Gabriella Thurmond

I believe I would attribute my success to the foundation I was given through my mother and through my family, and working to be consistently disciplined. I would give that to my family, for sure. My mother originally wanted to be a cop and was always really involved within the legal scene, which exposed me to advocacy work from a young age. The values of discipline and the strong foundation my family provided have been instrumental in helping me achieve my goals and stay focused on my path.

The best career advice I've received is to be relentless in your pursuit for something. This advice has guided me through challenges and helped me stay focused on my goals, especially when facing unexpected changes like having to transfer schools or make really big decisions at a young age. Being relentless means not giving up even when things don't go according to the plan I had envisioned.

I would say, don't be afraid to stand out. Go for things that seem unconventional to you. It's important to take risks and pursue paths that might not be traditional or expected, because that's where you can really make your mark and find what truly resonates with you. Standing out and being unconventional can lead to unique opportunities and help you carve your own path in your field.

The biggest challenge I've faced is abrupt change. Obviously, everyone goes through changes, but I've had to transfer schools really unexpectedly and make really big decisions at a young age. Large changes that don't go to the necessary plan that I had envisioned are probably the biggest challenge that I face. On the opportunities side, I've been granted some amazing opportunities recently. I have currently just applied to all my law schools and have been receiving offers and acceptances. The biggest opportunity I've had recently is the opportunity to attend law school on a full-ride scholarship, which is incredibly exciting and validates all the hard work I've put in.

The biggest value for me is always being ethical. I think that is fundamental to everything I do. Being empathetic and understanding is also crucial, especially in my work with residents where I need to support students through their challenges and help them feel welcomed. Discipline is another value that I hold heavily - it's something that was instilled in me by my family and has helped me stay focused and achieve my goals. These three values - ethics, empathy, and discipline - guide both my professional work and my personal life.