Carmela Reed '11

Tell me about your decision to serve on the Public Interest Advisory Board, and what makes Boyd Law’s mission meaningful to you.

Public Interest is immensely important to me because I come from very humble beginnings. I grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Las Vegas and in my youth, I followed the wrong path. I dropped out of high school at age sixteen and became a teen mother soon afterward. However, I never gave up my hopes of becoming a lawyer and I will never forget the people that refused to let me surrender my dreams. Now that I have attained my goals, I am driven to help other people who experience the same strife and despair that I once felt. I have the utmost respect and appreciation for Boyd's dedication to public service. I am honored to be a Boyd Alumni and I think that the students, professors, staff, and administration of Boyd truly embody what it means to give back to the community. I am happy to be a part of it.  
 
What advice would you give to current Boyd Law students?

First, never give up. No matter how much stress you feel, no matter how desperate the situation appears, and no matter how impossible it seems, you can and you will persevere. The problem at hand may seem daunting but always remember that somewhere, someone has succeeded against even worse odds. Second, enjoy law school! Learning truly is a gift and an opportunity. Oddly enough, you will miss it once it is over. Lastly, always pursue your goals and the things that you want but also try out something you hadn't considered before. Maybe you went to law school with dreams of becoming a family law attorney but why not give intellectual property a try? The beauty of law school is that you can try on many different hats. Maybe you'll find a new passion. You may find your true calling in the most unexpected place.  
 
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 

My favorite thing has always been spending time with my family. My loving husband and my three wonderful boys truly are the highlight of my life. In our spare time we enjoy hiking, picnicking, and traveling together. We have also participated in a number of 5K runs! I like to keep my mind active as well and I enjoy reading and logic puzzles.