Testimonials

They say you should always expect the unexpected. I suppose that’s true, though I’ve found that even when you tell yourself that, the unexpected still arrives with a certain jolt. When we won the Helga Pedersen Moot Court Competition, the feeling wasn’t one of triumph exactly. It was quieter than that - something like gratitude, mixed with disbelief, and the weight of everything that had led us there. People say teamwork makes the dream work - it’s the kind of phrase you see printed on mugs or lanyards. But in our case, it was also true. The best parts of our arguments weren’t individual discoveries - they were born out of collective friction. Out of asking hard questions and not settling for easy answers. We didn’t want to get our hopes up. And still, when the quarterfinalists were announced, I zoned out after fifth place, assuming we hadn’t made it. Hearing our name in third felt like catching something that had already passed you. After that, it was different. Not easier, but steadier. With each round, our confidence grew - not in ourselves, exactly, but in each other. That trust, that camaraderie, is what carried us. Yes, we won. And yes, I am proud. But that’s not the only thing I carry from Helga. What I carry most is the sense of what it means to build something - an argument, a case, a team - with care, with patience, with the knowledge that law, at its best, is a shared pursuit. What I also carry is gratitude. For my teammates, for our coach, for the late nights and long rides, for every moment we doubted ourselves but didn’t give up. And for the chance to be reminded that the law can still feel alive. Not just doctrine and precedent - but something human. Something worthwhile.