Cherissa Lindsay caught up with us before orientation. Read more about her experiences below.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? What sparked your interest in law school?
I’m Cherissa Lindsay, a 3L from the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. I graduated from Tulane University in May of 2022 where I studied Sociology, Homeland Security, and Education. A few fun facts about me are that I was adopted when I was three weeks old and I was a competitive gymnast for eleven years. Before I started college, I knew I was going to attend law school. My interest in law school was sparked during my senior year of high school where I had the opportunity to shadow a judge from the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court, Judge Alison Floyd. I was able to sit in on trials, speak with attorneys, and gain an inside look at the juvenile detention center. Although this was a rewarding experience, I was frustrated with what I saw within the juvenile justice system and knew I had to go to law school to work on reform in the system.
I finished my senior year of undergraduate by writing an honors thesis entitled “Students, School Police and the School-to-Prison Pipeline” where I interviewed school resource officers from a variety of schools in the Cleveland, Ohio area. My honors thesis specifically sparked my interest in special education law because of the disproportionate number of students with disabilities who end up in the school-to-prison pipeline.
Why did you decide on GW Law?
I decided to come to GW Law for a variety of reasons. The first being was its location in Washington, DC I love visiting museums and moments and DC has a plethora of museums, I’ve never had to visit the same museum twice during my study break. I also wanted to attend GW Law because of the number of concentrations that it offers. Coming from an undergraduate with three areas of study, I knew I didn’t want to be limited in my ability to explore many legal areas including national security law, criminal law, and family law.
During your time here has there been a class, professor, or experience that has had a significant impact on you?
Disability Rights Law with Professor Craig Leen had a significant impact on me. Entering into this class I knew that my legal interests were in special education law however, with my interest being a niche area I was worried that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to find a class where I could share my interests and experience. I was excited when we approached the education unit where I was able to share my previous summer experience with the class and also engage in meaningful discussion. Luckily I was able to write my final paper on special education law. I always appreciated running my ideas for my papers by him, talking about my career aspirations, and sharing experiences with the K-12 education system. I appreciated how Professor Leen wanted us to explore our interests in disability rights law and share those with the class.
What's one piece of advice you would like to share with incoming students?
Remember to be kind to yourself throughout your time in law school. My mentor would often remind me that grades aren’t everything, they aren’t worth sacrificing your health or well-being. If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed with work, close the textbook and go for a walk on the National Mall.
What are some of your top goals for the SBA this year?
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Creating an inclusive community for all GW Law students.
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Supporting programming efforts for evening/part-time students to ensure they have the “law school experience.”
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Incorporating students’ ideas, interests, and input to ensure the SBA serves all student's needs.