Dedicated Lives of Law Students
By Stefanie Ellis

Everyone has a story. The mailman secretly loves Shakespeare. The grocery store clerk is a self-taught student of astronomy. The woman from your building, who works on the fifth floor, is a former Julliard scholar. And her boss, the grey-haired curmudgeon who smokes a cigar, is fluent in French. There are people — many people — you encounter every day, and, though you know them, you don’t really know who they are.

At Saint Louis University, our halls are teeming with students from diverse backgrounds — human rights activists, tennis players, environmentalists, marathon runners, political volunteers…stories just waiting to be told. Students here keep themselves busy with more than just the reading of cases and the writing of briefs. They know how to balance. They have passions. Their plans for enhancing the world with their gifts — legal and otherwise — are inspirational. In the next few pages you’ll meet five of them who are rocking the world, in some way, by doing what they love. They’re dedicated law students. They each came here to make a difference. And with their drive, determination and great talent, it’s not much of a stretch to imagine just how big that difference will really be.

OMEN SAFAVI, 2L

The curtain rises. A baby lies motionless inside a hospital incubator, tubes attached to every part of its body. A doctor stands above the child, shaking his head. In the other room, a mother cries. Her husband embraces her. She clenches her fists and shakes them toward the sky. “Perchè?”* she screams. “Perchè?” The stage grows dark and the deep moan of a bass fills the air. The mother begins to sing. “Il caro padre, che cosa sarà del mio bambino? Me lo non prenda prego via!”**

Omen Safavi’s first days on earth could’ve been an opera. Born three months premature and weighing only two pounds, the doctors doubted he’d make it through the night. Even if he did make it, they said, he would have underdeveloped lungs and suffer a life of mental and physical handicaps, along with speech and hearing problems. Upon hearing the news, his parents knew that the only thing they could do was hope that the doctors were wrong, that a better life awaited their child. So they took all the hope they had and gave it to their son. Then they gave it to his name. In his family’s native Iran, “Omen” means hope. And, like the English word, it also means “a sign of good things to come.”

True to form, good things have come to Omen Safavi. Having defied the prediction of underdeveloped lungs and speech and hearing problems, Safavi has become an accomplished opera singer, and belts out arias with gusto. And, rather than a mental handicap, he has been blessed with a zest for learning and an ability to challenge himself as a law student. It is not without hope, however, that he has been able to accomplish so much. His hope for bettering the world led him to the law, and his hope for bringing out joy in others sustained his interest in singing. The fact that he flawlessly balances both of his life’s passions is a marvel, but comes rather naturally to Safavi, who has become something of a fate-driven juggler — one accustomed to discovering, by chance, the paths on which he is destined to travel.

Many years ago, while singing along to a friend’s guitar strumming, Safavi’s family, as well as the guitarist, was stunned by the beauty of his voice — a voice that had never had a single lesson. He was fifteen then and remembers having developed “an instant connection” to singing, something he describes as “a natural part of who I am.”
Though he chose to follow his burgeoning talent, and became a voice performance major at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, it was his experience as a medical director for a group home for mentally handicapped and retarded adults that made him realize he was passionate about more than just singing. When one of the home’s employees was accused of abusing a resident, Safavi had to testify in court. That experience sparked an interest in health care and prompted him to add another major to his repertoire — hospital administration. It also made him more certain that he wanted to one day have the authority to become a voice for others.

He chose to attend Saint Louis University School of Law because, he says, “it just felt right…the minute I set foot on campus, met the students and discovered the city’s cultural offerings, I knew I wanted to go to school here.”

He also knew he wanted to keep singing. So, along with his demanding legal studies, he performs regularly with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra Choir and the Trinity Presbyterian Church Choir, and has delivered performances with the Saint Louis University Master Singers Choir.

“I see great parallels between singing and the law,” says Safavi. “When learning a song in another language, I translate the words and apply them to what I’m performing so I can understand the emotions behind it, the origin of the words. It’s the same when I study the law. I have to understand it, internalize it and communicate its principles to others. Whether on stage or in front of a judge, I have to have confidence in my abilities and the knowledge that what I’m doing will benefit others.”

