Letter of Intent

Destini Ruffner

471 Tryme Road

Reva, VA 22735

September 15, 2021

Mrs. Shannon Johnston

68 Mountaineer Lane

Madison, VA 22727

Dear Mrs. Johnston,

My name is Destini Ruffner and I am a senior at Madison County High School. As an ambitious student, I strive to reach my academic potential by taking rigorous and demanding courses, including Honors, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment. I am devoted to various extracurricular activities including Beta Club, the Student Council Association, Class Council and, Track and Field. I also spend time volunteering for various community organizations, as well as working as a Youth Development Professional at the local Boys & Girls Club. These activities have allowed me to foster several important life skills and strengthen my leadership potential, which will be valuable attributes to my project.

My senior project will revolve around the field of law. I have been interested in law for as long as I can remember. I believe I was about six years old when I first began telling people that I was going to grow up to be a lawyer. This project is the perfect opportunity for me to experience and learn more about the legal world. I hope to get a better idea of what a career in law is like, as well as come to a knowledgeable conclusion on whether or not it is something I want to pursue in the future. Due to “law” being a relatively broad topic, I have decided to focus my project on the legal rights and obligations of adulthood. During my internship with the Madison Commonwealth Attorney, I have found that there is a lot of important information related to becoming an adult, including the rights and responsibilities that come with it. I feel that it is important that I, as well as my peers, are informed about this subject. This will allow us to be more informed and productive citizens of society, as well as allow us to navigate the difficulties of adulthood more easily. As I conduct my research paper, I plan to focus on the importance of understanding one’s legal rights and responsibilities, as well as the impact that having this understanding has on adults and society.

This will be a learning stretch for me as I learn the “ins and outs” of the legal system and legal adulthood, as well as determining the best way to reach the young adult audience regarding this information. I will also be working to determine how knowing and understanding this information will help or impact young adults and society. My internship itself proved to be an invaluable learning experience because I was given the opportunity to see and learn about the legal field from a personal perspective. I was able to take part in a “hands-on” learning experience as I watched cases in court, observed legal professionals as they worked, and had discussions with several professionals involved in the Madison County court system. I have been fortunate enough to learn from their expertise and wealth of knowledge regarding various subjects.

I had the opportunity to intern at the Madison County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office under the mentorship of Clarissa Berry between June and August of 2021. Clarissa Berry is the current elected Commonwealth Attorney of Madison, Virginia. She attended the University of Virginia for undergraduate school and then received a degree in law at the University of Richmond. As Commonwealth Attorney, she carries out the prosecution of misdemeanors and felonies in Madison County. One of her main roles is to pursue justice, as well as to ensure the protection of constitutional and legal rights. During my internship, I got a firsthand view of the roles and duties of someone in the legal field. This internship proved to be an invaluable learning experience because I was able to see and learn about the law field from a personal perspective. I had the opportunity to observe cases in both General District Court and Circuit Court, as well as to observe what a typical day looks like for an attorney. I enhanced this learning experience, as well as my understanding of various topics, by asking questions and speaking with several people in the legal field, including attorneys, interns, judges, police officers, and clerks. Later in my internship, I had the opportunity to watch an entire jury trial, which allowed me to understand how a case is typically carried out from start to finish. I was also able to view old case files and sit with the Clerk of Court during a General District Court docket.

Regarding my community service project, I plan to focus on the legal rights and obligations of adulthood. As I previously mentioned, I strongly believe that it is important for people to be informed about their rights and responsibilities. Based on this, I have decided to hold an assembly, featuring guest speakers who will talk about various topics including the rights of adulthood, voting, jury trial, criminal charges, online misconduct, and much more. This event will largely be based on the So You’re 18 organization, developed by the Virginia State Bar, as well as the expertise of the guest speakers. The guest speakers will include the Commonwealth Attorney (Clarissa Berry), the Deputy Commonwealth Attorney (Wade Gelbert), the Director of Elections (Lauren Eanes), and a local Deputy (Deputy Foster). I will be working closely with the guest speakers in person and over email to determine the information that will be presented, as well as to develop and carry out an effective event. The assembly will take place in the Madison County High School Auditorium during the month of October 2021. I have received informational books from the So You’re 18 organization for each student to allow them to read more in-depth explanations of what will be covered during the assembly, as well as several additional topics. The legacy of this project will be educating the senior class of Madison County High School on the legal rights and obligations of adulthood, allowing them to be more informed and productive citizens as they reach adulthood. Moreover, this informational event will assist them in navigating the difficulties of adulthood. I will be working closely with the principal and the guest speakers in hopes of developing an annual event that will continue to educate the upcoming generations of students.

I understand the importance of Academic Ethics and upholding the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School (BRVGS) Honor Code throughout this project, as with anything else I engage in. I plan to meet these standards by conducting my project in an honest, professional, and appropriate manner. I will always make fair, honest decisions and I will carry out my project in the intended manner. I understand that if I do not abide by these expectations, there will be serious consequences, such as academic probation. I agree to follow all of the expectations set forth by the BRVGS Honor Code and I understand the potential consequences of failing to do so.

Sincerely,

Destini Ruffner