"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me, and I’m feeling good.” - Nina Simone, 'Feeling Good'
Congratulations to our 2021 graduates who were sworn in as new attorneys last week. For them, it’s a new dawn, a new day, a new chapter.
Our graduates took their oaths during the virtual event, which was broadcast and livestreamed from the Courtroom at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center in Columbus. Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor’80 presided over the ceremony.
Two of our graduates, Olimpia Berdysz ’21 and Bakita Hill ’21 were featured in this Ohio Court News Video.
“I wanted to become a dentist,” said Olimpia, who emigrated from Poland. Olympia was a dental hygienist while attending Ohio State University as an undergraduate but became increasingly disinterested with dentistry the more she practiced it. Through some research opportunities, she pivoted to studying law, which she always wanted to do, but seemed out of reach due to her initial language barrier.
Helping her to grasp legalese as a law student was Justice Melody Stewart ‘88, who mentored Olimpia during an externship. “She personally would review every one of my memos, and she would make comments, and we would talk about it,” Olimpia said. “She’s a great teacher, and the skills I learned from her I use every day.”
Fellow C|M|LAW alumna Bakita Hill ’21 switched tracks during her university studies. Intent on being an air traffic controller, the reality was different when Bakita arrived at Kent State University to pursue the career. “Things change, and it’s fine to change the plans that you thought you had set for your life,” said Bakita.
Someday, one or more of our talented 2021 graduates will be inducted in our Hall of Fame. If you missed the November 5 live stream of our 4th Annual Hall of Fame event, you can see it here: C|M|LAW 2021 Hall of Fame Virtual Celebration.
Congratulations again to our 2021 graduates …. It’s time to live justice.
Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay Committed to Living Justice.
Have a great day. Have a great week.
For copies of past messages, please go to this link: Monday Morning Messages.
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My best,
Lee
Lee Fisher
Dean, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law | Cleveland State University
Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler Chair in Law