May Edition of the Legal Pad (2023)

MAY, 2023

ISSUE 8

THE LEGAL PAD

IN THIS EDITION: Illustration by: Hope Habia

DON'T MISS OUT ON ANYTHING! Follow our Instagram @thelawlegalpad for more exclusive content!

- May Calendar Dates - Student Highlights - Debate Highlight - Legal Legends - Interview with Mr.McCoy - Mental Health Page - Senior Decisions - Community Service/EIF - PTSA Page

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Brought to you by: Law Link Crew Sponsored by: Law Magnet PTSA

CALENDAR Important May Dates May 1-12th

Monday - Friday

AP Testing

May 12th

Friday

Senior College Signing Day (9:0010:30am)

May 15th

Monday

Senior Picnic

May 16th

Tuesday

PTSA Membership Meeting @ 6:30pm

May 17th

Wednesday

Senior Luncheon

May 17th

Wednesday

EIF College 101 Meeting

May 23rd-26th

Tuesday - Thursday

ACP Testing

May 26th

Thursday

Last Day of school

May 27th

Friday

Senior Graduation

Created by: Mikayla Spivey

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INTERACTIVE SECTION With the year coming to a close, The Legal Pad wants to leave you with a few tips on how to have an unforgettable summer!

1. Start by making a playlist.

Have it define your summer break to get into that summer mood. Think about the type of summer you'd like to have, whether that's with relaxing or lively music!

4. Pick up a new hobby.

With all the time on your hands, why not learn a new subject or skill? We know you’ve been eyeing those knitting needles at Michael’s craft store!

Why don’t you give it a try?

2. Get a camera.

Document your summer memories, with a digital camera, polaroid, disposable etc. Don’t you want to look back in a couple years to see everything you experienced?

3. Take a pause from social media.

We know, we know, that’s difficult, but it’s temporary!

By deleting social media, you won’t get caught up in what kind of summers other people are having, and really just focus on your own.

5. Check out a new place.

It doesn’t have to be anywhere extravagant, you can check out a park you’ve never been to before and have a picnic, or try a new restaurant.

Created by: Joyce Medina and Amarys Rodriguez

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RAISING THE BAR - STUDENT HIGHLIGHT For our final edition to close out the 22-23 school year, we decided to highlight one of our transfer students, Kole Williams. Kole is a model student-athlete who has demonstrated a fierce commitment to both basketball and his studies.

Interviewer: Hope Habia Q: When did you start playing basketball, and why?

A: “I started playing basketball when I was 2 or 3. I started playing because of my older brother. He’s a basketball player as well, so I just wanted to do an activity with him.”

Q: Who or what inspires you?

A: “I’d say my mom because she really pushes me every day to go do something related to basketball. Even when I don’t want to go work out, she makes me, and it made me the player I am today.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about the Law Magnet?

A: “Just the people here. You know, there are a lot of good people. The majority of my friends are here, and the administration is great. There are a lot of things we do in the program—the basketball game, and the volleyball game. It’s just a great program.”

Q: Why did you transfer here?

A: “I transferred because I just wanted to push myself academically. I feel like I was slacking academically before. I just wanted to get that push, and I knew Townview would be the right choice to push me academically.”

Q: What are your career goals?

A: “I’d say I want to work in Law Enforcement, like the DEA or the CIA, and stuff like that.

It’s just very interesting to me, I watch a lot of TV shows about that, and I could see myself doing that in the future.”

Q: What is your proudest moment in basketball?

A: “I would say when I got my first offer in basketball. I just got home, and the coach had called me, and said he wanted to offer me. I couldn’t stop smiling after that.”

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to say?

A: “I’m just happy to be here in the Law Magnet surrounded by great people.”

Kole is just one of many transfer students we’re lucky to have at our school. Stay tuned, as we’ll be sure to interview many more in the future! See you next semester!

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LEGAL LEGENDS - ALUMNI We reached out to two of our alumni who are finishing their first year of college for some words of wisdom.

Here's what they had to say!

