51²è¹Ý

1. Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Houston, Texas. I have three siblings & three nieces, and I love them all to death. I enjoy playing rugby and discovering new music.

2. Why did you decide to come to 51²è¹Ý Law?
I was initially going to be a petroleum engineer! I went to Texas Tech to study that, but somewhere along the path I fell out of love with the idea of engineering and gravitated toward law school. I did my applications and 51²è¹Ý was the first school to reach out to me with my acceptance. Once I got my acceptance from 51²è¹Ý, I knew that it was the place for me.

3. What has been your favorite class and why?
My favorite class is insurance with Ernest Martin. I clerked for an insurance defense and coverage firm this summer and really enjoyed the work I did there, so when I got to class I felt like I really understood what he was talking about and was able to participate at a high level. For me, that practical knowledge from the summer made all the difference in my classroom experience.

4. When you are not in school or studying, what do you do for fun?
These days I really like to spend time hanging out with my girlfriend and my friends. I’ve been playing a lot of golf, trying out new restaurants around Dallas, and trying to make as many memories as possible. With this being the last year of school for me, those things became really important.

5. What extracurricular activities have you enjoyed most and why? (SBA, moot court, etc.)
I’ve enjoyed my time on the SBA the most. Being the President of the SBA is something I am really proud of, and I have a lot of fun meeting new students and watching friends come together at the various events that we put on.

6. How has law school challenged you most?
Law school has challenged me in more ways than I ever thought possible. I think the biggest challenge I’ve had is fighting my own expectations. Coming into law school I honestly thought I’d be valedictorian, Order of the Barrister’s, etc. When I didn’t get the marks I needed to achieve those expectations, I had to find the peace to be ok with myself, while also forging a new path in school that I would also be proud of.

7. What has been your most memorable law school moment so far?
My most memorable moment is definitely when my Arbitration team beat Texas Tech in the preliminary round to help advance our team to nationals. In the Arbitration space, Texas Tech is kind of our rivals because they always advance to nationals and we wanted to beat them badly last year. When my partner, Hunter Ralston, and I came out victorious it was the best feeling ever.

8. What do you plan to do post-graduation?
I plan on studying hard for the bar exam, taking a nice vacation with my family, and then settling into work. I’m excited about the future.

9. Have you had any important mentors during law school? If so, who?
My most influential mentor has been Dennis Duffy. He is a labor & employment lawyer in Houston. He is the kind of mentor that I always looked up to growing up from a young age, and although he might not know this, I looked as his life as the kind of life I wanted to have for my family and I one day. Since being at 51²è¹Ý I’ve tried to approach everyone as someone I can learn something from, and that’s been really invaluable in my development as a future attorney. I feel lucky to have folks in my life willing to share their wisdom and advice with me.

10. Where do you see yourself in 5 and 10 years?
My long-term orientation is focused on my mental health and my family, so in 5 years and in 10 years I just hope my loved ones are still healthy, happy, and safe. I hope that my career builds on itself and I continue to challenge myself in whatever I’m doing, but my biggest hope for the future is that my loved ones are doing well and everyone is cared for.