By Stefanie Arjona, Fellow Class of 2016
University of Denver
Dear High School Senior Stefanie,
You don’t know it yet, but you’re about to be introduced to some of the most supportive people you’ll have throughout college: your Law School Yes We Can (LSYWC) mentors. I know that at first you’ll think you have nothing in common with them and won’t know how to relate to them. You’ll even question whether your mentors will be able to help you get to law school without knowing what it’s like to be a Latina from Southwest Denver pursuing this career. But after four years of LSYWC with these mentors, I can confidently tell you that they are the mentors you’ve been hoping for. Each one of your mentors will provide the exact support you need to get through college and prepare us for everything that awaits.
Your mentors will really be there for you every step of the way. They will advise you about what classes to take, which will eventually lead you to find your ideal major, sociology. Your mentors will help you grow as a writer through edits and revisions. They will listen to your ceaseless, unabating mock trial anecdotes, and they will also be the only people outside of your mock trial team to understand what you’re talking about. Your mentors will listen to your worries and family hardships. They will open their homes to you and make you feel like part of their family. They will invite you to networking events and help you make connections. They will list out the pros and cons of taking a year off before going to law school, aiding you in the daunting decision. Your mentors will make time for you by setting up coffees, lunches, and dinners to talk about how college is going, and you’ll come to see how refreshing simply talking about college with someone who has already gone through it will be. They will relay their own struggles with taking the LSAT and applying to law school. They will praise and celebrate even your smallest accomplishments, which will make you realize just how much you belong at DU. Your mentors will even get you to finally read and watch the entire Harry Potter series, and you’ll wonder how you could have possibly gone so long without it in your life!
But most importantly, your mentors will inspire you to become a mentor for future generations of high school seniors like you. You’ll come to understand that not all of your biggest supporters are going to share the same exact life experiences as you. And that’s okay because the very best mentors are simply the ones that are there for you, guiding you through the journey.
All the best,
College Senior Stefanie
A very special thanks to Sonia Anderson, Lydia Lulkin, John Dwyer, and Amy Kapoor. My college experience would not have been the same without any of you.
