Elexis Wiebe on Service for Adoption Day and a Family Tie to the Dean’s Favorite Film
Elexis Wiebe on Service for Adoption Day and a Family Tie to the Dean’s Favorite Film
Elexis shares how, now as an involved student, she contributes to BPILS, including their work to completely transform the Law Center for Adoption Day, and how fostering a dog during finals served as an excellent stress reliever. Throughout her journey, she reflects on lessons from dance and living abroad and highlights her family’s connection to one of Dean Counseller’s favorite films.
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TRANSCRIPT
Jeremy
Welcome to another edition of Counseller’s Corner. I'm Jeremy Counseller, Dean of Baylor Law School, and today, I'm very happy to be joined by first-year law student Elexis Weibe. Elexis, welcome to the podcast.
Elexis
So much for having me.
Jeremy
Oh, I'm so excited to have you here. Now you are from one of my favorite places in Texas, Tyler, Texas.
Elexis
Yes, sir.
Jeremy
Tell us a little bit about Tyler and growing up in Tyler, Texas.
Elexis
So, I was born and raised in Tyler, Texas. So, my whole family has been there for quite a bit of time. I was actually homeschooled, so I don't have a whole lot of knowledge about the public schools or the private schools in that area, but I loved the community.
I have a bunch of friends that still live there, and the junior college in particular.
Jeremy
So, I love Tyler, Texas as well. I spent a lot of time there. Here's my question for you. Why are there now traffic jams in Tyler, Texas?
Elexis
I am convinced that the infrastructure was never made for so many people and so many hospitals, and they still haven't fixed it.
Jeremy
It is growing. I've been there probably three times in the last eight months, and I've been stuck in traffic twice due to construction in part, I think, in fairness to the lovely people of Tyler. But you know it’s; it's just changing and, but it's a great, it's a great place. So, a lot of people, here you are, you’re first-year law student, you're on your way.
People, maybe prospective students who are thinking about going to law school think what must my, must my path or should my path look like before I get to law school? Yours is a, might seem to a lot of people, to be a bit unusual because you were preparing to be a professional
Elexis
Dancer
Jeremy
A dancer.
Elexis
Yes.
Jeremy
So as, as so many of our students, probably 72% of our students are professional dancers. Tell me about what, what made you want to do that?
Elexis
So, my mom is actually a dance teacher, and I, they always said that I started dancing before I could even walk, because my mom would always have me in the studio with her.
My dance teachers would check my turnout when I was, which is just like laying you on the floor, basically, and seeing how flexible your hips are when I was like two years old. So, I grew up in the studio, and I had a passion for it. And so, when I was, I started really training when I was eight, which is, you know, pretty early.
But when I was 13, I took college entrance exams and was pulled out of the charter school that I was in to be homeschooled so I could focus on being a professional dancer.
Jeremy
And this actually took you to some pretty far afield, your pursuit of dancing. You went to Spain, I think. Tell me what you did in Spain with dancing.
Elexis
So actually, with Spain, it was a completely separate ordeal. I stopped dancing right before I moved to undergrad. So, I was training as a pre-professional and then later professional dancer until I was about 18. I had a contract to dance in Chicago when Covid hit, and because of Covid, that fell through. I chose not to move to Chicago and instead pursue an academic career at UT Austin.
Jeremy
Okay.
Elexis
And then after that, I had some extra time before I wanted to start law school, so I thought, why not move to Spain?
Jeremy
Okay, so what Spain was, it was in part to teach English. Is that right?
Elexis
Yes sir.
Jeremy
Okay. But you did some dancing in Spain, like some instruction maybe?
Elexis
Some instruction. So, at the school that I was a part of, I mostly worked with first through sixth graders and it was a bilingual school.
So, it was a mix between Spanish and English. So, every class that I would teach would be in English. And one of those was physical education. And a lot of times because of my dance background, they wanted me to teach ballet, modern, jazz.
Jeremy
Okay.
Elexis
So, yes sir.
Jeremy
Where in Spain were you?
Elexis
At a really small town outside of Seville. It's called La Puebla de Cazalla.
Jeremy
Okay.
Elexis
So, I think 8,000 people.
Jeremy
Okay. Love it. Okay. I'm wondering, it sounds like Covid made you reassess sort of the long-term viability of being a dancer maybe and pick a different path. But I'm wondering what lessons from dancing that you take with you into law school that are helpful.
