Fellow Students, Family and Friends,

Welcome to you all!  I came into this class wanting the certificate.  I’ve been working in a law office doing paralegal work as a “legal assistant” for four years now and I came in ready to make a change.   Well, my job hasn’t changed a bit, but what did change was me.   When I graduated from college almost 10 years ago, I still didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I eventually went to work at a law firm, and I really enjoyed it.   I’m a good writer and a terrible public speaker, so it was a good fit for me.  Seriously, I’m the kind of person who practices a phone call, because I get so nervous.  

So, I decided to become a paralegal, and signed up for this class.  I wanted the weekend class, but thankfully it was full.   I was looking for a little more money and little more respect.    I got so much more, more than I could have ever expected.   There is no way that I can express to any of you what the class has taught us all.  But the graduates of this class know what I am talking about.    Sure, we know the legal stuff.   We know property law, probate law, all about contracts and family law.  We know how to draft motions and respond to discovery.  And we know all about employment law and the ADA, but what we really learned goes beyond the law.  We learned exactly how hard we can push ourselves and just what we are capable of achieving.   I remember thinking each day, how will I continue to juggle kids and everything they have going on, work and this class, but I did it.  We all did it.  No matter what each of us had going on in our personal lives, we all made it through.  Two of us, Michelle and Clara, even got married during this class.  And, Sofia has been pregnant and was not here today, because she is either in labor or having the baby now!  I couldn’t imagine, you guys are all awesome. 

On the first day, the former students come in and they tell you that you will all be friends when this is all over and these people in your class will mean so much to you when it’s over.   And I thought, really?  Do I have anything at all in common with these people?  I figured that most of them didn’t have a family at home like I did.  And I assumed that wouldn’t fit in with any of them.  Turns out I was wrong on all counts.  Everyone was wonderful.  There is not person in this class that I would not consider a friend and a blessing to our group.  I have made some wonderful friends.  I will remember each of you always and I will consider each one of you to be my friend forever!    

A few weeks ago, Felicia, who sits next to me, asked me if I had always been a good student since was on the board again.  And I thought a lot about that.   Really I’ve always been book smart.  Like most of you, I can open a book and find the answer pretty quickly.  But being a paralegal is so much more than that.  You have to be able to open the book, find the answer and interpret it 50 different ways.  You have to find the best way to mold it for your situation and how to mitigate the bad stuff.  You have to figure how to explain it to an attorney in a precise and concise way, without sounding like a moron.  And, most of all, you have to be willing to let someone else take credit for all your hard work.  It’s not an easy job, but it’s part of who we are now. 

I want to thank my mom for always listening to me when I was so stressed out and always making me feel better, no matter what, and my dad for always believing in me.  Huge thanks to my husband for helping me out with the kids so much and for always telling me that he was proud of me.  You never get tired of hearing that.

I want to thank Jac for being such a great teacher.  We all think you are amazing.  You did promise that you make some of us cry and I never saw anyone cry, so I am disappointed about that.  I think we are just tougher than most, although I can’t remember anyone even getting upset at you.  You have lots of fun stories from other classes about crazy things that happened, and we may never be one of those classes with all the great stories, but we will always be the first weekday class ever.   And, apparently, Jac’s favorite!! J

To my classmates and fellow graduates, thanks for making this a great experience.   I hope that get out there and attack your paralegal careers with same determination that you attacked your homework.  It’s just too bad that Jac won’t be there to give out smiley faces at midweek when you finish a motion.  I wish you all the best and good luck always.  Congratulations to you each of you and thanks to everyone for coming today!Fellow Students, Family and Friends,

Welcome to you all!  I came into this class wanting the certificate.  I’ve been working in a law office doing paralegal work as a “legal assistant” for four years now and I came in ready to make a change.   Well, my job hasn’t changed a bit, but what did change was me.   When I graduated from college almost 10 years ago, I still didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I eventually went to work at a law firm, and I really enjoyed it.   I’m a good writer and a terrible public speaker, so it was a good fit for me.  Seriously, I’m the kind of person who practices a phone call, because I get so nervous.  

So, I decided to become a paralegal, and signed up for this class.  I wanted the weekend class, but thankfully it was full.   I was looking for a little more money and little more respect.    I got so much more, more than I could have ever expected.   There is no way that I can express to any of you what the class has taught us all.  But the graduates of this class know what I am talking about.    Sure, we know the legal stuff.   We know property law, probate law, all about contracts and family law.  We know how to draft motions and respond to discovery.  And we know all about employment law and the ADA, but what we really learned goes beyond the law.  We learned exactly how hard we can push ourselves and just what we are capable of achieving.   I remember thinking each day, how will I continue to juggle kids and everything they have going on, work and this class, but I did it.  We all did it.  No matter what each of us had going on in our personal lives, we all made it through.  Two of us, Michelle and Clara, even got married during this class.  And, Sofia has been pregnant and was not here today, because she is either in labor or having the baby now!  I couldn’t imagine, you guys are all awesome. 

On the first day, the former students come in and they tell you that you will all be friends when this is all over and these people in your class will mean so much to you when it’s over.   And I thought, really?  Do I have anything at all in common with these people?  I figured that most of them didn’t have a family at home like I did.  And I assumed that wouldn’t fit in with any of them.  Turns out I was wrong on all counts.  Everyone was wonderful.  There is not person in this class that I would not consider a friend and a blessing to our group.  I have made some wonderful friends.  I will remember each of you always and I will consider each one of you to be my friend forever!    

A few weeks ago, Felicia, who sits next to me, asked me if I had always been a good student since was on the board again.  And I thought a lot about that.   Really I’ve always been book smart.  Like most of you, I can open a book and find the answer pretty quickly.  But being a paralegal is so much more than that.  You have to be able to open the book, find the answer and interpret it 50 different ways.  You have to find the best way to mold it for your situation and how to mitigate the bad stuff.  You have to figure how to explain it to an attorney in a precise and concise way, without sounding like a moron.  And, most of all, you have to be willing to let someone else take credit for all your hard work.  It’s not an easy job, but it’s part of who we are now. 

I want to thank my mom for always listening to me when I was so stressed out and always making me feel better, no matter what, and my dad for always believing in me.  Huge thanks to my husband for helping me out with the kids so much and for always telling me that he was proud of me.  You never get tired of hearing that.

I want to thank Jac for being such a great teacher.  We all think you are amazing.  You did promise that you make some of us cry and I never saw anyone cry, so I am disappointed about that.  I think we are just tougher than most, although I can’t remember anyone even getting upset at you.  You have lots of fun stories from other classes about crazy things that happened, and we may never be one of those classes with all the great stories, but we will always be the first weekday class ever.   And, apparently, Jac’s favorite!! J

To my classmates and fellow graduates, thanks for making this a great experience.   I hope that get out there and attack your paralegal careers with same determination that you attacked your homework.  It’s just too bad that Jac won’t be there to give out smiley faces at midweek when you finish a motion.  I wish you all the best and good luck always.  Congratulations to you each of you and thanks to everyone for coming today!

 Tiffany Carroll

Fall 2011 Weekday Class Salutatorian