2015 Major: Philosophy; minor in Psychology
"Studying philosophy at Duke helped me discover and learn the value of being able to read, write and think across multiple dimensions. I gained an appreciation for how to use logic to craft persuasive arguments and learned the importance of continually exposing myself to viewpoints that differ from my own to challenge my thinking and push the boundaries of my own opinions. I also learned that, despite the diversity of identities, backgrounds and perspectives that humans possess, people are more similar than they are different - we are and have always been intrigued by the same elusive questions about why we are here, what we are meant to do and how we can lead meaningful lives. I have applied these lessons to my personal relationships by making an effort to interact with people of distinct cultures, professional and academic backgrounds and political beliefs — and, that process began in a very real way while I was a student at Duke. I feel so grateful to have cultivated strong bonds with an eclectic group of friends and mentors who have generously enriched my life with their insights and perspectives, guiding me along my own life path. I’ve also found that the lessons I learned at Duke as a philosophy student have directly impacted my work as lawyer. My studies prepared me to quickly synthesize complex texts and fact patterns and effectively advocate for and defend a particular position from multiple angles. Through conversations with students and professors, I learned how satisfying it is to understand another person’s story and to uncover what motivates them to think and behave in certain ways. Using the lessons I learned as a philosophy student as a foundation, I’ve found that effectively representing a client requires asking a series of thoughtful questions and building a relationship based on trust and confidence so that it’s possible to provide personalized advice that can help clients achieve their desired goals."
"I would encourage students to challenge themselves to take a variety of courses and to find ways to connect with other students and professors — exposure to different ways of thinking and getting to know people with different opinions outside of the classroom is what makes studying philosophy so fun and worthwhile! When I think back on my experience at Duke, I feel so grateful for all of the people who pushed me to think in different ways - and, I feel very proud to call some of those people my dearest friends and mentors."
Department of Philosophy