Many of the college students present appreciated Judge Lawson who was very honest and explained how he never imagined that he would be a lawyer in high school or in college. Then, when we joined the public defender’s office, he didn’t think he would do anything beyond being a lawyer. So when he was encouraged to become a commissioner, he had his doubts but ultimately said that he could not let an opportunity like that slide. He also shared that while interviewing to become a commissioner he learned that many of the judges had already known of him and his work as a public defender, which ultimately led him to secure the position. He used this story to teach us that we should always strive to do our best work because we never know who is watching and what opportunities may come from a job well done.
Hearing from Judge Lawson about his experiences was truly an eye opening experience. His honesty about his own indecision with his profession really resonated with many of the students, as most of us are still struggling to figure out what path we want to pursue after college. It was very encouraging to see someone with so many accomplishments express the same thoughts and fears that they had when they were our age.
Bella Volkov, a club member, emphasized how much she loved how “he sees all the youth that come in through his court as his kids, and treats them as such.” Another club member, Gabe Schoenmann, stated that he loved “hearing how one of Judge Lawson’s favorite parts of his job is when the minors get their high school diploma because he really wants to see them succeed. It was really amazing to see how much he loved his job and how passionate he was about helping those under his supervision.” Ultimately, a vast majority of the student audience left hoping that they too can have the passion that Judge Lawson has for his career. ■
If you’d like to support PESA’s many social and educational initiatives, please contact us.
