Page 4 - Cla Delta Spotlight - Winter 2012-13

JUDGE, continued from page 1 had a three minute speech where I worked as a Contract Analyst. After to convince the audience a couple more years, I decided to go back to why they should vote for school and get a graduate degree in either Law you. The most diffcult part or an MBA. I decided on law school with no of the process was raising intention of ever becoming a lawyer but going over $75,000 to cover my back into the business world. campaign costs. While it was While attending law school I saw a letter a necessary evil, I never felt from the Orange County District Attorney’s comfortable asking strangers, Offce outside the career development center family and friends for money. offering an internship as a certifed law I have been assigned to clerk. I was lucky to get the position. In my a Felony Trial Court for the interview I was asked if I wanted to be a DA last 3 years. Many of the after law school. Like an idiot I said “no” but trials I hear often involve somehow still got the clerkship. I was given people who do some of Lance and his family enjoying a USC football game! the opportunity to do just about everything a the most despicable things prosecutor did including a jury trial. I knew anyone can imagine. Like a the minute I stepped into a courtroom that this baseball umpire, I call the balls and strikes you were going to do next. I would tell young was where I wanted to be for the rest of my which determine what evidence comes in and actives to not be afraid to change careers. career. It also helped that after two prior jobs what stays out while the jury decides guilt or As a DA, my salary was about half of what my dad said he wasn’t going to pay for any innocence. My primary job is to make sure other attorneys were making in the legal feld; more schooling after law school. that both sides get a fair and just trial in a however, I loved going to work every day. I found out that I passed the bar exam on a professional manner. The process is much While others were making more money, they Friday and started working as a Deputy District harder on the jurors and especially the victims. were married to their job, often hated what Attorney the following Monday. Every day It is incredibly satisfying to know that you are they were doing and had little time to spend was different and just when I thought I had part of a process that is so important to our with their families. You can’t put a price on seen it all, something different and challenging society and community. After a tough day or happiness and family. As my father would would come into the courtroom. I prosecuted long trial I like nothing better than to come often say, “there is nothing worse than going over 100 misdemeanor and felony cases and home and spend time with my two kids and to a job every day that you hate.” Follow what was assigned to the hard core gang unit before incredible wife. My wife has a hard time challenges you because that is what will make I left the offce. listening to me talk about the cases so I often you happy and content. After 12 years as a DA the next logical suggest that we just open a nice bottle of My experience at Phi Delta Theta and step and challenge for me was to become a Cabernet Sauvignon and enjoy! the relationships I have developed with my judge. As a Republican I knew that I was never When I graduated USC, I had this fellow brothers have shaped and defned me going to be appointed by Democrat Governor “company man” mentality. I truly thought that as the person who I am today. I have been Davis, so I decided to run for offce. The the frst company I worked for would be the able to continue that experience by continuing election process was nine grueling months on company I retired from. It was very scary to to support the chapter. I never miss an the campaign trail speaking at any and every change jobs after only two years out of school opportunity to attend alumni events where event known to mankind. The experience and then two years later leave another job and you can connect with brothers who graduated was like rushing a fraternity but you only decide to go to law school not knowing what a few years ago or a few decades. YITB CALDWELL, continued from page 1 What are your goals for after graduation? faced with a decision on whether or not to Upon graduation I wish to pursue a job in run for President of Cal Delta or run for an consulting, either technical or management, IFC position. The IFC Executive Board is hopefully in the healthcare industry. I also the governing body of all fraternities in the just applied for a Progressive Degree Program Interfraternity Council, and it is composed which is a four year bachelor’s degree plus of 9 leaders in the Greek Community. They one year master’s degree program. I wish serve the presidents of the fraternities in the to pursue a master’s degree in Engineering Interfraternity Council and act as a liaison Management and hope to obtain this through between USC’s Administration and the the completion of online course work in the Brenton (right) and Wiley at a USC Football Tailgate Greek community. After much thought and Progressive Degree Program while working deliberation, I thought it best if I ran for a full time after I receive my bachelor’s degree current engineer’s life; a Freshman Academy position on the Interfraternity Council. I in Biomedical Engineering. Coach, a class taught by one professor and two believed that my experiences serving at Cal coaches which helps to transition engineers Delta could be very useful to the board. In What type of work are you doing on campus into college life through mentorship; and addition, I had a longing to enact large scale and what do you do for fun? a Viterbi Admission and Student Affairs change in the Greek Community and preserve On campus I work as a Viterbi Student Intern. For fun I like to discover new bands, the longevity of the Greek system at USC Ambassador, a program which highlights code websites and programs, go to the beach, since it has impacted my life in such a great my everyday life in order to give incoming explore Los Angeles (I still have a lot more to way thus far. students and potential applicants a look into a discover), and go to the gym. Alumni communication services provided by The Laurus Group | www.thelaurusgroup.net | 770-903-3987