A Warm Welcome from SBA President George Nalbandian

Good morning, 

My name is George Nalbandian, and I am the Student Bar Association President. The Student Bar Association is responsible for a lot here. We run programming like Foxfield and Barristers. We partner with organizations across the law school by cosponsoring events. We voice student concerns to the administration. But generally speaking, we work to make the law school experience clearer, easier, and more enjoyable. 

You will be overwhelmed with information today. Some of it will make sense and some of it won’t. But that’s okay. We are all here for you. 

I won’t lie to you and say that the reason I’m up here is because I’m the smartest law student or the law student who’s best at softball. Far from it. But I do think I have some advice to share that I hope will help you make the most of your time here. Much of it will sound cliche, and I look forward to seeing whoever is up here in 2028 do better.  

First, a practical piece of advice, how many of you bought or are going to buy a new suit or suit jacket? Many of them come with these openings on the back called “vents.” These vents will often come stitched together and you’re supposed to cut the stitching out before wearing the jacket. 

Two, be open to anything and say yes. Many of you may have a very strong idea of what you want to do and the kind of advocate you want to be. Many more of you probably do not. That’s all right and there are many opportunities for you to discover and grow here. For example, I certainly never imagined I would be here today doing this, but my experience in student government came to me very fortuitously, and it has greatly enriched my time here. 

This doesn’t only apply to school. I didn’t know anyone when I got here, and that was a little scary. But the Monday after orientation, one of my sectionmates asked in our section chat if anyone wanted to get a drink at the Virginian. I figured “why not,” and met up with three other guys in my section. Those three are still some of my closest friends here to this day, and I suspect they will remain so for the rest of my life.  

Three, be humble in both success and failure. It’s no secret that there will be times when you are in direct competition with your classmates. Not everyone can get the A or get on law review. But do not let those successes or failures become bigger than you. There are parts of this process that can feel tense, arbitrary, and maybe even a little cruel. It’s difficult, but your time will come. And if your time has come, always celebrate yourself, but never boast or brag. Be gracious to your classmates no matter what.  

Four, don’t be afraid to make memories. Everywhere you go, you will hear people talk about how busy law school is and how you should be burying your head in the books constantly. I’m not saying it’s not busy, and I’m not here to encourage you not to study—because one, you should study, and two, I think Dean Kendrick and Dean Davies would both drag me off this stage if I said that. But you should also keep doing the things that you love. Experience culture, go on road trips, be with your friends, stay out late! For every memory I have of the walls closing in, I have at least five memories of greater joy, happiness, and warmth, like sitting with my roommates on our porch at 3 a.m. or going to Bar Harbor for fall break.  

Finally, don’t be alone. This place is built upon our collective success, and we all want to see you thrive. I’ll tell one more anecdote about myself, and then I’ll wrap this up. When I first got to New York City for my summer job, I found myself in a rough spot; I felt homesick and a little bit lost, which was doubly jarring because I didn’t expect to feel that way at all. I was frustrated and afraid. Anyway, I remember I was out with a classmate and close friend at a concert. I explained how I was feeling, and he replied, “I wish you had told me.” I wish I had too. I didn’t feel better right away, but I did go forward, reminded that I didn’t have to face these feelings alone. Be vulnerable and be present for others. They will do the same for you.  

I’m very excited to get to know all of you and see the amazing things you will accomplish. People will tell you that getting here was the hard part. That is true to an extent, but law school can still be pretty hard. Luckily, we’re all here to help you make the most of your experience. 

What drew me to UVA Law was the feeling that people wanted me to be here. I hope that you feel the same way today as you meet us because, as someone who has experienced this from both sides, I can assure you that it’s as true now as it was then.  

Thank you, 

George Nalbandian