foot on campus. Harvard prides itself most on its tributes to public service. They have a very wide variety of alumni who are committed to helping the public good [APPLAUSE]. A large number of people who are willing to support financially or politically or legally, public projects that help the least, the lost and the left out. I had found that Harvard Law School would uniquely situate me to try and continue that legacy. Having a legal degree from Harvard Law School is just such a powerful tool that I hope to use for positive change. I want to make sure that I'm not taking this opportunity for granted. [MUSIC]
