Kevin Schoenfeldt (2L)
After being in law school for over a month now, you’ve probably met many of your fellow 1Ls. You might even be feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of people you’ve met. Even so, here are three of your colleagues you should be sure to get to know better.
Tanner Whiteman:
When Tanner first learned to walk, he knew he was going places. Then he learned to talk, a skill that would stay with him his entire life. “I’ve used my word speaking ability to overcome so much adversity. When I needed a car, I asked my parents again and again until I got one. I learned that as long as I stuck with it, worked hard, and kept asking, I could get anything I wanted.” Yet Tanner’s world was rocked when he first went to university. “It was extremely difficult, but I googled and googled and finally was able to cook Kraft Dinner in the microwave.” Tanner believes it’s these past struggles that will help him succeed at U of T Law. He has even made an impression on the Dean: “Yes, I believe he is enrolled here,” Dean Iacobucci said when asked for comment. High praise, indeed.
Janine Sssthsss:
Janine was raised by actual Komodo dragons on the island of Rinca in Indonesia. “Don’t get me wrong,” Janine said, “Mom and Dad are great and everything, but there are definite challenges to being raised by the giant lizards who ate your birth parents.” Janine described to us some of the difficulties she faced being different from her peers: “The worst part was that everyone made fun of me for not having venomous saliva, but I tried not to let it get to me. I mean, they’re right, I don’t have any venom! Also, I didn’t know the Internet existed until recently.” Despite these hardships, Janine found time to start a volunteer organization that teaches newborn dragons to climb trees to avoid being eaten by older lizards. “I only avoided getting eaten because everyone was sort of full after eating my parents and they let me stick around. It’s important to pay your good fortune forward.” The true embodiment of U of T Law.
Blue J Legal:
At only two years old, Blue J is by far the youngest student in U of T Law’s history, but you’d never know it from talking to Blue J who, like many great students, is more interested in asking questions than self-promotion. “Which of the following best describes the taxpayer?” Blue J replied, when asked why Blue J chose law school. Blue J was eager to hear about our public interest opportunities: “Please describe the expenditure in greater detail.” Blue J seems unfazed by the idea of being so young: “At the time of contracting, how did the parties intend to characterize the relationship?” Clearly Blue J has a very keen mind, unsurprising considering a group of U of T students and professors tutored Blue J all summer. Blue J also continues to work simultaneously—in an unpaid capacity—in the tax departments of a number of law firms. Asked for any final words of wisdom, Blue J replied, “Capital expenditure. Confidence: 95%.” So wise for someone so young.
