Graduation Talk

I finally, for the first time, wrote out my graduation talk. (I figured it had already been two months since I'd given it, and if I ever wanted a copy for the future I'd better write it down). Anyway, if you couldn't make it to the big day, here it is:

The summer after my first year of law school I worked for a law firm in Australia. I lived by myself and didn’t know anyone in Australia, so I spent my first month there essentially alone. Which was why I was so nervous when Jenni Carlquist, a student in my law school class, was coming to visit me.

Jenni was working in Sydney for the summer, and during our first year of law school we had not interacted much except for to say “hey, I hear you’re going to be in Australia this summer. So am I. We should get together sometime.” So one weekend Jenni flew up from Sydney and we spent the weekend together exploring southeast Queensland. And it was great. When Jenni left, I found myself sad that I had gone through an entire year of law school without getting to know this gem of a person.

Similar experiences have happened to me throughout my time at law school—I would have an opportunity to get to know a classmate I did not already know, and each time I was wowed by them. And as I have thought about why graduation is hard and why we are all sad that law school is over, I have realized it is because of our classmates. So, I would like to take a few minutes to talk about some of my classmates, recognizing that I do not have a lot of time so I will not be able to talk about very many of them. But if I had the time, I would talk about all.

I returned from Australia to begin my second year of law school and by chance had every class with Peter J. Jenkins. Peter and I quickly became good friends, in large part because he is incredibly funny. But what impressed me most about Peter was not his renowned intellect but his devotion to public interest law. I watched him work tirelessly with PILF to support students who wanted to do public interest work. He spent countless hours volunteering at the public defenders office, and trying to help people who most needed legal help. I was wowed by Peter Jenkins.

Second year I also began working as a T.A. for the first year legal research and writing class. The two other T.A.s for my section were Jared Richards and Christopher Droubay, two other people I didn’t really know first year. Jared and Chris became two of my favorite people at the law school. Chris is who I nominated to speak at graduation, and I would ask him to come up here for a minute, but he’s too far away. Jared and I have become very good friends—last week I even babysat his children! And my roommate is engaged to Jared’s brother-in-law, and I often remind her that she is the luckiest person alive because Jared Richards will be the uncle of her children!! (She is also lucky because of the guy she is marrying…).

This past semester I team-taught an undergraduate class with Sarah Campbell. I had always liked Sarah, but had never spent a lot of time with her before. Working with her quickly became a highlight of my semester. Whenever I would be frustrated or having a hard day, as soon as I worked with Sarah everything would be all right. And I loved watching her teach the students—she was so good. I was wowed by Sarah Campbell.

Second year I had the privilege of having a carrel in the basement. Sometimes I would come to school, and the only person I would really interact with the entire day was my carrel mate, Spencer Clark. And that was all I really needed. Similarly, last summer when I worked for BYU General Counsel and they didn’t have office space for us, I spent my summer working in the empty law library. But Charlotte Larsen was my co-worker, and we would work together and were carrel mates and became the best of friends.

I love the gamers’ corner—the section of married men in our class who sit together and enjoy video games on occasion. The finest day of my law school experience was when I was told that I, too, had what it takes to be in the gamers’ corner. I think they only mentioned that after they found out that I had played Dungeons & Dragons before and liked it! I also loved watching Tim Chandler and Ryan Kearns throughout law school, because they were always so happy together and such good friends. It was cute.

I loved having classes with Rachael Rose, because she was always prepared and had the most insightful comments. So whenever she was in my class, I felt like I could slack off a bit for the semester.

It seems that during law school everyone has gotten married, and that Kiersty Loughmiller was always either throwing the bridal shower or getting them the most thoughtful gift. And whenever she would be in charge of anything at the law school she would almost kill herself making sure it went well…and it always did.

A few months ago, my computer had problems and Bart Seeley offered to help me with it. He ended up spending almost five hours in the middle of a Wednesday helping me with my computer. I could never fully repay him for that.

I have been wowed by Behrad Tabatabaei, a man whose last name I still can’t pronounce, because he has the uncanny ability to make everyone he interacts with feel special.

And I could go on and on and on…

As I look back over my time at law school and how much I loved it, I think to the night before law school began. I was scared. I didn’t know if I was smart enough or hard working enough for law school, I didn’t know if I really wanted to go to law school or to be a lawyer. But I felt good about going to law school, and in particular about going to BYU for law school. So the night before I found myself on my knees, pleading with the Lord for help as I walked into the dark. And I have loved my time at BYU LAW. And that gives me great comfort as now I find myself in the same situation that I was in three years ago: I am scared to be a lawyer. I’m scared of the future and of leaving law school and my friends and starting over. I don’t want to start working! I love school! And once again I find myself on my knees, pleading with the Lord for help as I again walk into the dark, because I feel guidance from the Lord concerning my future.

The thing I can tell you today, which is far more than anything I could ever tell you about the law, is that throughout life we will continually be starting over. We’ll continually be changing and moving on and trying new things, and we’ll continually be a little scared about it. But as we seek the Lord’s guidance and follow Him, walking into the dark, we will have incredible experiences and be happy. Because if I can love law school, I can love anything!

And so I stand before you today, so grateful for my classmates and the opportunity that I have had to get to know all of you and to come to this law school. But I am even more grateful for a Heavenly Father that will continue to guide me throughout all of the new beginnings of my life.