Written by: Joyce Medina

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BRENDA PALACIO '22 Texas Woman's University, Class of 2026

BANESSA GARCIA '22

University of Texas at Austin, Class of 2026

"The best piece of advice I’ve received is to take what resonates with you and leave the rest. Become a part of organizations and take on responsibilities that align with your values will prepare you for those future goals. Whether it’s college, trade school, or anything else, put yourself in the best position to pursue those opportunities.

Another piece of advice I would give is to prioritize your wellbeing. Attending a competitive school can be stressful, so it’s important to find healthy ways of coping with stress. Doing yoga, square breathing, and going out for walks can be very relaxing. Be sure to surround yourself with people who can support you during difficult times. At the end of the day, if you’re not taking care of yourself you can’t take care of other things, be kind to yourself."

"While I was at the Law Magnet, I learned a lot, not only about myself but about the world as well. I learned numerous things, ranging from the basics of briefing a case to developing successful communication to delivering speeches. The Law Magnet prepared me to find the best version of myself in any environment that I find myself in.

One of my life mottos that I go by is "Things happen for a reason." Where you are now, is where you are supposed to be. Where you will be in a year, is where you are supposed to be.

Often times, because we become so absorbed and preoccupied with the journey on our way to accomplish our goals, we forget the big picture and stress over the smallest details.

Because of this, it's important to appreciate the little things in life, and be kind to ourselves. You are better than you give yourself credit for."

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RAISING THE BAR - STUDENT HIGHLIGHT Gloria Espinoza is a senior at the Law Magnet who has made her mark on the school by overachieving and overcoming obstacles.

Despite being thrown into the college pool with so many obstacles and competitors, Gloria was accepted to three Ivy League schools!

Students like Gloria are what makes the Law Magnet, The Law Magnet. Take a look at her story and learn a little more about the college process through the lens of a very optimistic person.

Interviewer: Sara Granados Q: Tell me a bit about yourself.

A: “My name is Gloria, and I want to pursue law in the future. I plan to go to law school at some point in my career and try to become an immigration or corporate lawyer in a big law firm. ” Q: Describe yourself in three words.

A: "I would say optimistic. I'm a dreamer because I dream that I'm going to go big. I believe in that by myself; that's why I'm optimistic, because I dream big, I love giving back to my community, and I feel like that's why I want to pursue law, because I want to give back to my Latino community and provide representation. I've always thought about community in terms of my perseverance and my goals for the future."

Q: So I know you applied to QuestBridge. Can you speak a little about that experience and how that went for you?

A: "I am really grateful that I did QuestBridge because I don't think people understand how beneficial QuestBridge is to low-income minority students. It is more difficult because you have to get everything done. And your essays might not be as good as you would want them to be, as if they were done in January, but colleges take notice of that. It helped me prepare myself early so that I could lay the foundation for what I wanted to talk about in college and in my college essays.

It gave me a head start. Making an early decision is really good because if you don't get into the school that you wanted, you have to look for other schools. And that's what happened to me because I didn't match. I also loved QuestBridge because you can submit one application to all these schools, and it's so accessible and easy to navigate. It was great, and I'm honestly glad that I didn't match because I wouldn't have had the opportunities that I have now, but I still really support the QuestBridge program."

Q: When you found out you didn't match, how did that make you feel?

A: "Oh, I was honestly so heartbroken that day. I did not talk to anyone. I worked really hard on my supplements.

I literally put my soul into those supplements, and when I found out that I didn't match, it was discouraging in a way. So now I'm going to have to fight for financial aid, and I'm going to have to fight to not only get into the school but receive a good financial aid package. That made me more pressured for regular decision; of course, I got over it, and it did help me put myself in a stronger position where I had to try for the regular decision application. But at that moment, it was very disheartening."

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RAISING THE BAR - STUDENT HIGHLIGHT Q: What advice can you give to rising seniors regarding the application process?

A: “I would honestly say that even if you don't feel qualified, apply to the schools that you want to apply to and just work really hard on building your narrative and your story. What do you want to present to the college about yourself? What do you want them to know about you and your successes, and how your successes and your passions will drive you to become an individual who will be successful? They're looking to see if you're academically rigorous. So they're focusing on you building your narrative, your story.”

