At first, he wanted to be a teacher, until Ethan Powell decided that law school might be a better way to understand how the world works.
Then he thought about how to stand up for those who might not have the resources to navigate the legal system, and so, Powell decided he wanted to become a public defender.
To do that, he graduated K-State in three years with a double major in history and political science, balancing pre-law classes with the demands of a Big 12 student-athlete.
"It takes a special kind of stupid to want to wake up at 6 a.m. and run in circles," Powell said. "But that kind of determination also translates well in the classroom."
If you're trying find the drive that helped Powell become a Prentice Gautt Scholar, the track and trails around Manhattan aren't a bad place to start.
It's where he became one of the best distance runners in K-State history, despite less than three seasons of competition. Only four Wildcats have ever turned in a faster 10K time than the 29:55.00 mark that Powell threw down in his first appearance for K-State at that distance.
Across ten different events, Powell racked up podium finishes and recorded the best finish by a K-State cross country runner at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in 15 years.
But to focus only on those accomplishments is to miss the whole point of Ethan Powell – the reason he was driving home to Colorado when he found out he was a Prentice Gautt Scholar.
"I stayed in Manhattan until the end of the school year to stay focused and train with Coach Godfrey. I got a call from my Dad and he didn't exactly know what he was talking about, he had just seen something about a scholarship," Powell said. "He just told me, 'Ethan, I think this is going to make it a lot easier for us to handle the next couple of years.' And I was so excited."
Next year, Powell will begin law school at Colorado and run cross country for the Buffaloes. Halfway through the six years he would need for an undergraduate and law school degree, he didn't have access to the work-study or teaching jobs that can help cover tuition.
"It had been a little bit of a hard sell to my parents to do that and say, 'Oh yeah and also, instead of having a job, I want to keep running.' So, that feeling of relief was closely tied to kind of validating the decision that I made," Powell said.
K-State Academic Counselor Grace Hnizdil introduced Powell to the Prentice Gautt Scholarship after learning about his postgraduate plans.
Awarded to two student-athletes at each Big 12 school, the scholarship provides significant funding towards graduate or professional school.
Powell and K-State soccer's Katie Cramer (now Goolsby) were chosen as the school's 2020 winners.
In thinking about his future, Powell viewed a career in law as a "responsibility thing," a way to take his love of teaching and help more people understand and navigate the legal system.
"These days, it's a pretty complicated system that we've cooked up," he said. "The people who write those laws and even just understand those laws have a lot of power, but also have a pretty big responsibly to do that in a way that isn't taking advantage of people."
When he arrived at Kansas State, Powell was still focused on becoming a teacher, until he had the opportunity to join the school's mock trial team. While he did have a vague interest in law, Powell wasn't sold until he found out the team was headed to a competition in his hometown.
Powell said he came to enjoy the courtroom aspect of law and that instead of teaching the same lesson over and over again, lawyers get to unpack new cases every day that can make a tremendous impact in people's lives.
He also points to several of his classes with Kansas State professor John A. Fliter, where Powell learned about constitutional law and civil liberties.
Powell is focused on becoming a public defender, the attorney that "will be appointed for you" in every Miranda warning given to a suspect when they are taken into police custody.
For those who cannot afford a lawyer, Powell said he wants to help them understand their situation and navigate the criminal justice system.
"As much as anybody who's going to court is having a bad day, for people who are living in an impoverished situation, that's multiplied several times over," Powell said. "Things like bail are usually pretty straightforward for people who have money."
Beginning law school at a time when the country's history of systemic racism has been met with protest after George Floyd was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Powell said he recognizes the need for public defenders willing to stand against racial injustice.
"The people who end up charged with crimes are going to be those in closest proximity to law enforcement, and that is typically going to be in poorer communities," he said. "To make sure the law that is written for everyone in this country is applied fairly to everyone in this country, that goes a long way towards equality under the law and that everyone who goes through the criminal justice system is getting a fair shake no matter what they happen to look like."
Powell said his career plans are rooted in a sense of personal calling, his Christian faith and a deep respect for a criminal justice system that ensures there is always someone to defend the very people who may have wronged.
As he begins his next chapter at Colorado, Powell is still focused on running. But even if his track career is driven by "a special kind of stupid," it's clear there's something else at work.
"Nobody ever wants to go to court, you know? Nobody's best day is when they get arrested or they're suing someone," he said. "I think being a positive person in that environment and someone who has that knowledge and the ability to explain it to clients is really important."
"and" - Google News
June 26, 2020 at 06:01PM
https://ift.tt/2BfPKjI
SE: Powell Focused on Distance Running and Future as a Public Defender - K-StateSports.com
"and" - Google News
https://ift.tt/35sHtDV
https://ift.tt/2ycZSIP
And
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "SE: Powell Focused on Distance Running and Future as a Public Defender - K-StateSports.com"
Post a Comment