What he’s doing, he says, is “the hardest, yet most rewarding work I’ve ever done in my life.” But it’s work he wouldn’t trade for anything. The rewards, for him, far outweigh the time and effort he puts into his endeavors.

“I don’t care if I’m singing in a world class symphony or a church choir — when someone comes up to me and says that what I did moved them, that’s all that matters,” he admits. “It helps me remember why I chose to be a singer. It’s the same with the law. I decided to study law so I would be able to make a difference in people’s lives and help them realize they can do things they didn’t know they could do. I’m shaping people’s perceptions, showing them what’s possible -— what emotion, what power there is in everything.”

(*Why? **Heavenly father, what will become of my son? Please don't take him from me!)

MATT JAGGER, 2L

Whatever you do, don’t make fun of the shorts.
They’re small, blue, a bit snug, and tend not to be the kind of attire one would expect to see on a 6’2” man.

But in Australian Rules Football, the shorts are a required part of the uniform. And when 36 men run across an oval-shaped field, kicking and punching an oblong ball into the air and knocking each other to the ground, the shorts suddenly fade into the background. The players, however, don’t.

With approximately 2000 players in the United States, the sport, that originated in Australia in 1858 and is said to predate any other modern form of football, has given birth to some superior athletes — the kind who seem naturally carved out for the game, whose flawless performances are characterized by speed, stamina and unmatched agility. In St. Louis, and, now, the world, Matt Jagger is fast becoming one of those players.

His gift for the game has been written about on the official Australian Rules Football Web site, and a recent citation credited him with holding together the backline during a particularly challenging game, ultimately contributing to his team’s win over a successful Atlanta team. And, although his team didn’t need much help since they happen to be the back-to-back Mid-America Australian Football League champions, it’s clear that Jagger plays a large role in the team’s success. While Jagger is quick to give credit to his teammates, he certainly deserves credit of his own for being the only player on his team chosen to play for the U.S. in the 2002 Australian Rules Football Tournament in Melbourne, Australia. In that capacity, he spent close to three weeks competing, with the U.S. team, for the International Cup. His team played against eleven other countries and came home with fifth place. Jagger garnered “Best on Ground” honors twice in five games.

He was, of course, honored to have such an impressive showing under his belt, but it was what awaited him at Saint Louis University School of Law that would ultimately provide him with his greatest source of accomplishment.

“After college, I was in the workforce for a few years, but knew that what I was doing wasn’t something I’d want to pursue the rest of my life,” says Jagger. “I also knew I would feel unfulfilled if I didn’t go back to school at some point. I had taken a property law course as an undergrad, and, almost immediately after that experience, had a good feeling that the law was where I wanted to be.”

Jagger was drawn to Saint Louis University School of Law because of its well-known health law program and is thrilled that throughout his three years at the School, he’s been able to apply so much of what he’s learned to the work he’s done outside of school. He recently finished an externship with Ascension Health Care, and says he can’t wait to be able to put all of the skills and knowledge he gained from that experience — as well as the things he learned in class — to use in his future career.

“My courses have prepared me well for the real world,” says Jagger. “Through my Health Care Finance course, for example, I learned what variety there was in the health law field, and how dynamic the industry really is. The class was taught by an actual practitioner, and he illustrated legal principles by showing us how the laws applied to the work he does every day. I was able to see how the law is applied in practice, not just theory.”

Jagger is also given more than just a theoretical glimpse of things when he’s on the field, helping to propel his team to victory.

“In Australian Rules Football, just as in most any sport, you work yourself past your limits — even if you don’t know where your limits are,” says Jagger. “You sweat, you plan and you learn from those around you. Law school, and the law itself, is the same. You must challenge yourself every day, and you must be able to give your all. Most importantly, you must be ready to learn.”