Q: And what do you most look forward to in college?

A: "I look most forward to studying a specific major. I feel like, I know that sounds really weird, but I really want to know what government is like studying at college. Like, what do you specifically learn there? What would I learn? What kind of books am I going to read? What kind of questions are they going to ask me? What am I going to learn? What are my classes going to be like? I feel like that's what I'm most excited for because I feel like leaving the high school atmosphere."

Q: And have you decided where you want to go?

A: "As of right now, I'm not committed,but I am leaning towards Harvard. Harvard. I ended up choosing Harvard over Northwestern And everything else because honestly, as of right now, their financial package is really good. It can lead me to opportunities in the fields that I want to go into and connections that I can build. The education is not something that might be necessarily different, you can get a good education anywhere. I personally believe Harvard can provide for me good connections that I could use in the legal field or in other professions opportunities like internships, all those opportunities that they offer towards big firms. If I have a strong foundation for undergrad, then I might be able to build a strong foundation for law school. My goal is to go to Yale for law school, and Harvard might put me at an advantage in that process.

Q: If you had three wishes, what would they be?

A: “I Would like to get into Yale for law school. I'm already thinking about what courses I'm going to take. Wish number two, I go for free because I'm Not trying to have debt, like 300K debt is not giving. And then number three would be making money. When I'm an attorney, I better either be in a big law firm or have my own business firm.”

A story that can inspire anyone, by the most pure hearted person one can meet. Through such a hard and tedious process we appreciate people like Gloria supporting and leading by example. Gloria, your story is surely one to motivate people. The law magnet wishes you the best of luck on your journey through college and grad school. Come back when you make it to Yale on your full ride!

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RAISING THE BAR - EXTRACURRICULAR HIGHLIGHT On April 15th, the Law Magnet Chess Team once again dominated the chessboard with multiple first place wins at the Spring 2023 Dallas ISD Secondary Chess Tournament! Students in grades 9th through 12th competed against schools from all over the district, and each one helped contribute to an impressive win. The Law Magnet not only placed first in 11th grade and 12th grade, but one of our very own Law Magnet juniors, John Cook, won first place in the entire tournament!

Written by: Amarys Rodriguez

Awards: 11th grade- 1st Place 12th grade- 1st Place John Cook- 1st Place The Legal Pad asked John Cook and another member of the Chess Team, Jose Martinez, about their experience throughout the Spring Tournament.

When asked about what it was like to play a part in such a huge win, both chess players admitted that there was a lack of confidence among the team on whether or not they’d win. Though they were clearly proven wrong!

Martinez stated, “I felt shocked and proud. I didn't expect for us to win that tournament. I had honestly felt like I hadn't done a good job in representing the Law Magnet for quite some time. With this big win, I finally feel accomplished in that struggle. And I'm also happy that I contributed to our team even if it was mediocre, the effort was there. Finally, I'm glad this happened while playing one of my favorite games and hope we win the next tournament too.”

The first place winner himself, was asked about if there was any change in their growth and development since the beginning of the tournament season. Cook answered with, “This was my first tournament this year but I’ve definitely improved by playing on my laptop during class.” Despite this being his first tournament of the season, Cook didn’t let that stop him as demonstrated grit throughout the tournament by not losing a single round, and winning the first place title!

Overall, the Chess Team ended the competition season with a phenomenal win to close out this 2022-2023 school year. Let’s see what the future holds for these skilled competitors next year!

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RAISING THE BAR - EXTRACURRICULAR HIGHLIGHT On April 15th, DUDA hosted the High School Spring City Championship of 2023! The debate team had their last competition of the year and once again dominated in every division they competed in. We would like to highlight our very own Law Magnet debate team, as well as some words of wisdom from our very own coaches and debaters!

