Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Farewell Address from Doneshia Barnes


Good Morning,

I am Doneshia Barnes. In May, I graduated, with honors, from D. M. Therrell School of Law, Government, & Public Policy ranked 4th of my senior class. I am a Deans Scholarship recipient for Alabama State University, which I will attend this fall. First things first, on behalf of the 2013 interns,  we would like to extend our profound thanks to the mentors, supervisors, hosts, and sponsors who believed in us and supported us. We are forever grateful.

This year, I was excited about interning with the Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program, but I was saddened when I came to the realization that this will be my final time being able to intern. I am a third year intern and I have had 3 wonderful, but different experiences during the past 3 summers that have impacted my life. I have interned at the DeKalb County Solicitor General’s Office, DeKalb County Superior Court with Judge Courtney Lynn Johnson, and this summer I am proud to be the Department of Labor Solicitors Office first Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internships Program intern.

I have stated that my internships have all been completely different and that has always had the biggest effect on me. I thrive on new experiences and every intern host was that in itself. My first summer, I was a very timid young lady going into a busy work environment. I was accustomed to only small environments because I am in a small school at Therrell. I came in already shy, but I wanted to try this new thing. I had applied, interviewed, and made it through 4 orientations. Nothing was going to stop me from trying to experience this opportunity. I interned at the DeKalb County Solicitor General’s Office in the Special Victims Unit. In that particular office, I learned a lot about how to close cases, call victims for surveys and actually speak to them, dress professionally when going into court rooms, and the two things that I know for sure that every intern has to learn how to do: print and copy.

Last summer, I interned at the DeKalb County Superior Court with Judge Courtney Lynn Johnson. I found myself working quickly and efficiently and becoming proficient in memorizing case names and numbers. I was taught how to behave in court, the different court room procedures, different pleadings, and gained more mentors than I could ever imagine. I thoroughly enjoyed that experience, but I knew that I still had some growth.

This summer, my motto is: Aspire to succeed and you will do so, but always do it with a gracious heart and a smile. I was ready for this summer to begin. Being an intern with the Department of Labor Solicitor’s Office has been amazing. I always say that you should leave an impact on everyone that you meet and vice versa. I feel as if I did so. I have enjoyed working in a positive and stimulating environment with wonderful people. I even became a receptionist by my second week. I am treated as an equal. Although I am young and I have made many mistakes, they encouraged me to try again and keep going. I have tons of fun working with my mentors and peers.

Right now, I honestly cannot believe that I am standing in front of this group of wonderful people speaking. Mr. Malone tends to joke or reference my timid personality 3 summers ago and how if anyone even uttered my name, I would cower, but now look at me. The Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program helps you step out of your comfort zone and be who you truly are. The coordinators stress the fact that the three main goals of this internship are to: 1) Gain mentors. 2). Retain a better understanding of the law and how it works. 3) Have a valuable work experience. We have had 4 orientations and 6 weekly meetings where everyone has to speak at least once and every time we have to speak, everyone has to stand up and introduce ourselves thoroughly and trust me that help’s tremendously. We have also had several guest speakers from the Atlanta legal community who have motivated and inspired us. We don’t mock each other’s mistakes and we encourage growth, and that is what this whole program is about to me. We aspire to succeed and will not allow anything to hold us back.

A few days ago, I read in a letter from a former intern, Andres Marcuse Gonzalez that we should not take this opportunity for granted. My fellow interns, this opportunity was not handed to us because we are mediocre. You put in the time and energy to make it to where you are now, and complacency was not an option. It was our desire and drive to do more that motivated us to apply for this internship and WE MADE IT! This internship is what you make it, and you have made it into the best experience that you could possibly have because you have made it to the very end. Every intern host is different and you cannot expect to have the same experience as another intern, but you want to show others your capability.

I would like to thank the founders of this program for turning an idea into the reality that it is now. You went above and beyond to make this program into what it is today. Thank you, sponsors and contributors for contributing financially and physically to the success of this internship. Thank you intern hosts, supervisors, and mentors for putting up with us for 6 weeks. We have all made mistakes and you have been there for us with encouraging words to give us the confidence needed to do the job again. Lastly, thank you Ms. Natasha Perdew-Silas, Mrs. Nekia Hackworth-Jones, Ms. Mariana Pannell, and Mr. Wade Malone for your encouragement, motivation, and dedication to this program. You don’t allow us to fail or quit. Without you, we might not have made it to the finish line.

This internship is a jewel in the crown of the Atlanta Bar.

This internship will thrive for many years because of legacy of its founders, the generosity of the Atlanta legal community, and US, the interns- PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE that will serve as Ambassadors who spread the word about how this program changed our lives. Thank you.