I'm a third-year law student at Florida State University College of Law.  I graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Religion from Florida State University in December of 2006.  That January, I found a job working for Brooks, LeBoeuf, Bennett, Foster & Gwartney, P.A.  It was there that I discovered my passion for the law.  The cases that I worked on involved serious violations of resident rights by nursing homes and assisted living facilities.  I saw first hand how an attorney's work can positively impact the lives of her clients and their families.  I saw, too, how her work can impact the lives of countless others when litigation leads to policy and procedure changes.  To read more about the experiences that inspired my decision to pursue a career in the law, check out my submission to the Florida Bar Foundation Legal Services Summer Fellowship Program.

When I first started law school, I knew it would be a lot of hard work.  I also knew I would be competing with some of the best and brightest for the top spots in the rankings.  I will admit that I'm a competitive person, but my main competition, in work and in life, is with myself.  I always strive to be the best that I can be at whatever I do.  With law school, my attitude is no different.  Before I started I made a pact with myself to put in the time, to study hard, and to do the best work that I could do.  That strategy has served me well.  I finished my first semester in the top 3% of my class, something I was totally unprepared for.  I had spent so much time competing with myself, I hadn't considered how well I might be doing compared with everyone else!

As hard as it is, I try and remember that there is life outside of law school.  Giving my brain a break from the books every once in a while helps my reenergize for the next round of outlining or the next case briefs.  In my free time I like to kayak.  I guide kayaking trips with the Wilderness Way, a kayak outfitter located just 20 minutes south of Tallahassee.  In addition, I enjoy attending plays, live concerts, and other types of performances.  I also like to unwind by spending time exploring museums and art galleries or by reading and writing fiction.