Policy Awards: 1st Place Varsity Team: Ari Arceo & Valen Garcia 1st Place Varsity Speaker: Ari Arceo 2nd Place Varsity Speaker: Valen Garcia 7th Place JV Speaker: Matthew Montgomery 9th Place JV Speaker: Jesse Rocha 1st Place Novice Team: Melanie Vela & Vincent De Leon 3rd Place Novice Speaker: Melanie Vela 5th Place Novice Speaker: Vincent De Leon World Schools Awards: 1st Place in World Schools Debate: Hope Habia, Hank Suprun, & Mason Klein 1st Place Varsity Speaker: Hope Habia 3rd Place Varsity Speaker: Mason Klein 5th Place Varsity Speaker: Hank Suprun 9th Place Varsity Speaker: Sabrina Bhattari 10th Place Varsity Speaker: Elliot Yervasi The Legal Pad asked some of the debaters and the coaches of the debate team for any words of encouragement/wisdom throughout and after the spring tournament.

"The Law Magnet is slowly but surely becoming a debate behemoth. Our win at the DUDA Spring City Championships is the advent of a new age. Our school will be a manifestation of terror, and our debaters bringers of storm and fire. We will dismantle this world brick by brick until there is nothing left of what once was. Hear me, all who stand against us will crumble. Our ascension is all but assured, prophesied since ancient times. I'm so proud of my team, go Law Magnet!" says Hope Habia.

"Thank you to the team, my family, Ms. Gregg, and Ms. Opitz for the constant support throughout not only this competition, but throughout this year as a whole." say Ari Arceo and Valen Garcia.

"Valen and Ari had an incredible season, but it was truly a team effort. We collaborate and scrimmage together. When one of us wins, we all win. Congrats to the entire time -- I am so proud of you!" says Ms Gregg.

The debate team did an awesome job this year and they are only getting stronger! Good luck at nationals, Habia, Suprun, & Klein!

Written by: Joyce Medina

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RAISING THE BAR - GATES SCHOLARS The Gates Millennium Scholars Program is an academic scholarship award and program for higher education, available to high-achieving ethnic minority students in the United States. It’s an amazing scholarship that fully funds undergrad and postgrad school. This year, the Law Magnet had two finalists for this amazing scholarship!

Antoniya Davis will be majoring in psychology attending Howard University on a full ride! Take a look at her amazing and inspiring story that brings out the true definition of “When there's a will, there's a way.”

Interviewer: Sara Granados Q: Tell me about yourself A: "I'm the youngest of my mom's three kids and my twin siblings never went to college.

My mom was actually a TAG student and had them her senior year, so she didn't go to college either. My dad was in my life until I was eight. He drove trucks but he flipped over and he was left with brain damage. After that, I pretty much threw myself into school, and I excelled. Nothing about it was easy because I knew this was all I had to fall back on. Education is my plan A, B, and C. I picked the Law Magnet because I knew it could teach me to evaluate and interpret opinions other than my own. I joined Moot Court freshman year, and it was one of the best decisions I could've made for myself.

Don't get me wrong it was work, but the people made it worth it. Last year during our district competition, I almost didn't compete because my dad died. I missed his funeral to go and we made it all the way to nationals. I just tell the story to say that it wasn't easy trying to ensure my future."

Q: What was your “why” during this college process?

A: I wanted to go somewhere where the people looked like me, so an HBCU was top of my

list. I knew going into my college search that I was low income so I was already looking for ways to fund my education without having to loan my soul. The essays were insane, honestly.

It seemed like they were never ending, but luckily I started them early. At the same time I was looking for scholarships because I didn't want to miss out on a good opportunity. I'm lucky I had a great support system because without Opitz and Smeltzer, I would've been swamped. I don't remember initially applying for the Gates scholarship but I remember becoming a semi finalist and trying not to make a big deal out of it. Then I became a finalist and I was like "oh this is possible." I did the interview on my phone in my moms car because I have loud neighbors, and the interviewer was impressed with me and told me I sounded like a CEO.

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RAISING THE BAR - GATES SCHOLARS Q: What advice can you give to other low income students feeling overwhelmed with having to pay for college?

