I was fortunate in having exposure with various attorneys prior to attending law school. However, I had not yet encountered anyone who practiced in the field of my interest – family law. Therefore, my underlying goal in law school has been to make connections with individuals interested in or currently practicing family law.

Fortunately, I discovered the Child and Family Law Society and actively check for any emails regarding upcoming events. My trying schedule has allowed me to attend one event they hosted and I was thrilled that I had the opportunity to take part in this informative presentation. The event included two Loyola alumni currently practicing family law. They shared their daily experiences, including their challenges and how they dealt with overcoming them. I found it particularly interesting to hear about the emotional toll that these types of cases can have on a practicing attorney and tips on how they deal with their intense emotions.

My career counselor at Loyola has been incredibly resourceful in navigating me towards a career in family law. She encouraged me to look into classes and clinics offered by Loyola geared towards the field and helped me find a list of classes that would be useful for a career in family law. Based on this, I created a tentative schedule of classes to register for in Fall 2024, combined with my required courses and bar-prep classes.

Overall, my experience at Loyola thus far in relation to my field of interest has been relatively positive. I do admit that I took hold of the reins and actively searched for experiences and information specifically aligned with family law. I certainly feel grateful that many questions I had regarding the field have been answered since I started attending law school.

As a 1L, I was unsure of what to expect from my first set of law school final exams. I studied for several weeks and made sure I understood the major concepts from each of my classes. I left each exam satisfied that I did my best to put down my thoughts in a clear and succinct way. However, I knew that if I wanted to improve and feel more confident, I would need to make some changes. After receiving my grades, I have now updated my study process to ensure I am more prepared for each of my exams. This semester, I would like to implement my new plan in order to get even better grades on my exams at the end of the term, which includes giving myself more study breaks and prioritizing my mental health. Additionally, I plan to use various techniques – such as handwriting outlines and study guides or going over class notes – to ensure I have grasped the information from each class.p

I spent winter break resting, clearing my environment and mind, and spending time with friends and family. I visited local places such as the LA Zoo Lights and Universal Studios.

I also worked on planning a trip for June, giving me something to look forward to this summer. I tried several new cafes and restaurants around the LA area. Though I did not allocate much time to law school itself, I found winter break was a much needed pause from the semester and left me refreshed to return this spring. I look forward to seeing what the future brings and have promised myself to work even harder to earn good grades.

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.