Week 1:
Loving it Already

May 26, 2019

Getting ready for my first week in Madison, Wisconsin has been a whirlwind. Classes ended at Cornell on May 8th, but I was in Mt. Vernon until May 13 to help check out all the graduating seniors as an Resident Assistant. After that, I spent about 5 days in Northfield, Minnesota, my hometown, until the start 0f my fellowship on Monday, May 19th. With all this I have had very little down time to unwind from the busy school year, but since being in Madison this has definitely changed — which I will get to later.

The reason I am in Madison this summer is to intern as a Bilingual Legal Assistant for Octavia Legal Associates.  Octavia is one of the only law firms in the Madison area that specializes in immigration law, in addition to their general law practice that brings in a variety of cases. Octavia Legal Associates is run by one of Cornell’s very own graduates, Ray Feliz ’15. Being given the opportunity to work for Ray this summer has been a phenomenal experience. If there is one major takeaway from this whole first week, it is that now, more than ever, I know I want to be a lawyer. The reason for me wanting to be an attorney is not just all the “working lunches” they get to go to. The reason honestly stems from something much deeper than just that.

Already, during week one, I have been given the opportunity to really make a difference in the lives of people who need the help of a lawyer. It is the complicated details of each case that make the work I am doing this summer so interesting. While obviously I can not go into all the details of each case, I can tell you I have been given the opportunity to work with such an experienced team and work on immigration cases. Beyond just the immigration cases I have already been able to help with, I have also worked on some cases dealing with business. This first week, practically day one, I was given the task of drafting up a purchase agreement for a client. They are not kidding when they talk about the real world just throwing you into the fire.

One of the most rewarding things about my fellowship experience so far is seeing how my Cornell education has been preparing me for the workplace. Each day I walk into the office I am given a task, or four, and told they need to be done by a specified date. The fast-paced culture of the office perfectly emulates the fast-paced environment of a Cornell classroom. Not only that, but I also need to do the research as quickly and effectively as possible  — very similar to working on the block plan.

As far as being able to enjoy the little things in Madison, I have been able to get out and enjoy the lakes and running trails. Since being here, one of my friends who lives in Madison has challenged me to prepare for a triathlon this summer — and I never turn down a challenge! In fact, I used to be quite the runner. Perhaps surprising for those of you who know me now, this challenge has helped me find that passion again. I have been getting up at about 6:15 am every day, (again, surprising for anyone who knows me) and running around all of Madison’s beautiful lakes. This has also helped me get a handle on the layout of the city. Being from a small town has definitely been a challenge here. I get lost between all the tall buildings when I walk just two blocks. Although, I must say, Madison has found the perfect way to incorporate big city living with a small town feel.