A: Really pay attention in class and form nice working relationships with your teachers. If your teachers see that you work hard, they're more likely to cut you some slack when you really need it. Also, it's better to turn in an assignment late than to get a zero, but turning it in at the end of the grading period reflects poorly on you. It seems like general advice but when you need a reference or a recommendation letter for a scholarship I promise teachers take everything into consideration. Colleges and organizations love to see long term commitment. There are some very specific scholarships available out there all you have to do is look for them. Start early on everything, so you're never behind, and remember to take a breath every once in a while. You'll get through it.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: I'll have completed or be completing my Psyd/PhD and working as a therapist or counselor of some sort. My end goal is to provide therapy for teens and young adults while they're going through this transitional period of their lives. Society likes to believe that young people have a lot of buoyancy and can recover from anything easily when that isn't the case. I hope to be able to guide them to a more positive space, so they don't feel like they have to do it alone.

Thank you Antoniya for sharing with us and letting us be part of your journey. The Law Magnet wants to wish you the best on your journey through undergrad and postgrad!

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RAISING THE BAR - GATES SCHOLARS

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program is an academic scholarship award and program for higher education, available to high-achieving ethnic minority students in the United States. It’s an amazing scholarship that fully funds undergrad and postgrad school. This year, the Law Magnet had two finalists for this amazing scholarship!

Abraham Cortes will be majoring in mechanical and aerospace engineering at Princeton University on a full ride! Abraham was also one of law magnets Questbrige finalists. If you ever stopped to wonder; Is it possible to do both?

Yes, it is!

Interviewer: Sara Granados Q: How did you find the push to go for both Questbridge and Gates?

A: "I sought the opportunity to pursue both because coming into the college application process I was really nervous of not being able to financially afford college. So I think for the most part fear, as crazy as it sounds, was my motivation for which I applied to both programs and luckily it all turned out well. I really have to give a massive shoutout to all the teachers who helped me through the process like Ms. Gregg, Ms. Nguyen, Mr. McCoy, Mr. Gonzalez as well as all the EIF advisors. My parents also really supported me through the process, and my friends. I received a lot of support from everyone and I really am thankful for all the overwhelming support that made it possible for me to attain both scholarships."

Q: What are your plans after undergrad?

A: "After undergrad I hope to continue my education at MIT’s or UT Austin’s grad school pursuing a masters in aerospace engineering. I have my mind set on continuing my education because I simply love learning. My dream job is to work for either NASA or SpaceX so I’ll make sure to take every opportunity possible to obtain an internship during college to have the necessary experience to obtain a job at one of those places. I really want to help advance space exploration because we have an intrinsic trait of curiosity. Right now our goal is to send a manned mission to Mars and it would be a dream of mine to help that happen."

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RAISING THE BAR - GATES SCHOLARS Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: In the long term I think I’d see myself working at NASA or SpaceX. I think that hard work pays off so I’ll make sure to work very hard to make that happen. If back in the 1960’s with very limited technological growth we were able to send a manned mission to the Moon, is it not possible for us to expand our capabilities to reach places farther than Mars? Those are the questions that really make me think and hopefully by the end of my educational journey I would have equipped myself with the necessary knowledge and tools to help create and devise technology that can take us to Mars and perhaps places beyond Mars.

Q: Any advice to the rising senior class?

A: Some advice I have for rising seniors is that hard work pays off. Even though it’s overstated, it is true. If you focus on your goals you’ll eventually reach them. Senior year is stressful with college apps and intense coursework. So I really recommend taking a break once in a while and spending time with friends and family members. There will be times you will want to quit, don't forget that you’ve made it so far. However, with that being said, I encourage everyone to really be mindful of their mental health because it’s something very important that sometimes doesn’t get enough attention but always prioritize your well being accordingly. I wish everyone in the rising senior class the very best.

Thank you Abraham for your contribution to the Law Magnet, we wish you the best through your journey. From the Law Magnet, To NASA (or SpaceX)! To infinity and beyond!

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RAISING THE BAR - SENIOR INSIGHT

Daniel Sanchez Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University Interviewer: Hope Habia Q: Now that you are done, what advice do you have for juniors and their parents as they embark on their college search?

A: “The best advice I can give to the juniors and their parents would probably be that it is going to be a little stressful at times, but just make sure that you are making decisions that make you happy and are best for you, and have as much fun as possible on your journey, and don't be scared, it'll all work out in the end!”