Elexis
I think that the lessons that I learned training in dance have, have actually been what have propelled me to this point, because the biggest ones are diligence, determination, and the ability to take corrections and apply them, but also self-correct. So, a big part of dance is going into the studio six hours a day, six days a week, standing in front of a mirror with harsh lights, looking at every element of your body and saying, “I’m doing this correct, I'm doing this wrong. How can I fix this? How can I make this better?”
And that's a mindset that I take with me into law school, into every class that I am learning. Especially when it comes to writing memos, for example, printing it out, looking it over, being super meticulous and seeing what I can correct on my own before going to a professor and then seeking.
Jeremy
Yeah, I, I hear in what you're saying, what I hear from a lot of students, you know, particularly those who may have been student athletes or pursued other paths before coming to law school.
And one of the things I think, if there's undergraduate students or students, you know, you're not even undergraduate people are thinking about going to law school, they may have the mindset I need to go to law school and be perfect. And I think you need to be coachable, you know? And I think I hear that's what you're saying.
And part of being coachable is to be resilient.
Elexis
Yes, sir.
Jeremy
You know, to be able to have that ability to, to take constructive criticism and then implement it into what you're, what you're doing, which I think is really important. So, you are, as a law student, you also find time to do other things around the law school.
You are a member of the Baylor Public Interest Legal Society. Tell me about that organization and the work that it does and your role in it.
Elexis
So, the work that the organization does, I mean, they do a lot of things, but it's tailored to serving the community because the organization believes that the heart of being a lawyer is service.
One of the biggest things that they do is adoption day, which we did, I think, was in November.
Jeremy
Yeah.
Elexis
And that's actually one of the reasons I decided to come to Baylor was for adoption day. I heard about it in Tyler, actually. Judge Wilson, who is the family law judge there, told me all about Baylor.
So, I started researching it, and I found the Public Interest Legal Society. You know, I looked into adoption day, and it just, I don't know, it just, it felt right, and so…
Jeremy
Well, talk about what adoption day is for people who aren't familiar.
Elexis
So, adoption day is when Baylor Law School puts on this grand event where we get to take the kids in McLennan County, and they do their adoptions instead of at the courthouse here at the law school.
And we decorate it based on a theme every year that Professor Fuselier picks. And this year it was Paddington. So, we decorated the law school. We created a bunch of fun events for the kids. So that way the experience is super exciting and less stressful for the kids. I think that's the most important thing that I see from it is a lot of times the courthouse can be a very stressful place, especially for children in such a vulnerable scenario, and so being able to take them in a position where they can just have fun and really do a bunch of fun activities with their family and other kids their age that are experiencing the same things is just a beautiful thing to see.
Jeremy
And there's always a theme, often around some popular animated film that's out at the time and people dress up like the characters. Did you dress up this year?
Elexis
Yes, sir I did.
Jeremy
Who did you dress up as?
Elexis
I dressed up as Paddington’s adopted father.
Jeremy
Okay. It's a bit of a stretch role for you. Yeah.
Elexis
Yeah, I had a top hat and a mustache and went to class dressed like that as well.
Jeremy
One of the things that, there's lots of things I love about adoption day, many of them you've, you've mentioned, but I love in the week or so before, seeing law students decorating the law school. And the reason I love, one of the reasons I love that is, it's like, here are these law students.
They are on the path to like these high-powered jobs and everything, but that week, they've got construction paper and they're gluing things together and hanging things from the ceiling. And it's just a reminder we're not too good for anything if we're serving a good cause. And I really love that culture around adoption day. So…
Elexis
Yes, sir, I do too.
Jeremy
But did you do any of that, any of the papier-mâchéing or…
Elexis
Yes, there's plenty of pictures of me on my hands and knees, glitter in my hair, trying to paint the fireplace. I made the fireplace. The London Bridge was a feat to put up because you have to…
Jeremy
Yes, we had a London Bridge. Yes. Oh wow.
And train tracks. We had train tracks through the law school.
Elexis
Those were great. We started actually my first quarter, which was over the summer, and that's when I started participating in helping with the decorations. At that point, it was just cutting leaves for…
Jeremy
Yeah.
Elexis
the actual courtroom, but especially the week of, I was here. And, I mean, so many students at the law school, but especially the organization, the BPILS organization, we were here every night.
Jeremy
Yeah.
Elexis
Cutting away.
Jeremy
Yeah. It's both, it's both, it's both a service to the community and to the families of the community. But also, it's a way that we try to instill in students, you know, if you're, you could, you can do all sorts of different things with a law degree and the, you know, one student may do something that that is a thousand miles away from what another student does.
