Conversations with Hadley Johnson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hadley Johnson.  

Hi Hadley, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been someone who dreams big and does everything in my power to make it happen. Although I grew up in the small town of Bow, New Hampshire, my parents instilled in me at a young age that anything is possible and that I am capable of it all. And there it was: a glorious childhood filled with wonders, a multitude of interests, and a never-ending supply of motivation and support. Growing up, I was involved. I had to try absolutely everything. From being cheerleading captain to a boxer licensed with USA Boxing to a National Honor Society student, to a chorus girl, I wanted to experience it all. And I succeeded in school, too. I remember my dad emphasizing the value of an education and the importance of being able to think for myself and formulate my own opinions based on my own experiences. 

At the age of eighteen, my independence took flight and I decided to move to Tampa, Florida to further my education. Although I had no family or friends in the south, Florida soon became my new home. I attended the University of Tampa and graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors, earning my Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a Minor in Law, Justice, and Advocacy. During my time here, I began to explore the possibility of my attending law school. My undergrad offered a fantastic program that immersed me in the legal field. I was able to take legal research and writing courses, and appellate advocacy course, among others which all solidified my passion for advocating for others who might not be able to themselves. 

After graduating from college during the pandemic (yes, I am a May 2020 grad), I began the law school application process, in the hopes of beginning my Juris Doctorate in the fall. I decided to attend Barry University School of Law in Orlando, Florida. My entire 1L year was online, due to the pandemic. Online learning, especially for a professional degree, presented its own set of hurdles, but I took comfort knowing that most of the country was going through the same experience. My 2L year was set to be in person, so I moved closer to the Orlando area with excitement to finally meet all of my fellow students and professors face-to-face. As I classify myself as a “people person” my mental health and overall mood immediately blossomed when returning to in-person classes. I also began to fall in love with the city of Orlando and Winter Park (where I reside), truly feeling in place with the world. 

My law school experience has been an incredible journey and I truly surprise myself each day with what I am able to accomplish. As I recently turned 24, there is a sense of “imposter syndrome” that nestles its way into my thoughts. “Am I really doing this?” I think to myself all of the time. Some days seem impossible, but working to better me and my accomplishments day by day is what has carried me through this journey. 

As I begin my 3L year (my final year of law school) this fall, I have found passion and purpose within the field of family law (so if you know of any family law firms looking to hire a charming, dedicated first-year associate, send them my way Haha). I have the privilege of working at United in Love Adoptions this summer for an internship program. It has been such a rewarding process working with both expectant mothers and adoptive families, while also learning more about the adoption process and the legal aspects behind it. The accomplishment I am most proud of to date was becoming a published author during the end of my 2L year. As an editor of Barry Law’s Child and Family Law Journal, my law review article was selected for publication and further explores my interest in the family law field. It discusses the legal issues surrounding children and social media usage in relation to the extensive personal data collection resulting from a marketing research in an age of heavy technology use. I began an exploration into the topic of marketing research during my time at The University of Tampa for an Honors Research Tutorial. It opened my eyes to observations I had made about my own social media usage and how the current generation almost expects personalization in advertisements, products, etc. From there, I decided to expand the issue, focusing more on the legal implications and solutions, specifically in relation to children. 

While I do only have a year left of law school, there is still so much time and room to grow. My goals for this upcoming year are to finish my Juris Doctorate strong, study for and pass the Florida Bar Exam, and hopefully work with a family law firm this year with the promise of employment upon passing the Bar. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
While I have been very fortunate to be blessed with an incredible support system comprised of my family, friends, and even myself, no journey is complete without some adversity along the way. I am very lucky in the sense that I have two loving parents who truly strive to give my brother and me everything so that we can become the best versions of ourselves. Although I did not grow up rich by any means, my parents were able to still give my brother and I the best childhood anyone could ask for. They also provided non-monetary assets into our upbringing, which are the portions of my childhood that are in making sure to teach us the value of education, and a great work ethic, and made sure to fuel our lives with various interests and hobbies. In doing so, my parents taught my brother and me to be very independent and go after our goals. With that, I decided at the age of eighteen to move from my small town of Bow, New Hampshire to Tampa, Florida to further my education. I definitely struggled when I first moved down south, as I had no family and no friends. Although I had always talked about moving away throughout my entire childhood, the moment feels different when it actually happens. I am adaptive and typically can be thrown into any situation, but this was one time when I did experience homesickness; something I thought I would never know due to my longing to move out of my hometown. 

