May 2011 Archives

I, along with about 35 other Penn State undergrads with majors ranging from English to Electrical Engineering, participated in Penn State Law's second annual Explore Law program held May 15-20, 2011 in the Katz building. This program is designed for students who are interested in possibly pursuing futures in Law to gain insight into what it means to be a Law student and eventually an attorney. Before the program even started, we had homework assignments--these assignments were (1) a personal statement for admission to Law School, (2) a practice LSAT essay exam, and (3) reading five different cases and writing "briefs" for them. When I saw these assignments, I knew I was going to be in for a rigorous week at law school camp!

Throughout the span of the program, I was consistently impressed with the lineup of presentations, panelists, and activities that kept us busy from 9 am to 5 pm (just like in real Law School). Much of the days' presentations featured Law Professors, Deans, Attorneys, and Judges who spoke about their professional specialties as well as their career paths and experiences in the field of Law. While that may seem to be a monotonous way to spend each day, it definitely was not. Not only did their stories inspire me (let me tell you, these people are successful with a capital S), but I enjoyed the honest and candid testimonials about their journeys. Each presenter shared their successes, but also took time to highlight the many challenges they faced along the way. For instance, they noted several difficulties of Law School such as professors' use of the Socratic Method, emphasis on analytical reasoning, the competitive atmosphere, and long lonely hours reading and studying, to name a few. Despite the challenges, each professional who spoke was very happy in their career and could also highlight many joyful times in Law School and afterward. Throughout the week, I was pleasantly surprised to realize that not all Law graduates take the same path; not every graduate ends up in courtrooms or works in a large firm in a high pressure setting. Many different people spoke to us throughout the week from all different paths; we heard from Law students and professors (legal writing, torts, and criminal procedure), Litigators, Judges, Deans, Transactional Lawyers, and Academic Advisors in the Law School. Hearing the diverse perspectives reinforced the claim that you can do a lot of different things with a J.D.

When we weren't listening to those very informational presentations, we were engaged in mock classes and workshops. We took two mock Law classes, one on "torts" and the other on criminal procedure. Those are two "1L" classes that are prescribed in the first year of Law School. In our Case Briefing Workshops, we worked on the briefs that we submitted as early homework assignments which were then used in the mock classes we participated in. One of my favorite activities was the "Lawyer Simulation Exercise," which was a simulation in negotiation and conflict management. Professors Welsh and Shea gave a presentation on the work of lawyers as "negotiators" in contracts and other deals, and the Law School campers participated in a simulation which I really enjoyed--maybe it's the Resident Assistant in me who loves managing conflict! Our final, big activity was the Litigation Workshop, or "mock trial," where we all got to play a part in a classic slip-and-fall" case. Some of us were lawyers, some judges and jurors, and the rest witnesses (plaintiffs or defendants/appellants/appellees). This activity was a lot of fun, and we got to work together in groups based on our roles. For example, I was the "witness" Danielle Fox, who was also the plaintiff. I had two lawyers (for two separate trials), so I was able to work with those students on my direct examination. It was a lot of fun! After our trials were over, real lawyers stepped into the student lawyers' shoes and performed direct and cross examinations of the same case. It was amazing to see them do what they do best!

Some other things that were discussed throughout the week were of course admissions and logistical questions about the LSAT, percentiles, transcripts, and financial aid, as well as information on joint degree programs and career services information. We were also given a personal tour of the Katz building and we got to hang out with two Penn State Law students--one who just finished her first year and the other who is now a graduate!

All in all, I am so glad I participated in this program. It gave me wonderful insight into life as a law student and to where a degree in Law can take a person in their career. I initially wanted to participate in Explore Law for just that--to explore the possibilities of Law, and this program definitely enhanced my knowledge of the experience. Not only was I surrounded by 34 other super ambitious undergraduate students, but I got to meet and mingle with some highly impressive lawyers, judges, and professors to talk about Law. The days were definitely long and the homework was not easy (at least for a student not accustomed to that kind of homework), but that helped make the week's activities more realistic and useful. For now, my future plans are not concrete, however Law School is most definitely in the mix of potential pathways to pursue and because of Explore Law I no longer feel quite as lost as to what that means. I highly encourage other students to apply for this program next year. Information can be found on Penn State Law's website.

