I’m a talker. On my first day of Kindergarten at St. John’s Elementary School,  my teacher,  Mrs. Pennant asked me to stop chatting.  I did.  A few moments later I casually resumed the conversation with my new classmate.  Later that day Mrs. Pennant gave me a little white placard with a string running through it.  I was told to hang the card around my neck and follow her into the hallway.  Once there, she informed me that I was a “chatterbox” and that she would write just that on the placard.  Next I was told to introduce myself to the students in every classroom in the building as a punishment for my recalcitrant behavior.  At the time I was a slighlty built, four year old and I found the task mortifying.

Over the course of one hour on my very first day of school I introduced myself to every class of students.  I started with the first grade and ended with the eighth grade students.  Long story short,  I came to terms with my gifts that day and have ever since excepted that for better or worse… I’m a talker.

FAST FORWARD TWENTY FOUR YEARS–

Ironically, I have chosen a profession that lauds and abhors the very thing I do best.  The right words, spoken in the right manner,  at the right time can be the dividing line between justice and dereliction.  The wrong words or the wrong audience can end a career just as quickly as it began.  My 2L summer internship has reminded of the lesson that I learned on my first day of school. 

This summer, I have affirmed that I will keep the confidence of any and every person I work with, of the clients they represent and the interests at stake.  I’m learning the process and substance of legal issues that I hope to spend the balance of my life working on.  I’m reading, thinking and my opinion counts for something.  That said,  I can’t specifically discuss any of it because confidentiality=integrity=reputation=license.

Ironic, huh.

TDT