By: Sam Klee, ‘16
Published on
Hands-on career preparation, attained through internships and supplementary training
programs, has emerged as an increasingly important factor for many college students.
In highly competitive fields, this real-world experience enables graduates to distinguish
themselves and reach new levels of success. Recognizing this, many Aquinas students
are taking the initiative to find such opportunities - take Diamond L. Johnson, a
senior communication major who participated in the Widener School of Law’s Jurist Academy during the summer
of 2013, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
After first earning an Associate of Liberal Arts from Oakland Community College, Johnson
transferred to ñ in 2012. When describing what drew her to the school,
she emphasized its warm and friendly atmosphere as a decisive factor. “I scheduled
a campus visit and met with an ambassador,” Johnson said. “She gave me a tour of the
school, and I absolutely fell in love with the campus. It was the welcoming and personal
feeling that came from everyone I met - I love this place! There was something here
that just made me feel at home.”
Like many students, Johnson commutes to Aquinas - albeit under somewhat non-traditional
circumstances. Whereas most commuter students live in western Michigan, Johnson makes
a weekly two-hour trek from Livonia to Grand Rapids for classes. Yet as an effect
of this decision, Johnson said that she has taken advantage of this time alone to
reflect and deepen her prayer life. "In transferring to a great school, driving from
Livonia to school once a week for my classes, it definitely strengthened and renewed
my relationship with God, something initially I wasn't expecting!”
Johnson plans to attend law school after graduating from Aquinas, and used the summer
to become better prepared. She heard about the Jurist Academy in Pennsylvania, a program
through Widener Law that seeks to increase participation of underrepresented minority
groups in law school. The two-week June program fit well with Johnson’s schedule,
and she applied with guidance from Sharon Smith, the Director of Career Services at
Aquinas. “I was initially waitlisted,” Johnson said. “Then the director of the [Jurist]
program called, offering me one of ten spots from a pool of 100 applicants - they
were very selective."
The Jurist Academy was conducted similarly to a law school, giving students a better
feel for their potential careers. Participants had three classes each day throughout
the program, were given a mock LSAT exam, and had many opportunities to discuss aspects
of law school and practice with lawyers in fields such as public interest, environmental
litigation, nonprofits, and government.
Reflecting on her experience, and the program’s lasting influence, Johnson believed
that she was given a new perspective on law, and her decision to pursue it as a career
has been solidified. "I received an abundance of information,” she said. “It was very
helpful to my search, especially looking at law school, knowing what to look for,
which schools are ideal for me, and how I can become the ideal candidate. I went in
wanting to be a lawyer, particularly in public interest, but I learned there are more
opportunities in different areas of law than I had actually thought about."