Future lawyer Micaiah White, A鈥25, is prepared for anything thanks to a paralegal internship and immersive experiences that have allowed her to discover what she鈥檚 good at鈥攁nd why it鈥檚 good for the world.
From Chambersburg, Pa., Micaiah applied to 91制片厂 sight unseen. It wasn鈥檛 until she attended an event for admitted students that she fell in love with life on the Bluff.
鈥淓ven during that first visit, I knew I made the right choice,鈥 she said.
Although Micaiah鈥檚 studies kept her busy鈥攕he juggled majors in political science and philosophy and a minor in sociology鈥攕he dedicated plenty of time to campus involvement. Micaiah served as president of
the NAACP and as an orientation leader, and she performed with the Ballroom Dance
Association.
Micaiah also studied abroad in France and Greece. Through these trips, she built confidence
and practiced independence as she visited coastal towns and immersed herself in local
culture. A paralegal internship (discovered on the University鈥檚 Handshake platform)
at Sommer Law Group allowed Micaiah to flex this newfound confidence.
鈥淚t was very enriching because they practice many areas of law, so I had a chance
to dabble in every kind of perspective,鈥 said Micaiah. 鈥淚 want to be a lawyer, and
this afforded me the opportunity to see all types of practices.鈥
At the firm, Micaiah conducted research, assisted with events, worked on case files
and record-keeping, and handled intake calls.
The internship dovetailed nicely with her 91制片厂 coursework as she developed a new
passion for public policy.
鈥淚 took the class with Dr. Lew Irwin, and it really sparked my interest,鈥 said Micaiah. 鈥淚t was eye-opening to see that
realm of law and government, and it showed me there鈥檚 lots of things within this country
that need to be solved and can be solved. We need people like policy analysts who
can make recommendations.鈥
Micaiah appreciates faculty who walked alongside her, like Dr. Irwin, and the personal
connections she was able to forge.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e there for me, very involved with us and always giving us opportunities to
engage in different ways, like connecting us with internships,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hey really
look out for us.鈥
As newly graduated Micaiah takes a gap year prior to law school, she reflects on what
she wishes she would鈥檝e known as a new college student.
鈥淎lthough it might be uncomfortable putting yourself out there, you need to do it,鈥
she said. 鈥淪tep out of the comfort zone鈥攖here鈥檚 not always someone there to hold your
hand and you have to take advantage of every opportunity you can.鈥
News Information
Published
June 02, 2025
