A Change of Perspective — Alexis Murray, SBA President

A Change of Perspective

BY ALEXIS MURRAY, SBA PRESIDENT

How do you turn lemons into lemonade? Let me take you back to March 2020, when it all started. The beginning of what is now known as a global pandemic, something that has altered the lives of many including me. I would have never imagined that I would be spending the next months trying to make the best out of a situation that no one could have predicted. Beginning last year, and up until now, the world has been filled with death, sickness, quarantine, and political unrest. For a moment, it seemed as though every month, something new would happen. At times, it seemed as though lemonade was absolutely impossible to make.

Upon accepting my leadership position, I would have never imagined that my term would begin and end during a pandemic. Leadership during a pandemic was something that many people have never experienced and it brought about a lot of uncertainty. However, I have learned that you have to remain calm and level-headed when faced with uncertainty to ensure you are able to think clearly and make the most informed decisions. I currently serve as the Student Bar Association president as well as the president of NCCU’s Black Law Student Association.

Serving as a leader during a pandemic has proved to be one of the most challenging things I have done to date. I did not imagine that I would be spending my entire term learning remotely with extremely limited in-person interactions. This year, as a student leader, there was no glitz or glamor; it was all work and trying to figure out ways to keep students engaged. All of the fun parts of law school, such as the Barrister’s Ball, Law Week, and other annual events, began to disappear slowly as the virus continued to spread throughout the country. Even the hopes of an in-person graduation ceremony suddenly became slim. As you can see, my attempt to turn those lemons into lemonade began to feel more like making lemon water.

However, as time progressed, I began to realize why I had lemonade all along. Despite being in a pandemic, I was able to continue my education. Despite student programming not looking how it normally would, many organizations were able to adjust and still host meaningful and productive events this year. Despite the possibility of not having an in-person graduation, the Class of 2021 will still graduate on May 8, 2021.

For my own sanity, I had to find the positives in the midst of so many negatives. I had to see the glass as half full, not half empty. The glass is half full of lemonade, that is!