Many thanks to Professor Michele Vollmer at Penn State Law for coordinating and facilitating the whole program. She did a wonderful job!

I've always wanted to be a lawyer. As I child I dreamed about standing in the courtroom and putting "bad guys" in jail. Everyone supported my dream and encouraged me to pursue it. What they didn't say what how hard it was to become a lawyer or how many steps I'd have to conquer before reaching my dream. Nothing could stop me though. Greatness is in my blood. Let me explain...

My name is Katie Deller. I'm the youngest of three daughters in my family. Both of my older sisters attended very highly respected schools and both are now very successful women. They are both quite proud of their academic achievements. I consider myself extremely fortunate to grow up in such a motivating and encouraging atmosphere. Many people my age don't get to see the benefits of college and hard work; but I see it first hand everyday. I understand the advantages of putting the time and effort into a good education and the benefits of going the extra mile.

My sister's successes remind me everyday that greatness is in our blood. Their success motivated me to work as hard as I could. I am currently a Junior, in my 7th semester at Penn State. I'm a double major in Crime, Law, and Justice and Sociology. In less than two months, I'll be taking my L.S.A.T. exam to apply to law school. I'm extremely excited to start the next part of my life.

There are many things you learn in criminology and sociology but the most important thing for a future attorney is hands on experience. The first step on my road to becoming an attorney was to find an internship. All the intern programs were full last fall, so I had to find another alternative. I independently contacted a list of local attorneys to see if I could shadow them to gain some hands-on experience and learn about the everyday duties of an attorney. I was fortunate enough to come in contact with an extraordinary person: Attorney Stephanie Lynne Cooper. Ms. Cooper agreed to let me join her office as an unpaid intern for the spring semester. Moreover, she worked with me and the staff in the CLJ and SOC department here at Penn State to set up a more formal internship program for future liberal arts students. As a result, I was able to receive academic credit for my spring internship.

This internship is very important for my career because I will receive first-hand legal experience. There are two categories of law: "law on the books" and "law in action." And thanks to this internship opportunity, I will have experienced both of these aspects of law. So far I've taken close to ten criminal justice classes - these courses obviously fall into the "law on the books" category, providing me with a valuable academic perspective. But, I was still missing experiences outside of the classroom, those lessons that cannot be taught in a classroom: "law in action." You cannot teach the sick feeling in the pit of your stomach the first time you step in the courtroom for trial; you cannot teach the disappointment of your client being found guilty; and you certainly cannot teach the pride you feel when you get your first "not guilty" verdict. All of these lessons and interactions can only be experienced first-hand, outside the classroom. These are the things that MAKE you a lawyer. And these are the things I have been experiencing and learning in my internship with Attorney Cooper.

Stay tuned for my next post where I will describe in more detail some of the aspects of my internship and my continuing path to becoming a lawyer.

On April 8th, the Composition Program held its banquet for the Annual Pennsylvania High School Writing Contest. It's now in its 29th year! We recognized 20 students: 17 finalists and the top 3. The winner was Joy Wang, a student from Council Rock High School, South, which is in Holland, PA.

The essay question this year was on globalization and the Internet:

In "Global Village Idiocy,"New York Times journalist Thomas Friedman provides a relatively pessimistic view of how the Internet affects users, especially in an age of extended social relationships. Based on your personal experiences, what is your take on his arguments and on the global dimensions of the Internet? Do your experiences, views, and opinions align with those of Friedman? Have your experiences been more positive? If global networks are here to stay, and they appear to be, how might we use them for learning, community building, and other productive purposes? In your response, (1) describe and evaluate your experiences with the Internet and (2) explain how the Internet has assisted you in becoming a member of a more global community, or has failed to live up to its potential to do so. Use your personal experience with school, community service, and other programs to illustrate and support your points.

Below is a post Joyce has written for LAUS@PSU about the essay she wrote:

Hello everyone, guest blogger here. I'm Joy Wang, a junior at Council Rock High School South. And you may ask, with good reason, "Joy, why are you writing for the LAUS blog?" It's a long story that starts with an essay contest, of all things--the one that Penn State's composition department runs for high school juniors.

