Service to Others—Right from the Start

Orientation week began pretty traditionally this year. Students learned to read and brief cases, to outline the law, and to take law school exams. But on Friday our students left the books behind. They headed to multiple sites all over Hampton Roads and beyond to volunteer their time and serve others. They served at Union Mission, Habitat for Humanity, the Norfolk Law Library, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia.

The event was not required. But 110 of the 162 new students chose to serve. I was not surprised. One of the things that unites Regent Law students is a sense of calling to use gifts, time, and resources to serve others.

I was—and am—thankful and proud. I have no doubt that 4 years and 10 years and 40 years from now, these same men and women will carry on in the proudest tradition of their profession by volunteering their time and legal skills to represent the poor and underprivileged.

The class of 2012 is off to a great start!

First Week

I drove my two youngest kids to school yesterday morning for their first day of classes. Their sad faces reminded me of how I used to feel about the start of school: generally queasy and thoroughly unhappy about my summer ending and my days being filled with lectures and quizzes and tests.

Things sure have changed. I now LOVE the first week of class. It is one of the best weeks of the year. I love catching up with 2Ls and 3Ls—hearing their internship stories or congratulating them on their job offers. I love meeting the 1Ls. I love their excitement, their nervousness, and their sense of purpose and vision.

Yes, I am behind on my emails again and my desk is cluttering up. The quiet of summer is over. But I would trade that quiet any day for an atrium filled with voices and energy and activity. Welcome back students!

In the Zone

Conversations with alumni are always fun. But I had two (with alums who graduated 10 years apart) this week that were especially great.

The first was with Kerriel Bailey ’08. Kerriel recently taught legal writing at our sister school, Handong International Law school in Pohang, Korea. Though still recovering from jetlag, Kerriel’s voice was brimming with joy as she spoke of her time teaching students and working with them one-on-one. As we talked, it was clear that God used Kerriel’s time in Korea to reaffirm that he has made Kerriel, in whatever employment setting she finds herself, to mentor and encourage others. That is what Kerriel is passionate about. And it is one of the things that she does very, very well. It is her calling (or at least one of them). (For more on Kerriel, check out her Handong blog at: http://kerrielbailey.blogspot.com/)

The second conversation was with Todd Wilkowski ’98. Todd is general counsel for a large construction company in Cincinnati. He described his job and the joy and satisfaction he found providing not only legal advice, but principled leadership in a growing, thriving company. Todd told me that he felt energized going to work—that he feels like he is “in the zone.” He is doing what God made him to do. He is good at it. He loves it. And he is effectively serving others. He is living out his calling.

What a great job I have. I get to spend time with men and women who are filled with energy and purpose. I get to teach them and work with them as student leaders. And then I get to follow their progress as alums as they fulfill the purpose and calling that first brought them to us. That is a pretty great deal. Thank you, God!