Thankfully, Matthew Jagger, a celebrated athlete in a sport described as being “faster than rugby and American football, more physical than soccer, and one of the most physically demanding team sports in the world,” is ready. He’s ready to face the challenges the law has to offer, and he’s ready to get out there and give it his all. And, he might even be ready for another International Cup in 2005.

“It will be fun to see what I can really accomplish,” says Jagger.

MARGUERITE ROY, 1L

Most people wouldn’t leave a cushy jobat one of America’s most successful companies, where millions of dollars are exchanged on a daily basis, only to end up working in a remote part of Western Africa, giving out $50 loans to women who need to buy butter and flour for cookies they sell on the road. And, those same people might have difficulty giving up air conditioning and indoor plumbing for a place that, though dubbed the “water shed” of Africa, oftentimes has no latrines or running water. Then again, most people aren’t Marguerite Roy.

Roy recalls, with clarity, the moment her eyes were opened to where she was and where she needed to go. She mimics the voice of one of her superiors when recounting his words during a staff meeting: “We’re all here for the same reason,” she says, her voice gruff and masculine. “The bottom line.”

“I knew then that I was in the wrong place,” she says.

So she took a year off work, moved to France to learn the language, and received her certification from the Centre Internationale d’Etudes Francaises. Then she enrolled in the Peace Corps, and never looked back. After ten years of international work in Guinea, Senegal, Morocco, Albania, Kosovo, Haiti, Ethiopia and London — some work in D.C. with Population Services International, and a one-year stop in Massachusetts where she earned a M.A. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University — she is back in the States pursuing another challenge. Law school at Saint Louis University. Here’s why.

Why did you choose to come to law school at the age of 44?
My experiences convinced me that I would like to sharpen my skills and learn to negotiate more effectively within the context of the law. I also want to develop the necessary analytical and logical reasoning skills needed to better advocate viewpoints of both individuals and diverse interest groups.

What experiences, in particular, cemented the idea in your head?
I’ve had so many, really, but I’d say that my work as Municipal Administrator to one of the few remaining ethnically mixed municipalities in Kosovo, Kamenica, was a very strong experience. I was working there as part of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. I was in Kosovo for three years, and, after my position as Municipal Administrator, went on to become the Deputy Head of two separate regions — Mitrovica and Pejë/Pec — and then the only female Regional Administrator of Pejë/Pec.

What was your main assignment as Municipal Administrator?
Essentially, I was the Mayor, and was responsible for establishing an interim administration for the Municipality of Kamenica. In doing so, my goal was to maintain an ethnic balance between the Albanian and Serbian people, but hard line elements of the Albanian community were intent on shifting that balance in their favor. Following much controversy, numerous protests, walk-outs and death threats to my staff, we managed to maintain a mixed administration where Albanians and Serbians continue to this day to work side-by-side.

Was your work dangerous?
Sometimes, yes — on many different levels. Although not directed at me personally, a bullet was fired into my vehicle, just inches from my head. There were land mines and anti-tank mines, houses being bombed. I’ve rolled off my bed at night, crawled on the floor, while gunfire went off like popcorn outside my window. Once, in Albania, we had to be evacuated by the marines because things were so bad. They airlifted us out by helicopter and landed us on an Aircraft Carrier in the middle of the Adriatic Sea. I actually took a little bit of time off after that particular experience.

What other things did you do overseas?
I worked with the Peace Corps on some special projects, and am pleased with the changes I was able to help make while there. In Guinea, I helped build three classrooms, which meant 180 more children could go to school each year, helped put electricity in classrooms, built bathrooms where there once were none, built a medical post in a small town, where roads were hardly navigable and people couldn’t make the ten-mile trek into the next town. I saw a lot of people get the help they deserved.

What’s been the best part about your work?
The influence I’ve been able to have on others. It’s made everything worthwhile.

Would you say that your experiences have been transformative?
Although all of my experiences were, in a sense, just another day at the office, they were defining moments in my life. It was often incredibly gratifying, and sometimes dangerous, but everything I experienced helped teach me what being alive really meant.

