Blog #8 - Final Reflection

 As my project nears completion, I want to take a step back to both celebrate and critically reflect on the work I have done. Throughout the course of this experience, I feel that I accomplished—or at least meaningfully explored—all of my original goals. I am extremely proud of the effort I put into this project and the depth of learning that resulted from it.

This project, however, would likely never have existed without my family background in law. I have had countless conversations with family members about their careers in the legal field, and each of those discussions sparked my curiosity in different ways. In addition, my involvement in Mock Trial played a significant role in shaping this project and even helped bring some of my experiences to life. Seeing previous law-related Hawken Projects also helped me envision what my own project could look like and what I hoped to gain from it.

At its core, my subconscious goal for this project was to determine—at least in part—whether I could see myself pursuing a career in law. Through this experience, I believe I found my answer. The aspect of law that resonated with me most was the sheer variety within the field. There are countless career paths, practice areas, and environments, and I could realistically see myself in many of them. My project exposed me to facets of the legal system that I had little to no prior knowledge of, giving me a far broader and more nuanced understanding of the profession as a whole.

In terms of execution, I believe my project went smoothly and exceeded my initial expectations. I was able to observe and engage with a wide range of courts, including Probate Court, Appellate Court, Common Pleas Court, Municipal Court, and even Federal Court—an opportunity that was not part of my original plan. Experiencing these different courts gave me a clearer sense of how the justice system functions as a whole and where I might see myself fitting in.

Beyond court structure, I learned about the factors that draw legal professionals to either the public or private sector, as well as how fluid legal careers often are. Many of the professionals I interviewed had moved between offices, roles, and even opposing sides of the law. This idea of “pivoting” was emphasized as a crucial skill in the legal profession—the ability to adapt, seize unexpected opportunities, and remain open to paths you may not have originally considered. This was a valuable realization for me and something I hope to develop in my own future.

If there was one aspect of the legal system I wish I had explored more thoroughly, it would be direct exposure to someone currently practicing in the private sector. While I learned a great deal about private practice through individuals who had previously worked in it, scheduling conflicts prevented me from observing it firsthand. That said, I plan to address this gap in the near future through my uncle, who works in private practice in downtown Cleveland, as well as through the professional connections I made during this project.

It would be difficult to summarize everything I learned during these three weeks, as much of it is detailed throughout my individual blog posts. One of the most impactful themes I observed was the wide range of individuals who find themselves in court and the reasons they are there. I learned how significantly childhood experiences and home environments can shape a person’s future. Exposure to instability, violence, or trauma at a young age often makes it much harder to envision or achieve a different path later in life—an insight that gave me a deeper appreciation for prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation within the justice system.

Some of my favorite experiences included visits to the Lake County Narcotics Agency, the Lake County Crime Lab, and the U.S. Federal Court in downtown Cleveland. I also greatly valued my interviews with legal and court personnel, particularly my conversation with Dr. Jeff Rindsberg, former Lake County Court Psychologist and current psychologist at Northcoast Behavioral Health. What stood out most to me was his emphasis on neutrality. As a court psychologist, he was required to evaluate individuals solely based on their mental state, without allowing alleged crimes or personal histories to influence his professional judgment. Maintaining that level of objectivity for nearly 19 years is incredibly impressive and left a lasting impression on me.

Another highlight was observing expert witnesses deliver highly detailed testimony during a murder trial, and then later encountering those same individuals at the crime lab, where they recognized me and discussed the case. Seeing how different parts of the justice system intersect in real time was both fascinating and educational.

If I were to offer advice to future Hawken students planning a project, it would be to start early and plan thoroughly. Unlike in school, opportunities in the real world are difficult to arrange on short notice. I learned firsthand that failing to plan ahead can mean missing out on experiences you were genuinely excited about. I would also strongly encourage students to choose a topic they are truly interested in, rather than one they think will simply look impressive. It is very difficult to sustain enthusiasm for three weeks if the topic does not genuinely engage you. Additionally, students should be mindful that project days often extend beyond the traditional school schedule, which is an important factor to consider when choosing a topic.

My final piece of advice is to take detailed, dated notes every day. This makes a significant difference when writing blog posts late in the week and trying to remember what happened on specific days—a challenge I encountered more than once.

Finally, none of this project would have been possible without the guidance and support of my mentor, Magistrate Alana Rezaee of the Lake County Probate Court. She played an instrumental role in organizing my experiences and opening doors that I would not have been able to access on my own. I am incredibly grateful for her mentorship, expertise, and willingness to invest time and energy into my learning.