With anything, it does all get better with time. Florida quickly became a second home for me and all was well. Then the pandemic hit. My senior year was cut short and we were placed online to finish our degrees. This was a difficult time in my life, as my friends at school had become my Florida family. The school shut down while we were on spring break, so I never had a chance to see or say goodbye to some of the people who played a monumental role in my developing into the young woman I am today. So much of my happiness stems from having strong friendships, so being taken out of social situations was definitely an adjustment for me, as I am sure it was for many others going through similar situations across the country. 

Another struggle that occurred during my journey to where I am today was the law school application process. An important aspect of a law school application is your LSAT score. Historically, I struggle with standardized tests, and it was no different here. While on paper I had the credentials and the experiences to propel me far, my LSAT score did not match that, no matter how many times I took it. I do believe, however, that everything works itself out and you do end up where you are supposed to be. I am thankful I did not let this number discourage me, as I have found much success and happiness during my Juris Doctorate journey. 

Finally, another struggle has been being able to balance being a full-time law student, while working 15-20 hours per week, also being involved in several extracurriculars, and maintaining a social life and mental well-being. It is never an easy process, and some days are worse than others. At a young age, the imposter syndrome can also begin to take over and make you question yourself, “Am I actually intelligent? Am I actually doing this? Is this a dream?” While I would say I have had an overall positive law school experience, the law school system is set up to be competitive, but you just have to remind yourself that your grades are not what will determine your success. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As soon-to-be-lawyer, I am most proud of the way I try to break the stigma that centers on the legal field. First and foremost, I try to conduct myself- both at school and at work- in a bubbly, lighthearted manner. I am professional and assertive when I need to be, but at the core, I am a fun-loving person with a desire to enjoy life. I can and do work hard, but I also value my free time and my passions outside of the classroom and workplace. 

I pride myself on empowering girls to be both beautiful and brains because as women, we really can do it all (and in heels, might I add). I am the girl on campus who likes to express herself through fashion, makeup, and hair (there is a joke that I am known for the feathers from my boa that I wore when the school hosted our Barrister’s Ball). It makes me feel confident and confidence breeds success. 

I am set apart from others because while I do focus on obtaining success in the classroom and workplace, I also equally focus on my overall well-being and my passions. Enter, surfing. One of the things I am known for is being an all-around beach bum. The beach has always been my happy place, and that began growing up north near the seacoast. Living in Winter Park has given me the ability to visit Cocoa Beach regularly to go surfing, which is my one true love. I absolutely love being in the water and under the sun. These little moments are what give me the ability to tackle my weeks and I truly cannot describe the positive impact it has on my overall mood and mental health. Whether it is just driving through downtown Orlando with the windows down and singing along to songs with my roommate or eating dinner outside on a dock during sunset, being present in the moment and with nature is what helps me to lead a balanced life. Surfing is a beautiful hobby, as it always challenges me. While I used to consider myself pretty good on a longboard, I have been using my short board lately and it comes with quite the learning curve. I think that one of the reasons I love surfing so much though is the physical and mental challenges it presents me with. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I like to start each morning by listening to the “Taurus Today” daily horoscope podcast on Parcast (available on Spotify). It helps me to set my intentions for each day, as well as prepare myself for what’s ahead. When I am doing school work, studying for finals, or studying for the MPRE, I like to use the Forest app. It helps me to focus and stay off my phone. It locks you out of your phone for the amount of time you set, and if you are successful in doing so, a tree will be planted. It feels good to disconnect from social media, while also doing some good for the environment. This is an app I also plan to utilize when I begin studying for the Florida Bar Exam. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hadley98/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hadley.johnson.7
• Other: https://lawpublications.barry.edu/cflj/vol10/iss1/5/