Coming to the United States was almost fateful for Darryl Springer. He grew up in the small country of Trinidad, where it’s customary for most students to leave school and begin working. Springer wanted something different. When he was offered a full-ride soccer scholarship to play in Virginia, he felt it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. “It was definitely an adjustment (coming here) at first. However, our education in Trinidad is based on the British system so in that regard I felt very prepared to attend college in the United States. It was a great opportunity.” He began his undergraduate education at Radford University in Virginia in 1990, and received his bachelor’s degree in organizational management. He earned his master’s in 1996 and went to work for the Society for Human Resources Management in Alexandria, Virginia, the largest human resources association in the United States. As the manager for volunteer and committee relations, Springer gained extensive experience that eventually triggered his interest in law. “This position really encouraged me to pursue law because I worked with lawyers on a regular basis. The exposure opened my eyes to legal opportunities, and I decided to go back to school,” Springer explains. At MSU-DCL, Springer focused his studies in labor and employment law, became actively involved in Moot Court, and was a founding member of the MSU-DCL Labor and Employment Law Association. He recently traveled to Washington, D.C. with Associate Dean Michael Lawrence to help build relationships with legal agencies seeking MSU-DCL student interns. “The development of the Washington D.C. externship program is important to me because the D.C. area is a Mecca for young people pursuing a legal career,” says Springer. “It’s an excellent way to get MSU-DCL on the map, and I felt the ground work was something I could contribute to.” Springer’s legal education and his commitment to becoming an advocate for MSU-DCL provided a window of opportunity for his next venture. He was fortunate to obtain a 14-month law clerk position with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs, where he interviewed while in D.C. Although the clerkship is an honor for Springer, he still is interested in pursuing a career with the Army JAG. He acknowledges the obligation, which includes four weeks of basic training and 10 weeks of military justice school, but feels it’s a small price to pay for the many rewards reaped from the JAG program. “Law school is the experience of a lifetime,” Springer adds. “I feel highly prepared to face any challenges and issues that may come my way. My education will allow me to effectively benefit others who have legal issues, and help make a difference. That’s what it’s really about.” |
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