An Interns Prospective on The 2014 Legal Mixer

Meghan O’Garr is a Rhode Island native currently in her third year at St. Edward’s University and has interned at HSC for three semesters. The tagline in her email reads "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are for," which she hopes serves as a reminder to constantly push the boundaries of one’s comfort zone. On a completely unrelated note, she had a near death drowning experience on a recent trip to Thailand.

When Justice Eva Guzman walked up to the check in table at the “Opening Doors: Meeting the demands of a 21st century global marketplace,” I was starstruck to say the least. After all, it’s not everyday that one has the opportunity to meet one of the “101 Most Influential Latino Leaders.” Justice Eva Guzman, the keynote speaker for the benefit hosted by the Gardere Law Firm, had a moving speech.

One guest remarked, “I walked away impressed with the scholars I met, and inspired by the words of Justice Eva Guzman.” In the words of HSC scholar Alan Guerrero, “Justice Eva Guzman is an inspirational woman to many in the Latino community. Her compassion and integrity are just a couple of her best aspects. Her achievements set the bar high and remind us what it means to be a proud Latino.” Guests were highly impressed by the location and throughout the night, many remarked on the beautiful view from the Gardere suite. At one point, I even considered becoming a lawyer so I could apply there and have that view as my backdrop everyday.

The most fulfilling thing for me was seeing our scholars network with the prestigious lawyers, legislatures, judges, and other prominent guests in attendance. Our older, seasoned scholars, especially those attending law school currently, are at ease with the people that will someday become their bosses, coworkers, and prospective clients.

It was the younger scholars that experienced the most growth from the experience. As a junior at St. Edward’s University, I’ve learned that it’s not what one knows, but who one knows. One of my favorite aspects of the HSC program is that our scholars learn firsthand how to network. It’s a skill that is necessary whether one is a law student or a chemist, and I think they’re doing pretty well.