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Monday Morning Message 10.18.21 Carrying the Torch
“Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it over to future generations.” ― George Bernard Shaw
“Words cannot express the gratitude I have for the scholarship you all have so kindly decided to offer me…You all have given me the opportunity to fulfill my destiny and for that I am forever grateful ! My son will one day be able to say that his mother was given a chance despite financial hardship, and this blessing can teach him that if you dream big enough, no obstacle will be big enough.” -recent 1L Student

Monday Morning Message 10.11.21 I Am Not Successful in Spite of My Son. I Am Successful Because of My Son.
“A lot of people will look at me and say that I was able to succeed in spite of being a young, single mother. But they are wrong. I am not successful in spite of my son, I am successful because of my son. He has made me the person I am today and I will have him to thank when I get my diploma in the spring.” - Jillian Gosser, Founder and Past President, Student Parent Alliance, 3L
“I look forward to the day when Gregory gets to see his mommy walk across that stage and get the degree she gave her blood, sweat, and tears for. Don’t ever give up on your dreams because anything is possible if you dedicate your entire being to it!” -
Gianna Colucci, President, Student Parent Alliance, 3L

Monday Morning Message 10.4.21 First Monday in October / First Friday in November
“The President and the Congress … can say what they think they think, but it rests with the Supreme Court to decide what they have really thought.” ― President Theodore Roosevelt
This morning’s message is about the First Monday in October, and the first Friday in November.

Monday Morning Message 9.27.21 Attitude Determines Altitude.
“Come to the edge” he said. They said, “We are afraid.“ “Come to the edge,” he said. They came. He pushed them…and they flew.” – Guillaume Apollinaire
As our very talented first year class enters their 6th week of law school, here are some thoughts I shared with them on their first day.
At this moment, your past scores, grades, and successes as well as your past defeats, failures, and mistakes are behind you.You get to choose how you start your next chapter. Your mindset is in front of you.
Your attitude will determine your altitude.
Believe in yourself. You earned this.
Remember your why. Why you chose this path.

Monday Morning Message 9.20.21 Faculty Focus
“Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats
Nothing is more important to student success and the success of our great law school than the quality of our full-time faculty. Our faculty are teachers and scholars who offer a level of expertise, accessibility, support, encouragement, and interaction that many law schools don’t offer. They not only inspire our students, they inspire each other, and they inspire me. We are also very fortunate to have outstanding adjunct and emeritus faculty, and leaders-in-residence.

Monday Morning Message 9.13.21 The Sky is No Longer the Limit
“The sky is no longer the limit…” -Motto of CSU C|M|LAW’s Global Space Law Center

Monday Morning Message 9.13.21 The Sky is No Longer the Limit
“The sky is no longer the limit…” -Motto of CSU C|M|LAW’s Global Space Law Center

Monday Morning Message 9.7.21 Guardians of Justice
“Regardless of WHAT we do in our lives, our WHY—our driving purpose, cause or belief—never changes….Those who forget WHY they were founded show up to the race every day to outdo someone else instead of to outdo themselves.” ― Simon Sinek, author, Start With Why
When I spoke to our first year students on the first evening of Orientation, I told them that it was important to “start with why.” I asked them to break into small groups and ask each other why they enrolled at CSU Cleveland-Marshall. I observed that no one talked about getting a job (although that, of course, is very important!). Rather, virtually all of them talked about using their law degree to make a difference and to advance justice.

Monday Morning Message 8.30.21 You'll Be Known For What You Do, Not Who You Say You Are.
"Be ethical even when you think no one is looking; your word is truly all you have. Good opinion once lost can be difficult to regain. Maintain an unimpeachable reputation for honesty and integrity....Be professional. Law school is not undergraduate college where sins may be easily forgotten. You’ll be known for what you do, not who you say you are. " -U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson '95, Northern District of Ohio, August 2021 Orientation Closing Speaker

Monday Morning Message 8.23.21 Welcome Back!
“Get ready to embark on a wild ride unlike anything you’ve ever experienced, packed with thrills, chills, and probably a few spills. Being a 1L will challenge you like you’ve never been challenged….. The first year of law school will be one of the hardest years of your life. Law school will profoundly alter the way you think, and view and interact with the world around you. Your 1L experience will change who you are, whether you want it to or not. “ Andrew McClurg, 1L of a Ride, A Well-Traveled Professor's Roadmap to Success in the First Year of Law School
The Monday Morning Message took a brief summer hiatus, but it’s back just in time to welcome back all our students! Today is the first day of classes.