Can you put into words what that means?
It means daring to do something different. Following your heart. If you have a nagging voice, listen to it. Don’t let your fear stop you from ever doing anything. I always wanted to do work where I could make a difference, where I had passion for what I was doing. I have to do something that means something to me, as well as to others. And even if it was, at times, dangerous, my work has always been rewarding.

And now, you’re pursuing other rewarding avenues by going to law school. What brought you to Saint Louis University School of Law?
I love St. Louis. Though I’m from the Northeast, my family bought land about three hours from St. Louis many years ago, so I’ve been able to visit the city and get to know it better. I also have friends from St. Louis who told me how good Saint Louis University School of Law was, and that was my first motivation to look into the programs they offered here. I was really drawn to the evening program. I liked that I could still work if I wanted to, and attend classes at night. Plus, many of the students are at the same point in their lives as I am, and that’s comforting.

What now?
I plan to get a certificate in International Law and gain experience with an international firm. I want to use my experiences to shed more light on current international problems.

ROBIN CONNELLEY, 2L

She jumps from side to side, her breath quick, gaze locked.She’s worked hard to get here. Trained for hundreds of hours, fought men three times her size, proven herself, again and again, until she could no longer move, no longer think, no longer feel. It’s just a few minutes before the match. Her teeth are clenched. Sweat is rolling down her cheeks.

“Are you scared?” her coach asks.“Not at all,” she replies. “I’m ready.”

Robin Connelley was born to kick people around. Her mother knew it and anyone who laid a hand on her pregnant stomach knew it. “Feels like someone’s having a party in there,” amused friends would say. “She sure knows how to kick.”

If they only knew.

They would know one day, though — seventeen years later. For it was then, while she was in high school, that Robin began her search for something different, something other than the typical sports in which her friends were participating. She wanted to be able to unleash her frustrations, learn to be stronger, develop a sense of self. She wanted a challenge that couldn’t be found in volleyball or soccer. She wanted to kick.

So she enrolled in a kickboxing class…then another, and another, until finally, she joined the team. Connelley’s involvement was not met without opposition, however. This is because she chose a sport that is not only intense and physically demanding, but is also primarily male dominated. None of this was an issue for Connelley, though, who is as determined as she is feisty, as tough as she is focused. Still, it was a bit of an issue for those she told of her athletic endeavors. Not because she’s a woman — because she’s a petite woman.

Slight of build and lithe of frame, Connelley is all of 5’3” and 105 pounds. Not exactly a quarterback, but definitely living proof that big things really do come in small packages. She’s done exceedingly well throughout the years to prove that fact true. At the age of 22, she became the first woman to earn a black belt from her kickboxing instructor, and was also one of the youngest recipients of the belt in the state of Georgia, where she trained. Not only had she found the perfect sport, she had stumbled upon something at which she was surprisingly gifted. “Plus, it’s a totally new twist on stress relief,” she laughs.

And she needs that relief. Especially when balancing aggressive kickboxing training and teaching with a full law school class load at Saint Louis University and a position as treasurer of the Student Bar Association.

“It’s worth the balancing act,” Connelley says. “I know what I’m working toward, and it’s important that I get there, so I will.”

She’s referring, of course, to the work she’ll be doing after law school. As a second-year law student, Connelley has her sights set on being as successful out of the ring as she is in it. Helping people was always something she was good at, and, though she always intended to study the law so she could put her skills to use on a grander scale, she didn’t know where she would be going to school. A southern girl at heart, Connelley planned to look into schools around her home state of South Carolina, but it was an attorney in her kickboxing class who changed her mind.

“He was from St. Louis,” she remembers, “and couldn’t stop talking about how great Saint Louis University School of Law was, so I visited the campus. I found the environment comfortable, not stuffy like many other schools, and it seemed that the administration was focused on the quality of education they provide and the quality of people they release into the world. That pretty much sold me.”

Another selling point was the kindness of the Admissions staff. Connelley recalls a time, before law school, when she needed to secure an apartment, and called the Admissions Office to inquire about a particular area of the city. Because no one in the Office was 100% certain about the kinds of apartments available at that time, they got in their car and drove to the location.

