Law Student and Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Law Review Omar Ochoa
I really enjoyed my experience as a mentor in the IE Pre Grad Internship program. I had two students in the fall of 2010 and liked it so much I worked with two more in the spring of 2011. It was an empowering challenge to create my own lesson plan that was tailored to the interests of the students. After meeting with each student one-to-one to get a sense of their goals, both in the IE program and in the legal field, it was exciting to introduce them to classes, professors, practitioners, and other law students so they could get a sense of what life was like in law school and in the legal world. I remember what it was like when I had lots of questions, and to be able to share my experiences with someone who is in the same situation made me feel I was providing a great contribution to someone's education and future.
Beyond the service aspect, I also felt like I gained a lot personally from the IE program. Being a mentor gave me the opportunity to see what it was like to be a teacher and develop an academic relationship with a student. I learned quite a bit from the students themselves. Answering questions about what I do in law school allowed me to reflect on my experiences in a way that makes me appreciate the tremendous experience I've gained. Helping them research the various opportunities in the legal profession has also allowed me to sharpen my own goals. In all, participating in the IE program was well worth the time and effort and I hope more students get to enjoy the benefits of being a mentor.