—By Maria Iacobo
“There is more to life than law,” Professor David Cruz told the Class of 2011 in the keynote speech at the Orientation Day luncheon.
In a heartfelt talk that touched on his own awkward moments in law school, initial scholastic insecurities and his passionate work to have the state of California continue to allow same-sex couples to marry, Cruz told his audience that life, like law school, is about relationships. He encouraged the students to explore the relationships between themselves and their classmates, professors, alumni and the law.
Cruz also told students that they need to question what they learn in law school.
“Much of legal history in the United States is a history of injustices long tolerated by law, and people of different views see that in our current legal landscape….Accept the fact that our law and our constitutional democracy are imperfect, keep a critical distance from that which you study, and seek ever to do better.”
For members of the audience who may have been doubting their luck or their abilities to have been accepted to USC Law, Cruz shared that he had had those same misgivings.
Asking them to dispel those thoughts, he said, “The first thing I want you all to remember today is that, yes, you do belong here.”
And, like Polonius in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” Cruz provided six precepts to the group:
- Keep your moral compass
- Explore classes that will help make you well rounded
- Engage in public service work to gain hands-on experience as well as to give back to the community
- Take time to cultivate relationships and make new friends
- Study in ways you find effective; don’t just follow the crowd
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
With the weekend between their orientation and first day of law classes, Cruz suggested the students reflect on the commitment they were about to make to their studies, classmates and law school.
“Hopefully your introspection will leave you committed to your studies, enthusiastic and eager to go,” he said.
Previous Article
