Camp First Gen: Building Together … With Purpose
There is something disarming about sitting in a circle of strangers at a summer camp, trading stories not about ghosts, but about dreams, fears, and the weight of law school debt. It is not your average Friday for a young lawyer, but then again, it seems there is no average day for a first-generation lawyer.
In April, the YLD gathered for the inaugural Camp First Gen at Camp Weaver in Greensboro. This was built to be a one-day summit for first-generation law students and young lawyers across the state. But what unfolded that day was more than a conference: It was a homecoming for those who have never quite felt at home in the legal profession.
As we talked about imposter syndrome, salary negotiations, and navigating spaces not built with us in mind, something powerful happened: people exhaled. We showed up not as polished résumés or carefully curated LinkedIn profiles (though we did discuss how to present ourselves on social media), but as full people, carrying stories of struggle, resilience, and the quiet pride that comes from forging a path no one else in your family has walked before.
Camp First Gen participants Collins Saint, front, and, from left, Samantha Gordon, Sheila Spence, Jeremy Locklear, and Michele Livingstone.
This, to me, is what it means to belong with purpose.
When I chose that theme for this bar year, I meant it both as an invitation and a challenge. Belonging is not just about being included: It is about being seen, heard, and valued. And in a time when the legal profession is grappling with shifting political winds, DEI backlash, and increasing professional pressure, purposeful belonging is more important than ever. It is what grounds us. It is what sustains us. And it is what keeps the door open for the next person behind us.
Camp First Gen was a living example of that mission. It came to life through the brilliance and heart of Tiqeece Brown and Emily Carico, our fearless First Gen Committee Co-Chairs. It was supported with care and vision by Samantha Gordon, New Lawyers in Practice Division Director, as well as fellow YLD Officers who are committed to carrying this vision forward: Sheila Spence, Michele Livingstone, and Jeremy Locklear. We are deeply grateful to NCBA staff members Cheyenne Merrigan and BreAnne Shieh, whose behind-the-scenes magic made everything run beautifully, and to our Mecklenburg Bar Association partner representative Ashley Oldfield, who helped extend the warm welcome even wider.
The day ended with laughter while wrecking our knees in a volleyball teambuilding game before exchanging phone numbers and speaking aloud our professional dreams. And it reminded me that even in the most traditional of professions, we can build something radically human.
If you’ve ever felt out of place in this profession, let this be your reminder: You are not alone. You belong. And we are building this together … with purpose.
Collins Saint is the 2024-25 chair of the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.