The Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law at High Point University welcomed a distinguished visitor during orientation week, as Judge James A. Wynn Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit met with the law school’s incoming class of 86 first-year students. Judge Wynn shared reflections from his own remarkable legal career and offered the students something particularly valuable at the beginning of their law school journey: perspective on what he wished he had known when he was in their position. One of his central messages was simple but powerful: “Try not to focus on the competition and focus on the reasons you are here. And develop your potential.”
Judge Wynn encouraged the students to believe in, challenge, and continually push themselves to do their very best. He spoke candidly about his own upbringing and career, explaining that he never would have imagined that one day he would serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals. His journey, however, was shaped by a willingness to work hard, push beyond his comfort zone, and believe in his own potential. His message was especially meaningful because Judge Wynn and High Point Law Dean Mark Martin share an important part of their stories as first-generation lawyers. Neither began with the advantages or connections that can sometimes accompany a family legacy in the legal profession. Through hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence, both went on to reach the highest levels of the legal profession. Dean Martin served as the youngest member of the North Carolina Supreme Court, while Judge Wynn was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Their stories offered the incoming students a powerful reminder that their beginnings do not have to determine the limits of their futures. First year law student, Odochi Uwazurike said, “As a first-generation law student, I was really inspired by both Judge Wynn’s and Dean Martin’s illustrious career journeys through the legal profession! Hearing their experiences fills me with hope that I don’t have to know, right at this moment, where my career pathway will lead me – but I can rest assured that I will have a great legal experience if I put in the work, build a network, and ‘be cool.’”
Judge Wynn congratulated the 86 members of the incoming class and emphasized the significance of the opportunity before them: “This is an opportunity. It’s a privilege that has been given to you not because of who your parents were, not because you had money, it’s because you have performed well.” For students beginning the demanding journey of law school, the message was both encouraging and challenging. The opportunity to attend law school is a privilege, but it is also an opportunity to discover just how much they can achieve. Maggie Von Cannon, first year law student, said, “Judge Wynn urged us to pursue excellence because that is what we can control, and he is proof that it can lead to results that would not have seemed possible at the outset, like serving as a judge for the Fourth Circuit.” For the incoming class of 86, their journey has just begun—and if Judge Wynn’s story is any indication, they should never underestimate where that journey might take them.