Robel Asefaw

As president of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), what are the goals for BLSA this year?

Before the school year even started, my first goal was to make sure that we gave back to the community. We did as much as we could to assist African-American youth to figure out avenues to make it to law school, and our events like the Summer Book Drive and Back to School Drive were premised on giving children access to opportunities on the same level as their peers. Our motto this year is “Justice Through Alliance,” so in addition to working with other affinity organizations at the law school, we’re reaching out to other organizations throughout the Las Vegas Valley to strengthen that alliance with the legal community and the citizenry as a whole. Lastly, I want all of our members to feel like we’re family. As a 1L, it was my membership in BLSA that allowed me to personally and professionally flourish, and I would not be where I am without those ties, so I want each member of BLSA to be able to say the same thing during their time here.

What’s been your hardest challenge to overcome during your time at Boyd?

Besides imposter syndrome, which is definitely real, my hardest challenge was reaching out for help, especially during my 1L year. With time, I’ve learned that it’s okay to not be okay, and that when things are difficult it’s okay to reach out to friends, family, and professors for help. You don’t need to carry everything on your shoulders. I’ve particularly learned how lucky I am to have family and friends that support me, and I wish I would have started asking earlier because it would have helped me in the long run. I’m particularly grateful to my mom, who has made sure that I’m in the best physical, mental, and emotional place I can be in; my dad, who is the backbone of our family; and my brother for constantly motivating me. I would not be who I am today if it was not for my family.

I know I’m going to hate your answer to this question, but nevertheless…Michael Jordan or LeBron James?

LeBron James. Period.