“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” - Declaration of Independence
"Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." -Maya Angelou
Below is another message to those extraordinary individuals who have been admitted to the Fall 2018 Class of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.
Last week, I urged you to ask some important questions before you make one of the most important decisions of your life. This morning, I urge you to ask one more question as you decide which law school to choose for your next life chapter.
- Does the law school care about your happiness?
Law school is not easy, nor should it be. While the study of law can and should be fulfilling and rewarding, it’s also academically rigorous. No matter how bright and talented you are, your success will be determined by your hard work, focus, and persistence.
However, too many law schools do not understand that your success also will be determined by your happiness and well-being.
The law school stereotype is that law school must be a grueling ordeal to adequately prepare students for legal practice. The stress on students’ mental and physical well-being has become an accepted rite of passage of law school life.
But that should not be accepted. The toll on students’ mental health is an obstacle to their success. If we are to hold true to the unalienable right to the pursuit of happiness, we have a responsibility to our students to do all we can to help them in that pursuit.
In the 1973 movie classic "The Paper Chase," Harvard Law School Professor Charles Kingsfield tells his students, "Look to your left, look to your right. One of you won't be here next year."
During orientation last August, I told our first year students, “Look to your left, look to your right. You likely are looking at a friend and colleague for life.”
We want you to learn in an environment that makes you as productive as possible. Study after study demonstrate that, as Albert Einstein said, ‘Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.’
We believe that it is possible to work hard and still have fun. We believe that it is possible to compete with your fellow students and still be friends.
A piano. A ping pong table. Coffee and food in the Dean’s suite. Beautiful artwork. A comfortable learning commons. Monthly pizza ‘sidebars.’ A quiet meditation and yoga room (coming this fall). None of these things alone are that important, but together they help foster a culture of caring and support.
We are a law school that is student-centered. Here you will find open doors and open minds and a level of accessibility, support, encouragement, and interaction that many law schools don’t offer.
On Friday night, Peggy and I hosted a reception at our home for over 170 guests, including over 40 of our admitted students. Students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends mingled, laughed, and told stories. It was a warm, engaging evening.
On Saturday night, Peggy and I attended the Barrister's Ball and we had the chance to see our students laughing, dancing, and celebrating their incredible accomplishments and friendships with each other. The Barrister's Ball (a.k.a. Law Prom) is sponsored by the Student Bar Association (SBA). It was held at The Metropolitan at the 9 with over 190 students and their guests, as well as some faculty and staff.
Yesterday afternoon, Associate Dean Michael Borden and I took some admitted students and current students to the Indians game. We had a great time getting to know each other better as we watched the Indians defeat the Kansas City Royals 3-1.
I am not suggesting that we should try to make law school easy or that we should not expect you to work hard. We expect you to work very hard.
But….. as Maya Angelou wrote, we also want you to take some time ‘in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.’
We admitted you because we believe in you.
Our purpose is to help you find your purpose, maximize your potential, and foster your pursuit of happiness.
Have a great week.
For copies of past messages, please go to this link: Monday Morning Messages.
My best,
Lee
My views in all my Monday Morning Messages are my personal views alone and do not reflect the views of our Law School or our University.