Adam T. Hockensmith

Hockensmith__adam

“As the first person to attend college from a working-class family of eight, I wanted to explore a diverse range of activities to compliment my studies. I left Washington and Lee as someone passionate about politics, interested in religion and inter-faith dialogue, and sensitive to the needs of those stepping foot into a new environment. I will enter Yale with this same open-mindedness, ready to tackle new challenges and hoping to make a positive impact on my community and my peers.”

  • Program: 2009 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
  • Resides: New Haven, CT
  • Hometown: Hagerstown, Maryland
  • Age: 25

Biography

PROFILE: Maryland native Adam Hockensmith has returned from Japan, where he worked as an assistant English teacher at Toyama High School, and will begin classes at Yale Law School. During his tenure in Toyama, a city on the island of Honshū, this well-rounded and energetic young man not only worked on his Japanese language skills, he also pursued his love of writing poetry. He made an effort to compose at least two poems daily, claiming that “poetic analysis and writing poetry has helped to unlock his potential for creative reasoning,” and is something that will serve him well as he embarks on his legal studies. He eventually hopes to publish his work. 

While in college, Adam sought out diverse opportunities. Among his many activities at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, Adam presided over the College Democrats, arranged speakers at Hillel events, and served as a Residential Advisor for freshman year students. Despite his varied commitments in college, Adam says that his drive was tested after an academically shaky first year. The following summer, Adam worked as a dishwasher at a local pub. He said that a long summer in the dish room caused him to reflect on how he could make the most of his college experience:  “I came to understand that I could not afford to do less than my best in my endeavors, as that would amount to squandering an opportunity that not all Americans have.” 

With renewed determination, Adam showed up on campus for sophomore year and quickly found his passion for philosophy. He says that his studies have changed the way he approaches difficult problems and have equipped him well for a future in public service, where he will need “to address the socially charged issues of the future with empathy for those affected, but also with the unprejudiced judgment required of those entrusted with responsibility.”

INSPIRATION: Adam said he would not be where he is today without the support of Melina Bell and William Lad Sessions, two of his professors from Washington and Lee. “They shaped how I think about a range of issues concerning social justice and political equality.” Adam’s interest in working with children inspired him to teach in Japan rather than work at a corporate law firm before law school.  He hopes to work on issues affecting families or children through the various clinical opportunities at Yale.

ASPIRATION: After law school, Adam hopes to clerk for a federal judge. He has considered various careers after graduating from Yale, such as working in the litigation department of a firm that has a strong commitment to pro bono, or as a prosecutor for the United States Department of Justice.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: During his year teaching in Japan, Adam worked closely with one of his English students to help her gain admission to Tsuda College, a top women’s college in Japan. “Every day after school for two months I helped prepare her for her interview with the college admissions officials.” She “aced” the interview, Adam reported.

ACCOLADES: Adam received several honors and awards during his undergraduate days. They include the Edward Dodd Prize awarded for the best honors thesis in Philosophy and the Milton Colvin Scholarship, awarded to a junior majoring in political science. He was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. 

 

INTERESTING FACT: During his time in Japan, Adam climbed Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest mountain, “at night during a terrible rainstorm.”

Other Scholars Like Adam

Booth__lalita_thumb

Lalita Booth
Graduate Scholar
Harvard University

Ashford__alex-web_thumb

Breiseus Ashford
Graduate Scholar
Pepperdine University

Hpim0414_thumb

Michael Drzyzga
College Scholar
Williams College

Kseniya_charova_thumb

Kseniya Charova
College Scholar
Stanford University