Westwind Elementary recently hosted five law students from Texas Tech University in an effort to inspire the students to achieve their goals. Ma’at Blackwell, the Community In School Site Coordinator at Westwind, interviewed the panel of law students about their different college experiences and how their time in elementary school contributed to where they are today. 

Blackwell wanted the students to have an opportunity to hear from the perspective of someone in higher education that could still relate to the students, and to reiterate the point that what they are learning now is crucial to their future.  

“I wanted the kids to be able to recognize themselves in the law students that spoke, so they comprehend that they are capable of achieving the same or similar goals,” said Blackwell.  

The law students were asked to share one thing they learned in elementary school that proved useful in college. One student mentioned that elementary school helped him develop the foundation of his social skills, teaching him how to treat others with respect and kindness while recognizing that people come from diverse backgrounds. Another student emphasized the importance of reading comprehension, explaining how she learned to break down stories, identify main ideas, and extract key information, which became invaluable in her college studies. 

The students also shared what they wanted their career to be when they were elementary students. Notably, none of them said they wanted to be lawyers. This allowed them to explain to the students why they decided to become lawyers and how you can change your career path throughout your education.  

Throughout the panel discussion, the younger students asked various questions about college and how it differs from elementary school. 

One of the questions posed to the law students was about dealing with school related stress. Each student shared their coping strategies with the Westwind students. From working, hanging with friends to ‘me days’ and staying organized, the students expressed that keeping a level head learning to balance school and a social life is essential in all careers.