Q: How did you make a decision about what college to attend?

A: “When I was young I wanted to go to Texas A&M, but during senior year I found out about UT Austin, and its engineering program, and I decided that it was where I wanted to go. Unfortunately, I got CAPed, leaving me to decide if the CAP program was better or if Texas A&M was better for engineering. After some talks with my college advisor and reading stories from other people, I came to the decision that Texas A&M was best for me, and I don't regret it, I'm really looking forward to it!”

Q: Looking back over the past year or so, what stands out as the most important thing/s you did to find a college?

A: “The most important thing was definitely talking to my friends and teachers, it made it a lot easier because you weren't going through it alone. The most important thing in my opinion is finding somewhere you can see yourself going, somewhere you will be happy and comfortable, and whatever it is that makes you happy is what you should prioritize for choosing a college.”

Q: What will you miss the most about the Law Magnet?

A: “Definitely my friends, and maybe Mr. Smeltzer, they have both absolutely made my high school experience, they made all four years of high school so enjoyable, and I could never thank them enough for that, and so they are definitely the part that I will miss most of the Law Magnet. It just has so many amazing people!”

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RAISING THE BAR - SENIOR INSIGHT Sarahi Vasquez, Political Communications at the University of Texas at Austin Interviewer: Hope Habia Q: Now that you are done, what advice do you have for juniors and their parents as they embark on their college search?

A: “I am actually the first in my family to ever undergo the college application process, so it was definitely overwhelming. Some advice would be to definitely ask for help, the Law Magnet/Townview provides many resources for students during the process. Having regular meetings with your college counselor helps, they help with FAFSA, scholarships, etc.

It’s also helpful to remember to stay organized. As long as you’re on top of things, don’t overthink the process. It’s more than okay to ask for help from professionals.”

Q: How did you make a decision about what college to attend?

A: “Financial stability was the main factor in my decision. Staying in state was much more affordable, and I also wanted to choose a school that made sense for my major. I plan to continue studying law in Texas to focus on immigration reform and environmental justice.

It makes sense to stay in Texas because it’s where there is more opportunity for career advancement in the field. In the end I felt it didn’t matter what college I ultimately chose, as long as I’m passionate in what I do I’ll be successful/happy anywhere I go.”

Q: Looking back over the past year or so, what stands out as the most important thing/s you did to find a college?

A: “It’s hard to “know” a college by its website. If you have the opportunity, touring a college campus is probably one of the best ways to find the college that’s best for you. There are many factors I didn’t consider when searching for a college. Things like diversity, student population, class sizes, number of organizations, dormitories, and dining halls were all things I failed to consider, but these factors ended up being the most important when choosing what college I wanted to attend. Of course academics are important, but you also want to consider the place you’ll be living in for 4 years.”

Q: What will you miss the most about the Law Magnet?

A: “The teachers for sure. I fear college classes will be too large to have actual connections and conversations with my professors, so I will definitely miss the comfortable environment the Law Magnet has created. I’ll also miss the bright students I will graduate with, while I’m sure I’ll continue to meet interesting people. The students I’ve spent the last 4 years with are all admirable and have always motivated me to work harder.”

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Legal Legends Teachers Mr. McCoy is the only fine arts teacher here at the Law Magnet. Inside of his class, cardboard statues decorate the walls. For this month, The Legal Pad decided to chat with him about his experiences as an artist and a teacher.

Interviewer: Ari Arceo Q: Could you please introduce yourself?

A: "Sure. I'm Mr. McCoy. I teach Studio Art and Dual Credit Art Appreciation at the Law Magnet."

Q: How did you get into art?

A: "I got into art at school. I knew I had a connection to art because it was one of the few classes that I actually did homework for. When I realized that, I tried to make it work in the design field, which is kind of a marriage of art and design and practicality. But, I slowly defected out of landscape architecture into photography and fine arts in college. I went to undergrad at Ball State University in Indiana.

After I finished, I realized I was just going to go for it and do photography and film in grad school."

