Summer has always been my favorite time of the year: I always made time to do the things I am interested in, from spending quality time with friends and family, to experiencing new adventures in my community or around the world.

This summer, however, was extra special for me because I was nearing the start of my law school journey. I felt some pressure to participate in many activities, as I knew that the following several months would be primarily spent on studying. For this reason, I prioritized social outings this summer: I went on many coffee dates with my friends, spent time with my sorority family line, and traveled with my boyfriend. My most memorable experience was visiting New Orleans with my boyfriend because it had been on my bucket list for several years – I admit, because I watched The Originals and fell in love with the French Quarter. We spent five amazing days eating delicious food; touring a beautiful
city; and visiting cool sites, including the Louisiana State Supreme Court an even a vampire themed speakeasy on Bourbon Street.

I also wanted to use this summer working towards a passion of mine: Teaching. I continued working as a teacher at a tutoring center in Glendale, where I helped my students advance in topics they struggled with. During my employment, I participated in a program at a nearby elementary school to teach a larger class of students. I acted as a translator for young Armenian students who were unable to understand and speak English.

Most importantly, I spent time with my family this summer. As I have grown older, I have learned how important it is to have a good support system. Without my family, I would not have gotten this far in my life, and I am grateful to them for all the love, encouragement and support they continue to give me.

Summer. The season of endless iced caramel macchiatos and sunny skies. After the whirlwind of 2L, I was very excited to start my summer break.

This past summer, I was able to intern with the Travelers Companies, Inc. as a summer associate in their worker’s compensation and general liability department. I came into law school wanting to practice in general liability, so this was a great opportunity to get more hands-on experience and further my understanding of the application of the law in everyday practice. I am a firm believer that there is no better way to perfect your craft than through real-world experiences.

I find the academic year to be rigorous, leaving little room to find downtime. But summer break is a completely different story— something that I will miss after graduation. I was able to spend time with family and friends and really take the time to forget (almost) about the pressures that come with law school. My partner and I are in a long-distance relationship—totally doable in law school—so, I found summer to be a great opportunity to spend more time with him too. Overall, my summer break was an amazing time to recharge as I prepared to go into my last year of law school.