So on a frosty day in December, I was locked in a computer lab with two other juniors from my school and was told to agree, disagree, or qualify a prompt which included an article by the New York Times columnist, Thomas L. Friedman, that ran in 2002, titled "Global Village Idiocy." My essay, entitled "Information Overload: Skepticism and Social Organization in the Internet Era," was apparently sufficiently ingenious to catch some reader's eye for a reason I've yet to discern.

In any case, the thesis of Friedman's argument is this: That the internet, however convenient and accessible, has fundamentally become a force for polarization and misunderstanding rather than a catalyst for harmony and societal interaction. A bold claim, to be sure, but one that has some traction given the horror and blind stupidity of the dregs of internet forums and comment threads. (For a particularly telling cross-section of these internet denizens, I recommend the comment section on CNN.)

The luxury of near-complete anonymity, Friedman argues, has brought out the virulent haters, the extremists, the fringe elements of our society who would have otherwise remained isolated, quarantined from the rest of the world by the analog divide. And this is not untrue--but it's only half of the story.

On Saturday, May 14th, we gathered to celebrate the 2011 graduating class from the College of the Liberal Arts. Rain threatened all day, but somehow Robin Robinson and Andrea Crews, who did an excellent job coordinating the events, managed to arrange for the rain to hold off until everyone was safely inside a packed Bryce Jordan Center. 

Episode 27 of Liberal Arts Voices is our "Commencement Special." Outgoing Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council (LAUC) President Geoff Halberstadt and outgoing LAUC Vice President Amanda Craig join the program to discuss their undergraduate experiences in the College of the Liberal Arts as they prepare to graduate this upcoming Saturday (May 14, 2011).

This year, Amanda will be serving as the Sociology Department Marshal. In this podcast, Amanda and Geoff share their fondest memories of their time here at Penn State. They discuss their tenure in LAUC, the internships in which they participated, their most memorable classes, etc. Both graduating seniors talk about how their educational experiences in the College of the Liberal Arts were shaped by the relationships they made with fellow students, advisers, faculty and staff. 

The Liberal Arts Undergraduate Studies Office would like to thank Amanda and Geoff, and the other graduating members of LAUC for their dedication to the College and specifically to our unit's social media initiative. We hope that CLA graduating seniors listen to this episode of Liberal Arts Voices and share some of your favorite Penn State memories!

For more information regarding the Spring 2011 College of the Liberal Arts Commencement Ceremony, please visit our website.  Best of luck to all graduating liberal arts majors and remember that you can keep in touch with the College of the Liberal Arts by subscribing to our blog, becoming our fan on Facebook, and following us on Twitter.

Liberal Arts Voices: Episode 27

To subscribe to Liberal Arts Voices through iTunes, click here.

We encourage all of our listeners to write to us with comments, questions, or suggestions at laus@la.psu.edu. We may even respond to these comments on the next episode of Liberal Arts Voices.

I hope that finals treated everyone well. For the seniors who are graduating: Congratulations! It's a great accomplishment. I hope that you remain involved in Penn State and work to give back some way to the undergraduates who are remaining and who have yet to enroll.

This issue of Dispatch from the Other Side is aimed at the students who have some more classes left at Penn State. If you're planning on more classes over the summer or if you have a few years left ahead of you, I hope you can learn from some of my "classmates." I recently ran across some information from a survey of recent graduates (all different types of universities and colleges throughout the country) that I thought might be useful. The survey attempted to measure the biggest (professional-related) regrets that recent graduates have regarding their time in school. I'm going to throw out a few of the numbers and a little bit of my analysis.

Over a quarter of the students surveyed said that they wish they had networked more prior to graduation. 18% of them said that they wish they had done more internships. I think that these two numbers illustrate the importance of taking a step back and learning about your surroundings. I wrote a while ago about leveraging connections at Penn State, and I think this data indicates that students wish they did more of that. At Penn State, you have some remarkable opportunities for networking and internships: just look at the alumni base around you and the wide array of internship/co-op assistance available to you.

26% of recent graduates wish they had applied to more jobs when they were in school. 26% also said they wish they'd started their job searches sooner. 12% said they wish they had spent more time on their application materials. These data seem to indicate that planning is critical. Getting an early start thinking about the kind of jobs you want to apply for and then identifying potential application opportunities (I recommend using the Nittany Lion Career Network for at least a glimpse at the variety that you have). If you start earlier, you'll be able to apply for more jobs with greater depth and sophistication. Employers can tell if you spent a few days on the application materials or a few minutes. If you are graduating in May 2012, there are plenty of employers who would like to take your application in November 2011 and interview you sometime over the winter.

