Most six-year-old little girls dream of becoming a Disney princess or superhero when they grow up. Six-year-old Alena Morgan had a different plan.
At a young age, Morgan was known to fight for what she believed was right and she would often defend her friends against bullies. At 17 years old, she knew she wanted to be a different type of superhero; an attorney.
Morgan was born in a small Florida beach town named Englewood. She grew up with six siblings under a loving and religious household, where both of her parents worked as pastors.
Morgan was hired as a hostess at a country club at 17 years old and she credits this to her pursuit in law.
“At the country club I was able to meet President George W. Bush, President H. W. Bush Senior, Gov. Jeb Bush and a lot of different lawyers and judges. This is what sparked my interest in law,” Morgan said.
Morgan loved how these powerful people commanded the room with just their mere presence. Between Morgan watching these prominent individuals interacting with citizens, and her sense of doing what is right, this is what ultimately made her pursue a degree in law.
After graduating high school, Morgan moved to Orlando where she attended school at the University of Central Florida as a legal studies major. Now in her junior year, she is a key member in the UCF Mock Trial traveling team.
Teams from across the nation engage in “trial simulations in competition with teams from other institutions, students develop critical thinking and public speaking skills, as well as a knowledge of legal practices and procedures,” according to American Mock Trial Association.
Each team is given the same case, and members are given either witness or attorney roles. The team then runs both the defense and prosecution side during a competition. Witnesses must memorize direct examinations and affidavits and become the character they portray while on the stand. Attorneys must memorize opening statements, closing statements and objections.
Morgan said Mock Trial has helped her immensely with public speaking as witnesses must form a new disguise and accent. She said this makes her more willing to try new things.
“I’m Italian in another life apparently,” Morgan said in regards to her character.
“Alena is constantly assisting other team members. She is a real team player and has great insight,” Patricia Cashman, a coach for the Mock Trial Team, said.
On top of a full class load and being a key player on Mock Trial’s traveling team, Morgan also works 30 hours a week to financially support herself. She is a personal assistant and accountant wrapped up into one position. Payrolls and sales taxes are a key component to her job, as well as helping her boss with his daily tasks.
“Part of my weekly routine is checking my boss’s daughter’s grades,” Morgan joked.
Morgan is currently studying for the LSATS and plans on applying to a couple of different well-known law schools. Her starting goal is to practice under an established law firm with hopes of one day becoming a partner in a criminal or international business law firm.
