At this time of Graduation, agree to be yourself and learn from your mistakes, but most importantly don't forget to form a strategy along the way.
Graduation is a fascinating event: you’ve got to listen to people reading strangers names for hours, ultimately incorrectly pronouncing yours, take a picture in your cap, and get that Diploma Cover that probably contains nothing. So it seems appropriate for me to share some wisdom. (with my long year of working in the legal profession)
It is called Commencement, because it marks the beginning of your career. Now you've got to come up with a plan.
1. Get a strategy
As I returned to NYC one day, I came across a sign at JFK that said “I came to become“, and this got me thinking. Why did I come here? What do I want to do? Change requires more than determination. It requires a plan and it requires organizing. Passion is vital, but you must have a strategy.
So start thinking about what you want to do with your career. Imagine the end of the story and start preparing for it. By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
So while you listen to strangers’ names, take a minute to reflect on your strategy.Â
2. Be confident in your heritage
While working in the United States will require some form of integration, don’t ditch your heritage: this is what makes you unique. Embrace your Diversity as it is a Strength.
Diversity in human experience gives rise to diversity in thought and approaches to solving problems. This is a great asset for the legal profession.
Comprehending your unique value is only the first step - the second step is promoting yourself. It is not "please let me in" but rather "this is what I can bring to you".
Perceptions do matter – and every firm has a culture for you to fit in, but there is value in staying true to your self-identity. Don’t be afraid to be honest and candid about who you are — the world will relate to you, will want to know you and will certainly provide the opportunities necessary to reach the stars.
So yes, you may have an accent, but you belong to the profession. Not only you belong there, but by being there you make the profession greater.
3. Make memories
You shouldn’t wait for other people to make special things happen: you have to create your own memories. I am obsessed with memories, because you never know when life will change. On this time of graduation, your student life will probably be over: what do you remember from law school? you are about to enter the most uncertain and thrilling period of your lives. As you enter a new chapter, the stories you are about to live are the ones you will be telling your children, and grandchildren, and probably therapists, so make sure to make memories.
Take a minute to look around you on graduation: look at the people. Do you remember them? Because they might remember you at some point of your career.
Every moments are worth cherishing. Mistakes, failures, embarrassments and disappointments are necessary component of growing wise. Perhaps it will make you laugh at some point, but you will definitely learn more from those not-so-good experiences than from the good ones.Â
4. Be kind and give back
The other day, someone quoted the words of Clarence Darrow, an American Lawyer who became famous for his involvement in the Scopes “Monkey” Trial. He said: “The best that we can do is to be kindly and helpful toward our friends and fellow passengers who are clinging to the same speck of dirt.”.
You are about to be a nobody. And that's important because when you become a somebody, if you can' remember what it was like to be a nobody, then you'll be a good person.
IÂ couldn’t agree more: doing good is part of the legal profession. Lawyers are society’s problems solvers. Whether you aim for corporate, or family court, do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial.
Conclusion
The future is stressful, and starting a legal career in the US as a foreigner will require hard work. As cliche as it sounds, “Life’s a journey”, and one common trait in this journey is grit, passion, and perseverance.
So off you go, show your passion, be persistent and develop your grit.Â
