Beginning Together: Orientation 2024

Stepping onto campus has just been diving headfirst into this whirlwind of excitement. Everything is so fast-paced and high on energy. I can already say that I made a lot of friends. I think it's going to be exciting. I think it's going to be a lot. I think it's going to be challenging. My motto for this year is make the most of each day. So our core purpose here at Columbia Law School, our aspirational North Star, is to engage in path-breaking research and to provide a transformative education in the continuous pursuit of knowledge and of truth. I read the entire Columbia course catalog before applying and I was like these all look really exciting. I'm very fascinated with our faculty. I can't lie. I'm going to spend so much time during office hours getting to know them as people. I saw in the second semester a lot of clinics that I would like to do. I have applied to the Columbia International Arbitration Association. I am ready to explore everything at Columbia. I ask you, the future leaders of the law school and the future leaders of society, to seek to understand and engage others who have views different than your own. You will be better for it and you will have contributed to making Columbia a place where ideas, dialogue, and constructive engagement are central to our mission. We can be the model and all of you can be the leaders. We're all here to build this community and shape our community together. It's been really interesting. Everyone comes from different walks of lives. It's been really great to see. I was a reconnaissance officer at a second reconnaissance battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. I worked at a startup as a software engineer right here in New York City. I've been practicing international arbitration for about seven years. We can draw from each other's experiences and backgrounds and knowledge. It's a rich experience, a rich intellect community, and I love it. We can shape the law school in the way that we want it to be shaped, and so it's a great opportunity. So you're now part of this enduring and distinguished tradition here at Columbia. And let me say again how thrilled I am to begin my journey here at Columbia with all of you. I believe our newness will bind us. Not just this year as we take our first steps together, but as lifelong Columbians. Thank you very much.