TCU’s mission statement is a phrase that students hear and see constantly throughout campus. Within the hustle and bustle of life, it is easy to simply gloss over this mission statement and forget its true meaning and impact. This mission statement emphasizes the importance of making a responsible effort, not just within the TCU and Fort Worth community, but also throughout the world. I am so proud to attend a school that consistently provides opportunities for students to reach out beyond the safety and comfort of its campus.

Through my classes, I have been presented with numerous opportunities to step outside the safety of what I know, and delve into a world beyond my own. Through my classes and professors I have been given the opportunity to meet numerous people who have inspired me through their experiences and stories.

The most memorable interaction I have had thus far was through my reporting class. My professor brought in three lawyers who were visiting TCU to participate in the Frost Foundation Lectureship for Global Issues. These three lawyers were a part of the team that was sent to Rwanda to participate in the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, to try crimes of war that took place during the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. As a result of the valiant efforts of this group, the International Tribunal ruled that rape was considered an act of genocide and a crime against humanity for the first time in history.

The story of these three young lawyers, who defied the odds to reach justice, truly inspired me. Through my interactions with these lawyers, not only did I learn about the Rwandan Genocide, but also about the power of determination and truth. I do not believe I would have had such an amazing opportunity were it not for my professor’s commitment to TCU’s mission statement. By introducing these guest speakers to our class, my professor not only improved our reporting skills, but also opened our eyes to a bigger global picture. Meeting people who are currently leaders in the global community demonstrated to me the importance of our mission statement.

Since freshman year, I had debated the idea of going to law school but had dismissed the idea as improbable and unaligned with a journalism degree. Yet, one of these lawyers had actually attended law school after receiving her undergraduate degree in journalism! Suddenly, the idea of becoming a lawyer in order to help people and seek justice and truth, the reason I had even considered going into law, didn’t seem so impossible! These lawyers have become my role models and meeting them has undoubtedly influenced the path I will pursue in the future.

The opportunity to meet the three lawyers who made history has forever changed me and is an experience that will continue to drive me in my future endeavors. Our mission statement emphasizes the importance of learning outside the classroom. Being a responsible and ethical leader of the global community means stepping outside of your comfort zone and seeing the world as a whole. Because TCU works so hard to actually implement its mission statement, I have realized that world is much more than our beautiful campus in Fort Worth. I am forever grateful to attend a university that has such a meaningful mission statement.