Some days, we had some high school students come to the university. That was actually my first bit of teaching. We had to do a darkroom project that was about incorporating responding to current events and stuff like that. It forced me to get in that position of thinking, “How can I make this fun?” and “How can I make this feature the student's ideas over my own?

After and during grad school, I was teaching a grade school program at one of the museums in Tulsa.

The grade schools had had their art programs gutted so they would just bus the kids to the museum, do a quick run around the museum, and then go make some art based on the stuff that they saw. It was super fun.

That got me thinking, “There's something here, you know, I love it.”

That's where I first kind of caught it. I caught the bug, I guess, as they say."

Q: Where did you go to grad school?

A: "The University of Tulsa."

Q: How did you get into teaching?

A: "Funny story. So, while I was doing my graduate work, there were a few little seminars that I was responsible for teaching.

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Q: How did you end up at the Law Magnet?

A: "Long story. So my wife and I actually met while teaching. We were teaching at Booker T Washington High School in Tulsa. Wonderful school, we loved it. But my wife, she's better with numbers than I am, she realized based on our salaries, we were not going to be set up for retirement. Oklahoma is like the worst in the nation about paying their teachers. She spotted DISD, she knew some people, and she knew that if you can find a job at Dallas ISD you can actually get paid a decent wage, love what you do and make enough to retire.

My wife got hired at SEM, and after a brief stint at a school in Plano, my wife spotted a fine arts position at the Law Magnet."

Q: What advice do you have for students that are creative, and wish to pursue fine arts in the future?

A: Don’t be discouraged. The biggest issue right now with Fine Arts is that if you think, “I love painting.”, you also have to think, “Can I make a living being a painter?” It's a long shot, but there are a lot of professions out there that involve design, art and design and creative thinking. Don’t write it off immediately, just do a little research into things like industrial design, architecture or even things like graphic design. There's a lot of things that involve those skills and you can use them and still bring home the bacon.

The flip side of that is there's, there's something to be said for hopefully having a job you love or find fulfilling. You could still have that job and have enough time or money to do photography, have a studio, or paint on the weekends. That’s if you have a job that doesn’t chase you home every day."

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LEGAL BRIEF - MENTAL HEALTH PAGE

Accepting Change As we approach the end of the year, we are having to learn how to accept change as we are starting college, becoming juniors or seniors, etc.. It might feel like you’re being left behind or moving too fast, but we want you to trust the process. You are doing exactly what you’re supposed to be right now.

We all know how difficult it can be to accept and adjust to change, and although difficult, it is very necessary to inspire new behaviors and break bad habits.

The sooner we learn to make peace with change being inevitable, the better. Change allows our lives to move forward. Or else, life will always stay the same and we never achieve the growth we are meant to have.

Change helps us to grow, it gives us opportunities to develop confidence and resilience. It allows us to get out of our comfort zone and makes life exciting.

However, it is okay to give yourself some time to come to terms with it. Let the emotions come out and make room for them. It’s normal to feel sad and have a sense of loss when you think about old times.

Seek support and learn to slowly deal with the transition phase before going fully into the new reality.

We are often scared of change because we’re afraid of the unknown.

“Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won’t have a title until much later.” Bob Goff “Change is inevitable, growth is optional.” John Maxwell Want to read more about tips for dealing with change?

Check out the link below. https://www.verywellmind.com/5-tips-for-dealing-with-change-5205553 Written By: Joyce Medina

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LEGAL BRIEF - COMMUNITY SERVICE/EIF It’s the beginning of a new year, and the start of the second semester. By now, you should have at least 18 hrs of community service completed. If you are behind or want to move forward, here are some community opportunities to start off the year.

Written By: Gloria Espinoza

REMINDER: Law Magnet students can only receive up to 6 hours through donations, while the rest have to be hands on. The Law Magnet requires students to do at least 36 hours every school year. All hours should be uploaded to X2VOL to receive the credited hours.