14% of students say they would have changed their major. 8% think they should have gone directly to graduate school. What these statistics tell me is that students really must take the time to think about what academic opportunities are right for them. If you are in the College of the Liberal Arts, you have an incredible selection of majors and an excellent set of advisors that can help you figure out what programs are right for you. You may decide to add a major outside of the College too - whatever you choose, just remember to think through your major(s) and how you want to structure your education. You will be glad that you put the thought into it. Consult with professors, advisors, and other members of your personal community to get as much information as possible.

What do you think of the numbers: do you think that they represent recent graduated you know? What kind of work have you done to put yourself in a better position and have fewer regrets once you graduate? If you have any questions, feel free to put them in the comments. And if you have a topic for me to write about in the future, I'm always open for suggestions in the comments or on Twitter.

In addition to Harry Potter and all the other great movies coming out this summer (2011), there are other opportunities that can help you more in life than casting spells ever will. Personally, I am still on the hunt for a summer internship. Here are a few options for those Liberal Arts undergraduates trying to plan their summers.

Of course you can enroll in summer classes to get some credits out of the way and even possibly graduate early. Make sure to check out a blog post on summer courses recently written by CLA Adviser Tracey Melnick. You can also find a job to save up some cash for next year. If you plan ahead, you might even be able to find yourself an internship. OR, you can participate in LeaderShape!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with LeaderShape - maybe you've seen the fliers but don't quite grasp the concept - I can explain a bit more about the program. I actually participated in LeaderShape and was the on-site coordinator last year. LeaderShape is a six day leadership program, the week after finals (May 8th-13th).  It takes place at the Hartman Center in Milroy PA, about 45 minutes outside State College. Students stay in cabins and are provided with three meals a day (and lots of snacks). Each year, approximately 60-70 Penn State student leaders participate in this program. Participants are broken up into "family clusters." Students work in these clusters to develop their leadership skills and discover the powerful leader within. Several team building, trust, and personality activities are played throughout the week after which students are encouraged to reflect on the lessons learned. This is an opportunity to network with other student leaders as well as Penn State faculty and staff who serve as cluster facilitators. To sum up the experience: with the exception of my allergies, everything was GREAT! It is, however, what you make of it. So if do not step outside of your comfort zone or choose not to interact with others, your time will not be well spent. The application deadline for this summer has passed, but keep this in mind for next summer.

The next opportunity I would like to discuss is Explore Law (future lawyers take note!). This program lasts roughly a week in the summer (this year, it is actually scheduled for the week after LeaderShape so you can potentially do both). Explore Law provides participants with the opportunity to go to the Dickinson School of Law and attend classes as if you were an actual law school student. The difference is that Explore Law participants get to meet with panelists consisting of practicing lawyers, judges, students, and the admissions board. Participants have to do some homework, but they will also receive help with writing skills and feedback on a mock LSAT essay. If you are wondering where you will live and what you will eat, no worries. This is a FREE program and you will be provided with housing and a meal plan. As a past participant, I can tell you that Michele Vollmer (the law school professor in charge of the program) is one of the nicest and most helpful people you will ever meet. I have learned so much about what to expect from law school and the legal profession and I have also been able to apply a lot of these concepts to my Political Science classes. The application process is not an easy one, and again, the deadline has passed for this year. But definitely think about applying in the future!

The last opportunity I would like to mention is the Penn State Summer Leadership Conference. I attended the one offered at PSU Berks two years ago. It was an amazing three days spent with Penn State student leaders from across the commonwealth. I am currently on the planning committee for this year's which will be taking place from August 8th-10th at PSU Erie. Visit the Commonwealth Summer Leadership website to register!  The registration deadline for this year is May 30.

I highly recommend all of these programs. And as I previously mentioned, they are what you make of them. The key term here is networking. You will at the very least gain a significant amount of helpful contacts from these programs. I hope that you make the most of your summer. Although the semester is almost over, take some time to research potential options to make your summer as productive as possible!

PEACE & LOVE ALWAYS. Stay Motivated. Stay Positive.