Melvin Welch:  

Life Everyone has a lot to say about life, but I'll save it. I married the woman of my dreams, of whom I'd obsessed for 9 years before finally getting her this year on Aug. 27, 2005. Her name is Gwen. I finally hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2004, a dream I'd had since I was 8 years old. It was 2,174.1 miles of pure joy and happiness. Thank you lord. Finished law school, now a criminal defense attorney with the Minnesota State Public Defenders. My family is well. Anne is taking it easy and has a very-much-loved-by-his-family son named Sam Welch (he is totally kick ass, and the best our brood has created yet!). Hank is an M.D. in New Orleans. Maria is going to Chile/Argentina/somewhere around there to study Spanish, do missionary work, and research Pablo Neruda (I think). Dad is getting older, and you can see it, but he's still funny as the dickens, and alot more relaxed. Mom is getting ready to retire, but she's having her battles within her own clan - which is unfortunate. However, she's as loving as ever she was. Life is good. College Three different schools, and 3 very different lives: University of Minnesota, Duluth was a fantastic experience, both existentially and for the mind's development. I made good friends that I see to this day, like Jon Thompson, Tim Poeschl, and Gwen Lundell - now Welch. I kinda wish I'd stayed with the sciences, because having taken up the liberal arts (History and Russian Language & Literature) there was nothing else for me to do but go to law school. My greatest regret was that I couldn't win Gwen Lundell over to date me back then... fortunately though, we met up again 9 years later when I returned to the University of Minnesota Law School, and I married her this August 27, 2005 after 10 months of dating. I didn't make any friends while at the University of Maryland, College Park, except for one fine Professor Breslow - which whom I've unfortnately lost contact. It's difficult to really experience the school life when you're also active Navy and working a 2nd job to pay for school. I managed to finish my B.A.s before finishing the Navy. As I said, though, liberal arts degrees don't do much for you in the way of job prospects, or maybe I just didn't know how to best utilize them. In any event, after working in Kosovo and hiking the Appalachian Trail, I intended to go to law school after I took up the liberal arts - which is where I'm currently at, having finished my 2L year. It's tough: I've never studied as hard in all my life and the competition is fierce with incredibly intelligent, and capable student-colleagues at a top 20 school. For this last year's finals, I sat in 1 place for 3 weeks, getting up only periodically to make bathroom stops or get a bite. My body aches all over, and has for weeks. I got sick - twice. But I also learned Federal Jurisdiction, Antitrust, and Professional Responsibility inside and out. The rewards are absolutely commensurate with the work - and I love this career choice. I only hope my accomplishments can be comparable to my aspirations. The friends I've made here as great as well, I only wish I had more time for them than I do. But we all share the same disadvantages of family, schoolwork, and determined. I can't wait as the years go on to see how everyone...Expand for more