The Law is not the Limit: Diversity of Majors & Interests in MMT
This blog post was written by junior Madi Wayt for the “Why MMT?” series in Fall of 2023.
Being a part of the Miami Mock Trial team means something different to every member. For some, it is a way of preparing for law school or a career as an attorney. For others, it can mean getting more comfortable with critical thinking and public speaking. People join from all backgrounds for any number of reasons! But for everyone, it is an opportunity to learn and grow, build a foundation of helpful skills for the future, and create life-long friendships with the people around you.
When I tried out for Miami Mock Trial, I had no idea what I wanted to do in the future. I’m a data analytics major who studies piano and chinese on the side. I didn’t think I was going to law school, and I hadn’t so much as taken a government or political science class. After four years in high school doing debate and traveling the state, and sometimes the country, with a group of my close friends, I wasn’t ready to give that up, and I didn’t want to lose the skills I’d started building. Mock trial at Miami provides an opportunity for people from all backgrounds and interests to gain essential skills like critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, advocacy, and communication skills. Whether that’s debate, theater, or any other hobby.
These skills are essential for any career path, whether it’s straight to law school or in a completely different direction! Practicing public speaking, challenging yourself with new scenarios, and learning to get your message across in different ways helps open doors in a variety of career paths. If you’re hoping to pursue law, mock trial offers a glimpse into the legal profession and courtroom procedure, as well as the opportunity to work with and learn with legal professionals as mentors and coaches. But while mock trial mimics a courtroom setting, it is truly an exercise in storytelling. The more ideas and backgrounds we have, the better chance we have as a team of telling those stories well.
As a part of the program, you learn to work with all different types of people and personalities to create something that represents the program as a whole. We are constantly collaborating, brainstorming ideas, practicing together, and helping each other improve. We learn to step up, take leadership roles, and foster a team culture that we are proud and happy to be a part of. It’s a chance to gain confidence in a community that encourages constant learning and lifting each other up to help the team succeed.
But more than that, Miami Mock Trial is a family as well as a team, and a family that supports whatever you are passionate about. Every person on the team has unique interests, perspectives, and lives outside of mock trial. Our team is made of people who participate in a variety of activities, from other clubs to greek life to jobs to studying abroad (shoutout to fellow Luxembourg mockers!). We have teammates who’ve majored in biology, creative writing, data analytics, economics, english literature, entrepreneurship, film studies, international studies, music technology, philosophy, political science, psychology, strategic communication, sociology, and so many other areas of focus, and then gone on to pursue a variety of careers. Whatever major or career we might choose to pursue, our teammates are there for us to support us, encourage us when we need it most, and celebrate our successes. Not only does joining Miami Mock Trial mean gaining a second family, it means gaining a diverse network of peers and mentors that will help you in college years and beyond.
Miami Mock Trial gives you the tools you need no matter the field you’re going into. We have a team full of tenacious, compassionate, hard-working people who are always ready to collaborate and learn to help the program succeed. No matter what you want to do, what you want to study, or what your interests are, you will be gaining critical skills to use in college and out, and a network of alumni and friends that last a lifetime.
Some of the Miami Mock Trial family in the last two years :)