Meet Melissa Tarsitano—not only one of the most fashionable students you will ever see walking through Queen’s Park, but also a key member of one of the most reputable student organizations on campus. Melissa, a 4th year student, is the Co-President of U of T’s Pre-Law Society (PLS), as well as the editor-in-chief of the PLS Voire Dire Law Journal. Clearly an extremely innovative individual, Melissa is additionally a tremendously hard-working and dedicated student. She is motivated by her own desire for success, and if her past record is any indication, her future will be nothing but flourishing.
The PLS is a student-run organization that keeps undergraduate students interested in pursuing law school informed and updated with all the information they need to know. The organization provides information about the application process, the LSAT, and additionally works to establish connections with local businesses to offer volunteer opportunities to their members. Seminars, workshops, and information sessions are frequently held, and discounts are even offered to members who wish to participate in certain courses. Specifically, Melissa works hard with her Co-President Shivali Vig to oversee the functionality of the committee and ensure that everything runs smoothly throughout the year. Those responsibilities are in addition to the ones she has for her role as editor-in-chief of the PLS journal, and while it may appear to be overwhelming, Melissa is an advocator of getting involved on campus. “It’s important to be involved on campus,” emphasizes Melissa, “not only because it presents you with a chance to de-stress, but more importantly it allows you to connect with others who share similar goals. A support system is established where everyone is aware of what everyone is dealing with, and it’s amazing to be able to eventually achieve those goals together.” To state the obvious, Melissa hopes to attend law school after graduating this year, and looks forward to immediately involving herself with law journals and other publications her future school may offer. Melissa’s passion for law, as well as the ever-rising number of students applying to law schools all around the world, indicate the usefulness of the PLS as a fundamental resource. Melissa encourages those who are interested to attend upcoming PLS events or to contact the organization for a membership, by visiting their website: http://prelaw.sa.utoronto.ca/.
A love for the law is not the only passion in Melissa’s life. Melissa also writes for the Mike, the St. Michael’s College weekly newspaper. She actively volunteers within the Toronto community, and can be seen at the Centre for Community Partnerships every reading week. Not to be defined purely by her academics, Melissa is a huge fan of football and is a true fashionista. She loves reading fashion coffee table books, enjoying the inside look at how deeply artistic modern designers are. Melissa also runs a fabulous blog that covers her football and fashion passion. It is an incredibly witty read, and Melissa has covered virtually every topic of interest in her writing. I encourage anyone interested to check it out at http://fashionandfieldgoals.wordpress.com. This aptly named blog has something for everyone, and is sure to leave you thinking more, laughing harder, and enjoying Melissa’s interests just as much as she does.
Melissa truly exemplifies getting the most out of your university years, and is an ideal candidate to represent the benefits of getting involved on campus. Ten years from now, you can find Melissa acting as a partner in a corporate law firm, although which city she’ll be located in is unknown since she plans on obtaining an international degree. While Melissa’s academic journey has a bright conclusion, she has not forgotten about students that are just beginning their voyage. To students considering choosing U of T, Melissa has this to say: “U of T is a great and experience, and though it is so, so hard, it is so worth it. You get to challenge yourself and prepare yourself for a successful future. U of T forces you to do the best you can. The campus is beautiful, the choices are endless, and there are over a thousand clubs that cater to anyone and everyone. But it is hard…so be prepared!” Your university experience is what you make it; so to future or current student readers, involve yourself! As evidenced by Melissa, the opportunities are endless and the outcome is nothing but beneficial.