Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Introduction to a Future Lawyer

(Myself and my mother at Remington Park, April 2016, personal photo)
Hello my name is Cole Nimmo and I am currently a senior here at Oklahoma majoring in Public Relations with a minor in communications. I am from Ponca City, Oklahoma, which is in north central Oklahoma, about fifteen miles from the Kansas state line. I have grown up in a fairly large family by modern standards, being the youngest of four children and the third member of my family to attend the University of Oklahoma, with my parents and remaining sibling attending Oklahoma State sadly. Growing up I learned the meaning of hard work and responsibility working on my family's cattle ranch, where I plan to return to one day. These lessons have aided me in achieving my education goals here at OU, such as being admitted to OU Law for the class of 2020. Studying law has been a goal of mine for several years now and I hope to one day return to my hometown to practice law and to eventually begin my own firm or rise to the position of partner in one that is currently established. This course will be testing my writing creativity, a skill that has never been a strong suit of mine as I typically restrict myself to a more professional and by the book approach. Blogging is something I am especially not comfortable with, particularly doing this on a daily basis as I usually prefer for others not to see my writing other than an instructor. So this final semester of undergrad will be one that allows for me to branch out more than I have previously and to experience a non-traditional course for the first time.

30 comments:

  1. Oh, a future lawyer: that is wonderful, Cole, and congratulations on getting into OU Law. I am guessing the digital skills you learn in this class will come in handy there since they are putting such a strong, forward-looking emphasis on digital literacy in the Law School; it is a real leader on campus that way.

    And not to worry about sharing your writing: as you'll see when you start reading other people's writing in class, everybody has their own strengths and their own weaknesses, and we are all working on how to be better writers (including me). The only way to really become a better writer is by lots of practice and lots of feedback... and I promise you will get both in this class. I hope you will enjoy it!

    Maybe you will even want to explore some law-themed storytelling options: there have been some great class projects set in fantasy courtrooms, putting gods and heroes and tricksters, etc. etc. on trial. One of my favorites is actually from the Indian Epics class: Karma's Courthouse ... it is from several years ago but I remember it well because I thought it was such an inventive way to combine familiar western ideas of justice with the more eastern notion of karma and retribution. Very cool stuff! :-)

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  2. Hey Cole! We had PR Research together last semester with Jensen Moore. I do not know about you, but I am extremely grateful I am done with that class. I understand your worries about writing creativity. I used to write stories all the time before coming into Gaylord College where we learned clarity and brevity; and now, getting back into writing creative stories has made me realize I have lost some of my ability to do just that. I wish you good luck with your creative writing.

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  3. Hey, Cole! I think it's cool that you're going to be a lawyer. I have a couple of friends who have recently graduated law school here at OU and are going into the Marine Corps as Judge Advocates. I come from a large family myself (I'm one of eight), and I'm the third oldest. My younger brother also attends OSU, so I feel your pain as a sibling haha.

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  4. Hey Cole,
    My sister just applied to OU law school! Working on a ranch growing up seems like it would be quite an experience. I have heard things about the life of a rancher (which seems extremely time consuming/difficult), but I can only imagine the responsibilities you have doing that job. I also share your difficulty with writing and blogging. I think it's great that you decided to branch out in your last semester though! Maybe it will benefit you in the future. Good luck in law school!

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  5. I too come from a house divided, my sister went to OSU for a BS in Botany and I go to OU for Engineering. That's awesome that your family has a cattle ranch, I always thought it would be cool to live out in the country and live off the land. I also a struggling with the blogging aspect of this class. I usually am not a very open person so writing so much so that everyone can see is different.

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  6. Hi Cole! I am also a PR major and I hope you love it as much as I do. My favorite part about PR is communicating with people and always working with others. I have a couple other things in common with you since I am also the youngest of four kids in my family and my older brother also attended OU. I think it is so cool you have a cattle ranch, my grandparents have a farm that I love to go visit. I'm not really used to blogging either, but I'm sure we will all get used to it throughout the semester!

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  7. A Public Relations degree with a minor in Communication will definitely serve you well in life! I also have had several family members attend OU. I am actually a 4th generation OU student and I think I have had around 20 family members total attend OU. It is really great to keep the tradition going. I am also a little self-conscience about everyone being able to see my work/writing instead of just the professor.