“They decided it wouldn’t be a good fit for me, so they found me a different place to live,” says a still-impressed Connelley. “Everyone here really goes out of their way to help you.”

And “help,” for Connelley, came not only in the form of door-to-door apartment hunting, but also in the form of a full-tuition scholarship. She joined just ten other students in her entering class in receiving the prestigious 1843 Scholars Award. Now, halfway through her second year, she’s able to reflect on her personal development.

“Both law school and kickboxing help me develop as a person and allow me to test myself, see how far I can go,” she says. “Even more, as a woman, I push myself hard even if I don’t feel like it. People are always watching. They know that if I can do it, they can too.”

And she can — and does — do it all, with the kind of verve and confidence few could muster. Exactly the kind of spunk you’d expect from someone who seemed to have come out of the womb ready for a challenge.

“You have to go after what you want,” says Connelley. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a law degree or a black belt. It won’t come to you for free — you have to make it happen. You have to earn it, and, when you do, be ready for everything.”

VINITA OLLAPALLY, 3L

Washington wanted Vinita Ollapally.She would never admit that, of course, but facts are facts. And the fact is, she was offered a highly coveted summer position in the Office of the Inspector General-Department of Health and Human Services. Only three law students were accepted, and over 200 applied.

The experience which, she says, gave her a “wonderful overview of federal health care law,” helped her determine that she did, in fact, want to work in the health care law field. After doing “real projects and cases,” such as Medicare fraud and EMTALA work, health care client issues, STARK and anti-kick back laws, she got a good sense of what it is that the Office of the Inspector General does on a daily basis.

She is convinced she never would have been given a glimpse into that world, if it hadn’t been for Saint Louis University School of Law.

“Saint Louis University School of Law has an excellent reputation in D.C., and in the Office of the Inspector General, in particular,” she says. “I know that my affiliation with the School was instrumental in helping me get the job.”

Or, it could’ve been her work as lead articles editor on the Journal of Health Law, her internship with Southern District of Illinois Judge William Stiehl, and her inpresssive academic record. Whatever cre-dentials one looks at — and there are many — Ollapally humbly shifts the focus from her accomplishments and gives the attention to those at the School who have, along the way, provided her with assistance.

“All the professors here go out of their way to help you,” she says. “Even the professors I’ve never had a class with.” She cites, as an example, a criminal procedure question she asked Professor Roger Goldman via e-mail. Though he’d never been a professor of hers, Goldman replied, almost immediately, with a list of five applicable cases, and, within the hour, sent her several more — all during the weekend. “I had only spoken to Professor Goldman on a few occasions, yet he helped me without even questioning it,” Ollapally remembers. “I was so impressed that he would go out of his way to help me like that.”

Goldman was only one on a long list of professors and administrators who wanted to see Ollapally succeed. Professor Sandra Johnson has helped by writing many letters of recommendation on her behalf, and Professor Thomas Greaney made himself accessible to assist with possible job interview questions with the OIG, even though he wasn’t in town that semester. And Christine Duden Street, assistant director of the Center for Health Law Studies, helped with interview questions as well as on-going support throughout the application and interviewing processes.

“I really believe the School wants us to succeed,” Ollapally says, “and will do whatever they can to help us get where we want to go. I can’t wait to get a really great job and come back and tell everyone, ‘Look! I did it — I’m here because of you.’”

This is a message she would also share with her peers. “It feels great to come here every day and surround myself with so many people who devote their lives to doing good,” she says. “They inspire me.”

And the more Vinita Ollapally reflects on her time at the School of Law, the more inspiration she finds. She loves being in St. Louis — a city she says is a “great place to be a law student.” She loves researching the law. She loves writing. She loves being around professors who listen to her ideas and encourage her to pursue her dreams. And she loves, even more, the person law school has helped her become.

“People have noticed a change in me,” she smiles. “I don’t think I’d be who I am now if I hadn’t had this experience. I never expected to love law school as much as I do. I’d stay here five years if I could.”