Spring — 2005

Michelle Lagemann

Entertainment Law

“One of the best things about SMC is that it’s large enough to feel like a university, but small enough not to feel overwhelming.”

“Getting into a study group is one of the best things you can do at SMC,” says Michelle Lagemann, future entertainment lawyer. “It’s like, in math, I’ll have people tell me what their problems are, and I can help them. But then I learn, too, because everybody shares: It’s like this whole big community thing.” Accustomed to being on the honor roll all throughout high school, Michelle states that everyone at SMC needs a leg up now and then.

“I’ve had tutors in math, and they’ve really helped to make me look at new ways to solve problems,” she says. “When you need some help here, it’s available.” But in one area of Michelle’s life, she hardly needs any help at all. “Languages are so intriguing. And when I’m bored, I just start studying my language books. I’ve studied French, and now I’m in Spanish, which is a language you’ll need to do almost anything professionally these days. And I’ve got this great teacher,” she says with a laugh. “Ms. Elvia Quijano is just so zany and funny and whimsical. She reminds me a lot of Lucille Ball! But when you’re in class with her, it’s not like you’re studying at all. The language acquisition just comes to you.”

Michelle’s father died when she was only five, so Michelle was raised only by her mom, who’s now back in college herself. “She brought me up with the sense that an education is the most important thing you can have,” Michelle says proudly. “It all pays off in the long run when it gets tough. And being here at SMC means being around a lot of people from different cultures. And if you’re open to them,” she adds, “they can all teach you valuable lessons in life.”

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