Final Message: A Year of Gratitude
As I write this final message as Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Louisiana State Bar Association, I do so with a heart full of gratitude, optimism, and reflection.
When I began this journey, I stepped into this role carrying more than the usual hopes and expectations that come with leadership. I carried a heavy heart. I was grieving the loss of my mother, a loss that changed me in ways I am still learning to understand. At the same time, I was preparing to welcome new life into the world, with the birth of my daughter in December 2024, which was only three-days after my mom’s passing. It was a season of heartbreak and hope existing side by side. A season of mourning and joy. A season that left me wondering whether I was truly ready to take on the responsibility of serving as Chair of this incredible Division and serving thousands of young lawyers across Louisiana.
I was not sure I had enough of myself left to pour into this role. I was not sure I had the emotional strength, the time, or the energy to lead in the way this position deserved. And yet, looking back now, I can say with complete certainty that this role came into my life at exactly the right moment.
It was not a distraction from grief. It was not something that pulled me away from what mattered most. Instead, it became a source of purpose during a time when purpose was something I deeply needed. It gave me the opportunity to do good. It reminded me that even in life’s hardest seasons, we can still serve, still build, still contribute, and still find light in community. It gave me a chance to give back to a profession that has already given so much to me. And in more ways than I can fully express, it helped reinvigorate my spirit.
It has reminded me of the extraordinary power of this profession when we are at our best. Lawyers are often defined by deadlines, demands, conflict, and pressure. But this year, I had the privilege of seeing something deeper and more enduring. I saw what happens when lawyers come together with a shared sense of mission, generosity, and service. I saw what is possible when people choose not just to practice law, but to use the law as a tool for good.
I saw young lawyers eager to learn, to grow, and to serve with excellence. I saw seasoned lawyers step forward to mentor, encourage, and invest in the next generation. I saw our members give their time, their talent, and their hearts to causes that matter. And through it all, I was reminded that the legal profession, for all of its challenges, remains one of the greatest vehicles we have to strengthen our communities and change lives.
During the 25-26 Bar Year, our Division has equipped young lawyers with practical skills and meaningful educational opportunities to help them become stronger, more confident advocates. We have served over a hundred first responders and their families through our Wills for Heroes program, ensuring that those who protect all of us have the legal protections they deserve. We successfully hosted the State High School Mock Trial Competition in Shreveport and had the privilege of seeing firsthand a new generation of future advocates—young people with talent, passion, intelligence, and courage already beginning to find their voices. We expanded the reach of our Division through social media, podcasting, radio, and other platforms, telling the story of who we are and making sure that lawyers across Louisiana know that the YLD is strong, active, relevant, and growing.
These accomplishments matter. But what has stayed with me most is not just what we did. It is what those efforts represented.
They represented the kind of legal community I know Louisiana is capable of being—one that shows up, one that lifts others up, one that sees the practice of law not simply as a career but as a calling. A calling to mentor. A calling to protect. A calling to educate. A calling to serve.
This year reminded me that when we come together in that spirit, there is very little we cannot accomplish.
It also reminded me, on a deeply personal level, that leadership is not about having everything figured out. Sometimes leadership means showing up while still carrying your own burdens. Sometimes it means serving while still healing. Sometimes it means trusting that even when you feel uncertain, you still have something meaningful to offer. That may be the greatest lesson this year gave me.
As I prepare to leave this role in June, I do so with tremendous pride in what we have built together and with real excitement for what lies ahead. This Division is in good hands with our incoming Council. We have built momentum. We have built visibility. We have built programs that matter. We have built a culture of service and engagement that I believe will continue to grow in the years ahead.
I am excited to watch this next chapter unfold. I am excited to see the ways this Division will continue to lead, innovate, and make a difference across our State. And I am confident that the foundation we have built together will support even greater things in the future.
Serving as Chair of the Young Lawyers Division has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. Thank you for trusting me with this role. Thank you for serving alongside me. Thank you for believing in the mission of this Division. And thank you for reminding me, especially in a year when I needed the reminder most, that there is still so much good this profession can do.