Andrew Cegielski ’22
Law Student at the University of Buffalo
Andrew Cegielski arrived at Fisher as a first-generation student with his sights set on becoming a teacher or a lawyer. He entered a dual degree program in legal studies and American studies to “cultivate both potential occupational pathways.” He believes the absence of a prescribed path offered advantages. He credits his success to professors and advisors, and he sees his involvement on Fisher’s Mock Trial team as pivotal to his decision to pursue law school.
“I have a notable advantage attributed to the material I learned from the engaging professors, opportunities I had to act as an attorney, and real-life experiences I gained from my internships while at Fisher,” Cegielski explained.
As a participant in the First-Generation Scholar Program, Cegielski also attributes his educational persistence to skills he developed while at Fisher, “The program gave me the tools to be a leader, the skills to build great relationships, and the support to navigate college!”
The American studies and legal studies majors integrate research on critical topics related to society and justice, and Cegielski feels the interdisciplinary nature of the American studies program can strongly complement other majors. “Students considering a career connected to an American system—whether education, law, business, politics, public works, or service—have the opportunity to follow their passion while developing a well-rounded education,” he said.
Now, he wholeheartedly recommends the Fisher experience. “Ultimately, Fisher equips students with knowledge and experiences that are undeniably beneficial for graduate school and a future career.”
James Nguyen ’19
In his short time at Fisher, James Nguyen ’19 amassed a community service resume four years long. As a first-year student, the legal studies major and First-Generation Scholar signed up for every service opportunity to hit his inbox.
“I joined Students Who Advocate Volunteering and did every event they offered that I could,” he said. “And, ever since my first semester at Fisher, it’s been a thing of mine to go above and beyond to do service.”
James credits the First-Generation Seminar class with sparking his interest in community service.
“One of the things I learned was that you don’t need to change the entire world to make an impact on people’s lives,” he said. “If you impact one person’s life, it changes their world, and that’s volunteering with a purpose.”
It’s a sense of purpose that led James to pursue a degree in legal studies, too.
“When people hire lawyers, it’s because they need them,” he said. “They can impact someone’s life tremendously in positive ways and that’s something that attracted me to the idea of being a lawyer.”