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  8. Sounds like this class will be interesting for you! I think it's awesome that you're going out of your comfort zone. I feel the same, too! It's a little strange knowing everyone has access to our posts.

    I'm also the youngest of four and the third to go to OU :^). Law school sounds challenging, but interesting! Best of luck to you.

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  9. I'm with you when you say you're not used to people other than the instructor reading your writing. I'm not used to keeping a blog at all, but it's getting to where it's a fun and interesting thing to do, kind of something to look forward to. I hope you're finding it fun too!

    Also, Gaylord buddies! I'm an Ad major. PR sounds like a good precursor to law study.

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  10. Nice to meet you, Cole! I'm sure you're an awesome writer. I know a lot of English majors go on to Law school, so I'm sure you'll be great. I think it's great that you want to go to law school, and even greater that you want to go back home to do it. I know a lot of people can't wait to get out and leave Oklahoma, so I think it's always admirable when someone wants to go back to their roots. I can't wait to read what you've written!

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  11. Hi Cole,
    I too have three other siblings. Two older sisters and a twin brother! All of my siblings have gone to OU, so we are definitely a family of sooners! That’s so cool that you grew up on a farm, I can’t imagine how much work goes into that. I am more of a city girl so I have not much experience with farm animals. I did grow up in Texas, so some of my friends had chickens and horses. That’s about my extent of farm life!

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  12. Cole,
    That's awesome that you will be graduating this year with a major in PR and a minor in Communication. Additionally, I think that is awesome that you have been accepted to law school at OU. I am also the youngest of four children. Do you have brothers or sisters? None of mine went to OU and I really wish they did. Blogging isn't one of my strong points easier, but I am looking forward to reading one of your stories. It was great getting to know you!

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  13. Hey Cole! First off congrats on law school! That is so amazing! My brother is currently getting his masters degree and then going to law school so I know how much work it takes! Very impressive! I grew up in a fairly large family as well, and know how family rivalries go as one sibling went to UT! Good luck this semester!

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  14. Hello! Congrats on achieving your goal of getting into OU Law School! My grandparents own cattle and I can attest that it is hard work. I'm sure that experience helped to mold you into the driven and hardworking person you are today. That is really cool you are already thinking ahead of how you want to use your degree to help others in our state once you have it. Good luck with everything!

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  15. Hey Cole! Congrats on getting into OU Law! That's definitely not a strong suit of mine, anything related to political science. I work at a treatment center that involves quite a bit of legality and it can get confusing, as well as nerve-wrecking.
    It's also awesome that you're very goal oriented and raised by what sounds like a great family! I'm pretty traditional in a sense by culture, since my parents aren't from here. It's definitely a challenge to have to prove myself out there and measure up to the expectations my family holds (which my eldest brother has already proven). I'm sure we'll all enjoy your writing, there's no right or wrong in creativity! Good luck the rest of the semester and the years that follow!

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  16. Hey Cole, nice to meet you! I have been to Ponca City a few times and enjoyed it! I think you have a pretty large family! I can’t imagine being the youngest of four kids. I think it is pretty cool that y’all have all stayed in Oklahoma to go to school. I know that growing up on a ranch teaches you many lessons through life including hard work!

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  17. Hey Cole it is nice to meet you. Congrats on being accepted into OU Law. I am always impressed with people studying law because that is definitely not my strong suit. I too am terrible at creative writing. I actually took the Epics of India course that Dr. Gibbs teaches and these courses really do help you get out of your comfort zone. Good luck in law school and your future career!

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  18. Hey Cole! It is great to meet you! I think it is incredible that you want to be a lawyer! That definitely isn't something that I would be good at, but congratulations on getting accepted into OU Law! Good luck for your future!

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  19. Hey Cole, nice to meet you! Congratulations on being admitted into OU law, best of luck in pursuing your law career! It's definitely great to learn the meaning of hard work from a young age. Such experiences tend to create great characters. I am also looking forward to one day returning to our village in Lebanon, where we have a farm. I also decided to take such a course to get out of my comfort zone and try to enhance my writing skills. Good luck!

