At Westminster, Chloe discovered that her path to law school could begin with something she already loved: English. Through her studies, involvement in the Student Government Association and Phi Mu Sorority, an honors research project, and opportunities to explore political science and legal studies, she developed the skills and confidence to pursue a future in law. This fall, she will continue that journey at Duquesne University School of Law.

What does life after Westminster look like for you?

I'm going to be attending Duquesne University School of Law this fall. I also got into Widener and West Virginia University, so it was a difficult choice, but I toured Duquesne last October and absolutely loved it. Attending their Accepted Students Day was also amazing, so I knew that it was for me.

I'm not entirely sure what kind of law I want to practice yet. I know I want to work closely with people, and I'm interested in wills, trusts and estates because I think it would be really fulfilling to help people put together their documents and ensure their loved ones are taken care of.

What inspired you to pursue law school?

I honestly didn't decide to go to law school until last February. Before that, I considered becoming a professor or going into editing and publishing, but I didn't feel those careers would be as rewarding for me. I wanted to pursue a career path where I could work closely with people every day.

I started taking courses focused on political science and legal studies during my sophomore year. I vividly remember sitting in a class about the courts with Dr. Smithey, who was amazing and so passionate about what she teaches, and thinking, "This is so interesting." I loved learning about the Supreme Court and the legal profession, so I continued taking any political science and legal classes I could after that.

The Student Government Association (SGA) also led me toward law in a way. SGA is built on the principle of advocating for others on campus, speaking up for people who can't be heard and working to create change. That's also at the center of the legal field—speaking up for people who can't advocate for themselves and correcting injustices. I had no consideration of law before coming here, so I think Westminster awakened that inside of me.

How did your English major prepare you for law school?

I started studying for the LSAT in May, right after my junior year, and I think being an English major really helped me. The test is all reading—there's reading comprehension and logical reasoning—and my entire major was dedicated to reading and writing. Because of this, writing my law school applications came pretty naturally to me. My personal statement, a two-to-three page essay required for law school applications, focused on my honors research on romance novels. My research required me to pull a lot of adjacent sources into my work and apply them to my argument. That's what lawyers and attorneys do. They pull precedent and facts from other cases and apply them to their own case. Even though my research wasn't legal or political science-related, I was able to show how those skills translate to what I'll be doing in law school.

I also recently argued a Supreme Court case for my constitutional law final, and it was so much fun. I was so excited that I had developed an entire argument that no one could really refute. I remember sitting there and thinking, "I'm going to be fine at law school. I'm going to be fine." That was when I realized I had chosen something I was genuinely passionate about.

Tell us more about your honors research.

My honors thesis was 91 pages, and it was definitely a beast. I spent the whole year putting it together piece by piece. My research focused on romance novels, and I learned so much about how to integrate sources that might initially seem like they have no connection to my work. I had to find ways to tie things like Russian folktales into my research on tropes within romance novels.

I also learned that I was selling myself short as a creative writer. My critical work had made me nervous about the creative section of my capstone and honors research, but I realized that I was capable of doing both. Maybe I'll finish that book someday—the two main characters are students at Duquesne Law School, so somehow everything ended up being interconnected.

What were some of your most meaningful experiences outside the classroom?

Phi Mu was central to my experience at Westminster. I served as philanthropy chair and president, and I truly got to work on my leadership skills, critical thinking and ability to work in a group. SGA was also a huge part of my experience. I started as a senator during my first two weeks on campus, then became the academics chair and later served as vice president. The friendships I made through SGA have been amazing.

I met some of my closest friends through those experiences, including my roommate and one of my best friends. I had no idea when I first arrived that those people would become such important parts of my life.

How has Westminster changed you?

Westminster has truly been a home away from home for me. I was very shy in high school, and I still kept to a close circle of friends even though I was comfortable with public speaking.

Here, I feel like I knew tons of people on campus. I made a genuine effort to get to know people and be kind on campus. I became more willing to engage in conversations, wave to people on the quad and make time to be with people. I feel like Westminster has become a part of me. It's hard to imagine not being here next year, but I have so much faith in the current students and my younger friends. Westminster will always be the same amazing campus.

What made Westminster feel like the right place for you?

When I first toured here, it really stood out to me because I didn't get the same sense of community at other schools. People were so friendly during my visit. Students would directly ask me if I was touring and tell me how much they loved Westminster. I remember thinking, "Students love it. I'm going to love it, too." That made me realize it was the right choice.

What has been one of the most valuable parts of being at a small college?

At a small school, you get to know so many incredible people. That's what makes it hard to leave—you've formed all of these really awesome connections with the people around you.

You also build a network that can extend far beyond campus. Last summer, I interned at my local probation office and met a visiting judge from the area who knew Westminster. He gave me tips for studying for the LSAT and advice on where I should apply to law school. It was amazing to realize that even though Westminster is a small school in a small town, there's truly a huge network of people who know about it and are willing to help you.

What advice would you give to a student just starting at Westminster?

I was really worried about making friends during my first semester here, which is silly to think about now because I made so many. I'd tell myself that everything is going to be okay. Put yourself out there. Go to the events on campus. Say yes to people. Do whatever you can while staying committed to your academics and managing your time well. 

Most importantly, do what you love and do what you're passionate about.

Looking back, is there anything you would change about your Westminster experience? 

There's truly nothing I would change. I feel like I did everything I wanted to do and more during my time as a student. I've had the opportunity to travel to Greece and Puerto Rico, make so many friends and get involved in so many different things. I feel like Westminster has become a part of me, and that's why it's so hard to imagine not being here next year.

But if I've learned one thing, it's that your Westminster family is always there, whether you can see them or not.

More Stories