X2VOL: https://www.x2vol.com/index.html

Townview Peace Pantry Food Drive 10 items: 6 hours 15 items: 10 hours Townview’s food pantry is accepting donations of food and toiletries in exchange for volunteer hours. All donations must be given to Ms. Rojas. She can be found in room 206 (the courtroom). ALL schools are welcome to participate! Contact Ms. Rojas for the list of items needed!

BoomerJacks Feed The City May 8th, 8:30 am - 10:30 am Want active volunteering where you can improve food scarcity and hunger? Then Feed The City is perfect for you! It’s a monthly volunteer opportunity where individuals come together at a local venue to make lunches for people in need. The lunches consist of sandwiches, chips, and fruits. Earn easy community hours by spending 2 hours making lunch, and simultaneously making an impact in your community.

Link: https://tinyurl.com/45uy3u4r Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) Are you passionate about climate change? Want to educate the community on global warming and legislative solutions? Then sign up to get started on environmental volunteering for CCL, where you meet with congressional leaders, meet with the local media, and have monthly conference calls with expert speakers. This project of service will not only help you earn hours for school, but will build life experiences and connections on real world issues with advocates just like you! Join now by signing up and become part of a community that tackles environmental issues around the globe.

Link: https://tinyurl.com/yc74ybrw Community Service Excel Sheet Are you having a hard time finding hands-on community service opportunities? The Law Magnet has the perfect resource for you. A google sheet that is monthly updated with new opportunities available for students!

Link: https://tinyurl.com/mr3kvkra 19

LEGAL BRIEF - PTSA Hello Law Magnet Families, It is hard to believe that we are down to our last four weeks of school. As we get ready to wish the graduating Class of 2023 success in the future, we are excited to welcome the incoming class of 2027.

This year PTSA was allowed to a return to campus and participate in several activities on campus. Some of the highlights are: meals for the staff, holiday dessert bar, custodian appreciation day, staff survival kits, pies for the staff, teacher appreciation week. For the students: nacho day, hot cocoa day, ice cream sundae day, movie nights, talent show, & field day.

None of this is possible without the generous support of all our law families and friends.

Thank you to everyone who was able to donate their time, talent, goods, and services. Shout out to the following sponsors: DeLeon Provisions, Starbucks, and Nothing Bundt cakes.

The biggest accomplishment this school year was the launching of the new monthly publication “The Legal Pad”. Kudos to the Law Link Crew who work hard every month to make sure that the publication includes a calendar of events, PTSA page, interesting stories, facts, and updates on campus events. Remember, if you want to be in the know, check “The Legal Pad”.

The PTSA Board would also like to send a special thank you to Fabiola Hamer. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to the PTSA board for the last three years. You will truly be missed.

PTSA membership meeting will be held on May 16th, 6:30pm. This will be our election meeting. Nominations can be taken from the floor.

We hope that everyone has a happy, healthy, and fun filled summer.

See you in August Law Magnet PTSA Board Lawmagnetptsa@gmail.com

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PTSA AND LAW MAGNET RESOURCES Want a volunteer opportunity to help PTSA? Visit: https://forms.gle/6VyjV81Ph8TgrzQo6

Want some Law Magnet Spirit Wear?

Visit: https://lawmagnetptsa.cheddarup.com

How to Apply https://www.dallasisd.org/domain/26556

Law Magnet Teachers https://www.dallasisd.org/domain/17776

Townview Directory Links https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/82838

Education is Freedom https://www.dallasisd.org/domain/19738

Townview Wide Club List https://tinyurl.com/2w57vjs4

Link Tree https://lawlinkcrewresources.carrd.co

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To close off the year we want to share some quick summer jokes with you guys!

Created by: Leslie Orozco and Mikayla Spivey

1. What did you learn in school?

"Nothing, I have to go back tomorrow."

2. "I would do my math homework but I already have my own problems."

3. How do you confuse an AP student?

Make the first 21 questions all be the answer C. 4. Reading the first question on the AP test like:

KEEP UP TO DATE OR REACH OUT TO US THROUGH: School Website: dallasisd.org/lawmagnet Instagram: @thelawlegalpad Twitter: @LawMag214 Email: thelawlegalpad@gmail.com

5. Nobody: Students the night before their AP exam: