By: Jessica Sivillo

Dr. Steve Maraboli said, "To embark on the journey towards your goals and dreams requires bravery. To remain on that path requires courage. The bridge that merges the two is commitment." To the Class of 2022, congratulations on accomplishing all of your goals thus far! You should be proud of your continued bravery, courage, and commitment.

​During the spring semester of 2022, I had the pleasure of interning as the Blog Editor for the Journey to Esquire Scholarship & Leadership Program. As I participated in the Program's modules and connected with other interns and scholars, I realized that we all share a common theme in our journeys. Each of us have a different story, and we must all embrace our "why."

We all started the journey to esquire for a different reason. Some of us want to change the world and others want to be a voice for the voiceless. The Journey to Esquire Scholarship & Leadership Program embodies the importance of celebrating what "purpose" means for everyone. We all have something unique and valuable to share. When we remain dedicated and persistent, we can achieve success. A key to crossing the finish line is remembering why you started.

​Whether you are still in law school, studying for the Bar exam, or taking a new step in your career, I encourage you to remember what got you here so far. Celebrate all of your achievements along the way. Thank you to Professor Hardrick and the Journey to Esquire Scholarship & Leadership Program for this fantastic experience.

I was paused, harbored here
In green leaves—cut stem but saved
Waiting out the years
Between blooms.

In green leaves—cut stem but saved
The seasons of law
Between blooms
Taught me what it means to be queer.

The seasons of law
Now, demanding more than silence
Taught me what it means to be queer
And gifted me this: Journey to Esquire.

Now, demanding more than silence
I have become unmoored
And gifted this: Journey to Esquire
I am ready to bloom.

As I walk through the dull, grey office, I can pretty much smell the lack of sleep as the keyboards clack, clack, clack away. Black coffee in hand, I stroll over to my desk and slump into my seat, its flimsy plastic creaking under my weight; I look over to see a bright, yellow sticky note sitting on my desk, it reads; “New case, file in the drawer” scribbled in a red biro. I check the drawer, and sure enough, there sits a sad, beige file. I open it up and right away get to work; as I read the tiny print, I jot down some notes on my notepad.
“Now, this is a murder scene like never before,” I introspect. The police and forensic investigators found a bloody sock, an empty wallet, AND the murder weapon; not only that, but it had traces of DNA, just enough to send in for testing, however, that takes a long time, but in the meantime, the police have a suspect. Read more here.

Ten years trapped in an inescapable prison. Ten years of lost time. Wasted. I recently saw a man named Ryan Ferguson on a show called The Amazing Race. The show introduced him as a wrongfully convicted person who was jailed for 10 years and wanted to make up for the lost time by being a part of the Amazing Race. I wanted to look into his story a bit more, which eventually lead to me researching stories of other wrongfully convicted people. All these stories showed how important it is to provide accused persons with procedural rights, how the court system protects our rights, and how important it is for the judicial system to be diverse so it can be trusted. Read more here.

Watch the presentations on YouTube coming soon!

Inaya Smith-Marsette passed the Minnesota Bar Exam, Neena Sterling, Ana Lleonart, Lucero Feliciano, Hala Alkattan, Damian Rape and Jeanneth Miranda all passed the Florida Bar Exam. Journey to Esquire complete! 

Do you have a passion for helping your community? Are you looking for opportunities as a law school student to get involved now? Here are some tips for how you can start helping local organizations while you are a student:

Tip #1: Join a Student Organization on Campus.
Many campus organizations find community service projects for the group to do together. For instance, at WMU Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Tampa Bay, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL) collaborated with Meals on Wheels. FAWL members delivered fresh produce to senior citizens in the Tampa Bay area. Students got to build a connection with Meals on Wheels, individuals in their community, and with each other. 

Tip #2: Reach Out to Local Non-Profits.
Representatives from non-profits and other community service organizations are willing to help you find an opportunity. All you have to do is go to their website, look for their contact information, and send an email or make a phone call. They are always looking for volunteers, and most are willing to be flexible with your schedule.

For example, the NOMORE Foundation seeks to connect people who are looking to end slavery, poverty, human trafficking, and more. If you have a passion for one of these causes, you can find available outreach projects on NOMORE's website: https://fornomore.org/volunteer2021/.

Tip #3: Ask Other Students, Faculty, and Staff at Your School.
Share your interests with individuals at your school. There's a good chance that someone will be able to connect you to the right resource or person who can assist you in fulfilling your community service goals. Don't be afraid to share what you are passionate about with others. You might be able to find a common connection between yourself and one of your peers. Doing community service as a group can help you build meaningful relationships.

Tip #4: Join a Pro Bono Challenge.
Florida hosts the Florida Pro Bono Law School Challenge for students. The competition allows students to work with local legal aid organizations and to have real world experience with clients. The Florida Bar Foundation hosts this opportunity, and the Foundation's mission is "to promote public service among lawyers by making it an integral part of the law school experience."

This is a fantastic way for students to start getting involved in pro bono work early and to connect with lawyers who can share their advice and insight about the process.

Tip #5: Reach Out to Your Local Bar Association.
Several local bar associations have service opportunities for students to join. If you become a student member of your local bar association, you can subscribe to the email updates and newsletters. You will receive information regarding upcoming events and community service projects. 

For instance, the Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA) hosted its 18th Annual Judicial Food Festival & 13th Annual 5K Pro Bono River Run this past weekend. Students had the chance to volunteer with the 5K committee to help with race setup and support. This is just one example of the many outreach events that are offered.


Participating in service projects as a student allows you to get involved early, to connect with individuals in your community, and to assist local organizations with their mission work. Comment below to share any of your experiences doing community service work!

On April 16, 2022, our scholars gave presentations about their experiences in the program and their future plans. The recording will be available for viewing on the website shortly.  Thanks to our Keynote Tammy Briant Spratling and our sponsors!

Rnext ​1st place: Christian Guettler, 
Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School
Artwork - colored pencil

2nd place: Ella Owens 
Coleman Middle School
Fictional Short Story - Untitled

3rd place:  Ava Farchione
 Coleman Middle School 
Nonfiction Essay "How the Judicial Branch Reflects the Rights of US Citizens"

The essays will be available to read on our next Blog post at www.journeytoesquire.