What has staying involved with U of T meant to you? What have you learned?
I learn as much from the students as they do from me, I think! It’s very fun and dynamic to stay involved. As most of my involvement has been as a mentor through the Black Future Lawyers program, I learn about what issues are important to our future Black legal scholars, whether it’s a particular area of the law, or how to network and create opportunities for learning and growth. I also do some consulting for the law school for diversity initiatives. Next year, I’ll also be coaching a moot team which will be very exciting and give me an opportunity to use some of the great advocacy training that I’m getting at my firm, and cycle it back to students.
Where do you keep your U of T degree?
I’m looking at it right now! It’s framed on my wall.
What would you tell your first-year self?
Three things: One, take a deep breath. It’s going to be challenging, but there are two types of things in the universe that can cause you stress: the things that you can do nothing about, and the things that you can do things about. So, if you can do nothing about it, then try and let it go, and if you can do something about it, take action, rather than be stressed. Second, it’s the people who are going to make and break your experience. I am very lucky to have made some amazing friends while I was at U of T—some of whom are still very close friends. And they will be there for the tough times and for the celebrations and they will they’ll make it all worth it. Finally, I think, what’s most challenging for most people in first year is trying to keep up with the Joneses, so to speak. Trying to compete like that can unravel you and stop you from really focusing on your own life goals.
What words do you live by?
A couple. First, “privilege breeds responsibility.” I say that because I feel that being a lawyer is an immense privilege. It gives me incredible tools to use in navigating the world around me and creates responsibility for me to think critically about how I can give back to the communities that I care about. The other one, which I take from grandmother, is “less haste, more speed,” meaning that the desire to feel like you need to do things quickly, can actually slow you down. So it’s often worth taking a breath and then doing something quickly rather than hastily.
Republished from: Defy Gravity: The Campaign for the University of Toronto has a goal of achieving one million volunteer engagements by our graduates. These engagements range from mentoring, event attendance, and countless opportunities to give the gift of time to help U of T, our students, and our alumni community.