From Small Town to Big Opportunities: My Journey into Law
When you grow up in a small town in Poland, opportunities can often feel just out of reach. Sometimes, it may even seem like all your motivation to take up a new task is hindered by external boundaries. That’s when you know you have to take matters into your own hands! Determined to break free from these limitations, I found the courage to apply for the FLEX scholarship offered by the U.S. Department of State—something I had always dreamed of. When I was accepted, it opened the door to a transformative year in the United States, filled with new adventures and beginnings.
Before this experience, my academic focus had been influenced by social pressures around me. I struggled to figure out my personal interests when scientific subjects were so highly respected in Poland. Social sciences and law were areas I had not yet explored, as I was scared to stand out and break the mold. Everything changed when I stepped into an AP Government class in the U.S. Learning about American politics and legal precedents, I immediately knew I had found a passion I never knew existed. The thrill of debating and drafting legislation in Model Congress was a key moment: I realized that this was what I wanted to pursue for my future career.
Returning to Poland, I faced the familiar challenge of limited opportunities. Unlike peers in larger cities, finding an internship in the legal field was not easy! The Polish education system, with its mandatory courses, offered little room for my personal interests, such as law. However, as a Crimson Access Opportunity student, a new path opened for me when I applied to the Dentons Work Experience Program. This full-ride scholarship provided all the resources I needed to delve into my interests! The moral of the story? Opportunities can be found in the most unexpected places. You just have to be willing to seek them out! My goals for this opportunity were clear: make international friends, learn more about law, and ultimately discover if this might be my future path.
Friendships, Challenges, and Growth: My Time with Dentons
During the orientation meetings of the Dentons Work Experience Program, I immediately connected with fellow participants from around the world. One memorable activity was the post-it notes game, where we learned fun facts about each other and shared as many notes as possible. It was a great start to building friendships and understanding diverse perspectives, making me even more excited for the experiences awaiting me!
Our first major task was a case study that initially seemed simple. However, as my teammate Maline and I delved deeper, we realized how complex it was. This was a challenging moment; we did not know which strategy to pursue. There were so many of them, yet none met the needs of our client. In such overwhelming moments, we knew that we had to be more adaptive and creative when solving new problems.
That’s when our mentor, Zineb, became irreplaceable. She spent countless hours guiding us through the details of the case, helping us refine our strategy. Her expertise and patience were crucial in our case analysis process and inspired us to stay motivated. Fares, another mentor, was also incredibly supportive, always ready to answer our questions despite not being directly assigned to us. In this program, everyone was always willing to help—that is what reinforced the positive atmosphere.
Maline and I eventually completed our law document with much pride. We enjoyed discussing both the case and our personal lives, even making jokes about how the parties might look. This teamwork allowed us to become more creative and observant. We developed the ability to notice details we initially overlooked. From that very moment, we approached every new case with much more depth.
Throughout this journey, I was never alone. My new friends, the module leaders, and Hasna, who supervised the program, were constant sources of support and encouragement. Another highlight was discussing university plans with the module leaders, who were alumni of NYU Abu Dhabi. Their insights were invaluable, and Zineb's encouragement made me consider NYUAD as a serious option for my future studies. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll end up there!
I cannot stress enough how much this work experience program contributed to my personal growth. I gained not only professional skills but also friendships and mentors who inspired me. The program reinforced my passion for law and taught me the importance of collaboration and open-mindedness. These experiences have been crucial in shaping my career path and personal growth, and I am grateful for every moment spent in this incredible journey.
Don’t let fear of incompetence hold you back. Embrace new challenges as opportunities to develop and learn new skills!
Reflecting on my time with the Dentons Work Experience Program, I am thrilled to see how much I’ve accomplished. I proudly achieved all my goals: I connected with incredible new friends from across the globe, delved into new concepts in contract law, and most importantly, discovered a genuine passion for the field of my future career.
This experience reinforced my belief that no matter where you come from, you have the power to shape your own path. Despite the limitations of growing up in a small town, I found that creating opportunities and embracing challenges could lead to great results. The support from mentors and peers was invaluable and helped me work on the study case effectively.
My advice to future participants is: Don’t be afraid to try new things! In simple words: BeLIeVe in yourself! This motivational quote originated from the time when I was still in the U.S - I was nicknamed Liv. My host family got me a stocking with a “Believe” written on it. Ever since that day, it has been my life motto and a motivator whenever I feel anxious about taking up an activity — just like I did before applying to Dentons Work Experience Program. So, even if you feel incompetent, it is completely alright. Everyone starts somewhere. Don’t let it define your limits. Make the most of the resources and connections available to you, because the program really is what you make out of it! It has shown me that with perseverance and the right support, you can achieve your dreams and discover where you truly belong.
