Need a Mentor: DRIVEN BY THE POWER OF COMMUNICATION

By Jesus Valdez, Former Fellow

Growing up I had difficulty speaking due to a speech impediment. Doctors said this was due to me trying to learn Spanish and English at the same time. I would often confuse the languages, get wrapped up on what I was saying, and end up severely stuttering. Growing up I would often cry and be very upset hoping I only spoke one language so I wouldn’t have a stutter. Today I realize how fortunate I am to have mastered both languages, the power of communication; especially in two languages is truly an amazing privilege.

The biggest benefit that I have gained by being a LAW SCHOOL … Sí Se Puede Fellow has been having mentors that have completed the same journey as I am on and being able to communicate with someone that knows exactly what I am going through. Coming from a Hispanic family whose parents didn’t go to college here in the United States it’s very beneficial to have someone that knows what my particular school is all about. Two out of my three mentors also attended the University of Colorado, Boulder and they are able to relate to me to great extent. They really have a sense of what the school is like and what I’m experiencing because they have been there themselves.

One of my mentors was in Greek life at CU like myself; it’s really cool to have that connection. We are also able to talk about the classes I am going to take and surprisingly enough they have taken some of them too. My mom has raised me by herself my entire life, I believe the fact that I have mentors and more people there to support me has put more ease on her. She still gives me a call or text every day but she knows my mentors are also there for me.

A really cool insightful event that was extremely memorable was actually held a few steps from my residence hall at CU Boulder. Judge Arguello gave us the privilege to see U.S. Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonin Scalia speak. He spoke about constitutional interpretation and even compared his efforts to restore constitutional originalism to the challenges faced by Frodo Baggins, the protagonist from the “Lord of the Rings.” Many of my friends around campus were really looking forward to watching Judge Scalia speak but due to limited seats many did not get in, it was great to have been part of that experience. The networking opportunities LAW SCHOOL … Sí Se Puede has created have been once in a lifetime.

My dreams for the future as of right now are to graduate the University of Colorado, Boulder with a double degree in International Affairs and Business with a minor in Spanish. I aspire to go to law school and become a corporate lawyer.

LAW SCHOOL…Sí Se Puede : Not Just Any “Pipeline”

By Philip Nickerson, Mentor
University of Denver – Sturm College of Law

The beauty of LAW SCHOOL… Sí Se Puede is that each fellow has multiple mentors to rely on for guidance and encouragement as they blaze their trails towards becoming the diverse attorneys and leaders of the future. In a profession where minorities are greatly underrepresented, having a support system plays a vital role in ensuring a fellow’s dream of law school does not go unfulfilled.

Yet LAW SCHOOL… Sí Se Puede is more than a program that fosters the growth of our future diverse attorneys. It's a program that fosters the growth of our future diverse role models. Today’s fellows will inherently become the role models for the next generation of great legal minds. The ripple effect that LAW SCHOOL… Sí Se Puede fellows are creating will continue to spread until it inspires the students of color everywhere.

I grew up in a small Texas town of just over 5,000 where the only role models of color my friends and I had to look up to did not go to college, were involved in drugs, or were in jail. With no positive examples to look up to our dreams were limited in scope. For instance, in middle school my friends and I dreamed of nothing outside of high school athletic glory. As our high school days wound down and we began to realize that the glory would soon fade, many of us quit dreaming altogether. Lacking examples of successful women and men of color, we had no one to turn to with questions regarding possible career goals and the paths necessary to obtain them. As a result, I ended up being one of 5 students of color from my graduating class to pursue college and obtain a bachelors degree. Many of my classmates have followed the well-worn path toward no further education, abuse of drugs, and jail time.

When I agreed to give four years of my time as a mentor with LAW SCHOOL… Sí Se Puede , I did so knowing that I would aid in the creating a role model for young kids of color. I knew that the words of advice, the text messages of encouragement, and the phone calls to just “check-in” with my mentee over the next four years would not only help my him achieve his goal of attending law school, but also give future generations of diverse students something greater to aspire. My mentee, as a freshman in college, is already showing of becoming the role model I want my children to look up to. The true beauty of the LAW SCHOOL… Sí Se Puede fellowship program is the exponential effect four years of mentorship of one fellow can have on generations to come.

A Footprint In Impervious Sand…Not my Legacy

By Ivette Villa, Former Fellow

Some say actions speak louder than words. Out of mere curiosity I wanted to challenge this. How could it be that words were not strong enough? People often overlook the power of words until they reach an overall under-appreciation for them.  Words have gained a reputation of settling at the bottom or being whisked away by silence. I believe differently. The power of my words is equally potent as the power of my hands. With my hands, I am able to set an example for others to follow. With my words, I am able to look people in their eyes and influence their perspectives.

Being surrounded by people who know the worth and appreciation of both their actions and words inspires me to keep facing obstacles and questioning clichés. A community that is formed from integrity and respect motivates me to fight for who I am.  LAW SCHOOL … Sí Se Puede and my mentors leave footprints for me to fill with pieces of myself in this world.  It is a community whose events help mold me into a person who not only looks out for my own particular blissful future, but also, who wants to help others accomplish the same.  I did not join LAW SCHOOL … Sí Se Puede simply for their support or for their guidance. I joined because the people involved put forth the example of what leadership is and how to speak with power.  When I talk to my mentors and LAW SCHOOL … Sí Se Puede members at meetings and events, their words carry weight, pushing me towards my dreams, making me believe in myself and in my cause.

I believe in a time of change - a time where both our actions and our words walk together and mark footprints, which will remain, rooted in our lives, rather than washed away.

A Chance Meeting, Yet Such An Important One

By Juan Villaseñor, Mentor
Assistant United States Attorney, District of Colorado

I met a lawyer for the first time when I was 19 years old. Of all places, it was in traffic school, in San Francisco, California, where we both were trying to keep points off our license for a minor traffic violation! A chance meeting, yet such an important one because he became my friend and mentor, and the reason I went to law school.

It was thus natural for me that to become a mentor for LAW SCHOOL … Sí Se Puede. One of things I enjoyed most with my first lawyer-friend and mentor was that he invited me to his office and to lawyer dinners and other events. This is how I learned about what lawyers do and about their social circles. It helped me understand his professional universe. 

With that in mind, I recently invited Jasmine, my fellow, to my office. I gave her a mini-tour and explained how the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office works, the many types of cases we handle, and how cases are assigned. I know we gave Jasmine a lot of information to process! She had no idea about some of the things my office does, and was very interested in the matters we handle. Afterward, we headed to Judge Arguello's courtroom to see a short hearing in a civil case. And we then stayed to visit with her.  

Experiences like this make an impression upon and provide valuable information to the LAW SCHOOL … Sí Se Puede fellows. It is good to demystify what a career and a job may look like. My own similar experiences certainly did and allowed me to picture myself as one day holding a career in the law. I hope Jasmine had a similar experience.