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  20. Hi Cole, nice to meet you! I am in the same boat as you -- I have never creative writing has not been a skill I have put much development into. I am actually surprised at how well the course has been going. Congrats on almost being done with undergrad! I hope law school goes well! I'm sorta curious what you want to do with your degree!

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  21. Congratulations on your acceptance into OU Law! That is a real honor. I am graduating this Spring and as of right now I really can't imagine jumping right into more school work. Law school is on my list of possibilities for the future. I hope that using your creative skills this semester hasn't been too hard. It's ben very nice to meet you, Cole.

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  22. Hi Cole,

    We actually have a lot in common, but are also very different. I’m also a senior in Gaylord, but I am studying Creative Media Production, however my minor is Communication as well, so I’m surprised being in the same two colleges, I’ve never ran into you or had a class with you until now! Anyways, congratulations on getting into OU Law, that’s so exciting! I wish you the best of luck!

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  23. Hi, Cole!
    Yay, I’m a Gaylord student as well. I wonder if I’ve seen you around! I wish I had a big family growing up. Having no sibling kind of sucks. Congrats on getting admitted into OU Law! That is such an amazing opportunity and unique approach to a PR degree. You’re going to do great things. Good luck to you and your future endeavors.

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  24. Hi Cole. I thought I had commented on your intro before but I don’t see anything from me so maybe I’m confused. It’s nice to meet you. When you said that you are part of a “big” family, then went on to explain that you were describing a family including four children I giggled a little bit. I’m the youngest of an ENORMOUS family by those standards. LOL. I have 6 older brothers and 4 older sisters, all blood related. I think it’s cool that your family members seem to have a tradition of going to OU. My mom and one of my brothers went to OSU and one of my sisters went to OU as well. We have all kind of followed our own random path, so it is neat to see a family with a tradition of going to the same school. Good luck with your future goals as a lawyer. You seem very driven and that’s definitely a great start!!

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  25. Hi Cole,

    it's nice to meet you. I'm a Gaylord senior as well. I'm sorry we've never met before. I have two very close friends majoring in PR. I'm a journalism major! I guess I will see you at graduation! Congratulations! Furthermore, congrats on getting into OU Law. I think that is an amazing accomplishment, and I wish you the best in all your future endeavors.

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  26. Hey Cole, it's nice to meet you. I understand how you feel about creative writing and having others read your work on a daily basis; it can be a little intimidating. For what it's worth, I think you've done a great job so far this semester. Congrats on being accepted into OU Law and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

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  27. Hi Cole! Congratulations on law school! I can't imagine continuing to take more schooling. On top of that, I only have one sibling so it must be interesting having three .
    Creative writing can totally be a challenge, but the story I read of yours was lovely, so no shame. It's always rough showing people your personal works though.
    Good luck in life!

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  28. Congrats on getting into law school! That is super exciting! What type of law do you want to focus on? I'm not even sure I'm asking that question correctly, haha. I understand what you mean about not wanting others to see your writing! I've always loved to write, but my mom was the only other person allowed to read my work and that was if I was happy enough with it (which rarely happened). Now that the semester is coming to an end, hopefully your writing has gotten not so by the book. It's always fun to just write whatever comes to mind.

    Good luck on your ventures after undergrad!

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  29. Hi, Cole! Congrats on getting into law school! That is so fantastic and so rewarding when a long-term dream comes to life! You must be so excited. Do you know what type of law you want to practice?
    I totally understand not wanting anyone to read your writing other than an instructor so this class is the perfect way to work on that in my opinion! It has been a struggle to let group members read what I write but I like to think it's good to branch out and learn to let people read your creativity.
    Best of luck in grad school and congrats on graduating!

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  30. Hi Cole! Congratulations on being accepted to OU Law School! My brother graduated from OU Law a few years ago. I think that is great that you want to return to your hometown to open a practice there, and the fact that your family has a cattle ranch is so cool!! Both my parents screw up on cattle ranches in Checotah, OK, but neither of them returned. So, I had a very different experience growing up, considering we lived in the suburbs. I am quite jealous of you though because I always had fun when we would visit our family in Checotah. Good luck with law school and the future!

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