Teachers Make Good Law Students: Re-Examine Your Zest!
By Ingrida Latoza • December 16, 2015 •Writers in Residence
“Move people beyond just dreaming into doing. They have to be able to see that you are just like them, and you made it.” – The Honorable Sonia Sotomayor As the teacher finishes her grading and packs up her classroom, she reflects on years past and looks to the bright future ahead for both her students and herself. Change is inevitable, but growth is the ultimate goal. The last weeks of law school have been bittersweet. With the pressure of finals, the excitement of graduation, the stress of the bar exam lurking around the corner, and the joy of three…
Teachers Make Good Law Students: Vacations & Winners
By Ingrida Latoza • November 05, 2015 •Writers in Residence
“Sometimes the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary, simply by doing them with the right people.” Elizabeth Green Whether it is working together or taking a break together, surrounding yourself with the right people in law school can mean all the difference in your overall experience. With only a few weeks left of school, I am happy to have made some wonderful memories and lasting friendships. Law school is more than a legal education. As an opportunity to learn more about yourself and to connect with others, these are the extraordinary lessons that will stay with you for a…
Teachers Make Good Law Students: Tools & Useful Resources
By Ingrida Latoza • October 05, 2015 •Writers in Residence
“Remember, no effort that we make to attain something is ever lost” – Helen Keller Extra efforts taken in law school will lead to success as a law student. Gather the necessary tools and take advantage of useful resources to become an effective legal professional. “T”: TOOLS for Reading Comprehension It was not until I was a teacher teaching others how to read that I became a better reader. Understanding different techniques for reading comprehension will save you time, frustration, and make you a better law student. Let’s face it, there is a large amount of reading in law school! …
Teachers Make Good Law Students: Read for Pleasure & Synthesize Ideas
By Ingrida Latoza • September 05, 2015 •Writers in Residence
"Reading books is the most glorious pastime that humankind has yet devised." Wisława Szymborska When was the last time you read a good novel? Not a textbook for class, or reading assignment for work, or online blog, but actual literary fiction.[1] I posed this question to myself and it took me too long to remember the last book I read for enjoyment. As a fourth grade teacher, the daily schedule I created for my class included independent reading time. Students were required to have a book of choice at their desk. This was not time to do homework or finish…
Teachers Make Good Law Students: Pause for Reflection & Indulge in Quiet Time
By Ingrida Latoza • August 06, 2015 •Writers in Residence
"I get these fleeting, beautiful moments of inner peace and stillness. Then, the other twenty-three hours and forty-five minutes of the day, I’m a human trying to make it through this world." Ellen DeGeneres In today’s fast-paced society, we are constantly bombarded with messages of the importance of slowing down. Meditation brings serenity. Relaxation calms the mind and soothes the heart. Sleep fosters several health benefits. However, it is not always easy to take a break. Instead we’re guilty of double-booking events in our calendar or multi-tasking throughout the day. We are constantly trying to get more off our “to…
Teachers Make Good Law Students: Networking, Outward Appearance & Opportunities
By Ingrida Latoza • July 10, 2015 •Writers in Residence
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. -- Maya Angelou During law school, you’re taught the importance of networking in the legal profession and early on you gain opportunities to craft this valuable skill. The old adage is true: it’s not about what you know, but more about who you know that can determine the success of your career. People make connections to gain richer experiences. If you end up on the same path with someone else, why not find ways to…
Teachers Make Good Law Students: “Live, Laugh, Love” & Mentorship
By Ingrida Latoza • June 06, 2015 •Writers in Residence
"Love yourself first, and everything else falls in line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world." -– Lucille Ball. Planning lessons, writing report cards, grading exams, attending professional development courses, coordinating an after-school club, talking with parents, tutoring students, strategizing with colleagues, and attending meetings are just a few of the things in a teacher's busy day when he or she is not actually teaching in the classroom. As a law student, you get the first glimpse of the long hours required of the legal profession. I just finished an accelerated trial advocacy course…
Teachers Make Good Law Students: Just Do It, Keep Perspective & Know Your Audience
By Ingrida Latoza • May 05, 2015 •Writers in Residence
Each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint – the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you. — Oprah Winfrey How did your role as a teacher lead you to a career in law? More importantly, how does being a teacher make you an effective legal professional? These are questions I have faced across the table in an interview and often asked by my…
Teachers Make Good Law Students: Happiness, Harmony & Incorporating Color
By Ingrida Latoza • April 05, 2015 •Writers in Residence
The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also. — Harriet Ann Jacobs The change of seasons brings an immergence of new colors, sounds, and sensations. Cities showcase the latest spring fashions in bursts of yellows, pinks, and blues. The cheerful chirps of the robin accompany morning sunrises, open windows welcome fresh breezes, and everyone seems to have a little extra pep in their step after the doldrum days of winter. To embrace this transformation, teachers freshen up classroom bulletin boards with flowers and bright characters, embark on exciting thematic units (perhaps…