But all, but the theme throughout being a lawyer is serving. You have to, you have to serve people. And adoption day is one of the ways we try to instill that in people. Okay, speaking of serving, there's a family member of yours who, who has done incredible service for the entire country and indeed the world. In that he allowed a, a film crew to document one of the greatest battles between good and evil ever captured on film.
And that is in a movie, a documentary film called, The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. And Elexis, I know you've admitted to me you have not seen the, your relative Steve Wiebe is the hero of this film. You've never seen the movie. It is one of my favorite all-time films. I encourage everyone to watch it.
I have thought about doing a screening at the law school of the movie, but I just can't find sort of a legal connection, to justify doing it. But I love this film. Why, in the name of all that is right and good, haven’t you watched this movie where a family member of yours defeats evil through Donkey Kong?
Elexis
You know, there's many answers I could give, but I don't think there's a valid excuse. I think I just need to go sit and watch it.
Jeremy
You do. I wish, I just, I can't tell you how much I love this movie. And I found out you're related to this guy while you were in my class. It was just I…
It's like… And you actually gave to me, from Steve, a sign, his autograph on a little like baseball card type thing, which I want you to know, I display proudly in the office of the Dean at Baylor Law School.
Elexis
I’m so glad.
Jeremy
And so, it is my prized possession. But please, Alexis, watch the movie. All who are listening, watch the movie.
It is thoroughly entertaining. And, just one of those heartwarming films. I just, I just love it. Okay. I'm not going to berate you about that anymore. You participated in the Bark Break program. Tell us what that is and what you in particular required from, through this, through this program.
Elexis
I acquired my best friend through this program is what I required.
Jeremy
Okay.
Elexis
So, the Bark Break program is a, it's put on by Pet Circle here in Waco. And basically, what you can do is you can go to Pet Circle and say, hey, I want to take a dog for a walk, you can have a sleepover. And you basically just check out a dog for the day.
Jeremy
Are these dogs that are like in foster care or something?
Elexis
Yes sir. These are in foster care. And so, this is a rescue shelter. And so, they will let you take out a dog and take them on a walk with a big yellow leash that says adopt me.
Jeremy
Subtle.
Elexis
Just a little bit. So, I went in there and it was before my first round of finals, and I said, you know, I just would love some attention from a dog right now.
I just want to go on a long walk. So, I walked in. I said, just give me who needs it. Someone who's been here the longest who would love to go out. And they gave me Big Mac. He is a bull mastiff mix. He's about 90 pounds, but he thinks he's a lap dog. We went on a walk, and I decided I had to have him, so I went back after finals, and I adopted him and I have had the most wonderful time.
He is the best dog. He is spoiled rotten.
Jeremy
Let me just say he's not the best dog. I have the best dog. But he, he's, he could be in the top five.
Elexis
Okay. At least top,
Jeremy
Yeah.
Elexis
at least top three.
Jeremy
I have the greatest dog who has ever lived. So not only the greatest living dog, but the greatest dog who's ever lived.
Elexis
But what kind of dog?
Jeremy
He's a rescue. He's…
Elexis
Oh, they’re the best.
Jeremy
Yes, they know.
Elexis
And they're so loyal. And.
Jeremy
Yeah.
Elexis
I mean, and that dog sleeps. He's the perfect law school dog, too. I have to wake him up in the mornings to take him on walks.
Jeremy
Nice.
Elexis
So, I, I don't know, I, I think he's crawling up to number one.
Jeremy
Okay, okay.
Well, we'll have to, we'll have to see if they, if they should meet. Okay. And now just I'm wondering all your experiences and the stuff you've done in law school and stuff leading up to law school. How has it been compared to what you thought it would be like? How does reality meet with expectation beforehand?
Elexis
So, I'm a first-generation law student, so I wasn't really sure what to expect, other than I knew it was going to be difficult.
And I worked at a law firm prior to coming to law school. So, I had some idea after speaking to the attorney that I was working with, but I don't think anything can really prepare you for this. The mental load, other than just immersing yourself completely in it. So, I think the experiences that I had prior helped, in a way, set me up for the level of work that it would require.
And I was anticipating the mental exhaustion, but I also did not realize how much I would enjoy it.
Jeremy
Yeah.
Elexis
It's very fulfilling.
Jeremy
Yeah. Good. I'm glad to hear that. We've come now to the lightning round. So, the questions are silly. Your answers have to be short.
Elexis
Okay.
Jeremy
Would you rather always wake up early, feeling rested, or stay up late with an endless energy?
Elexis
Wake up early, feeling rested.
Jeremy
What's a simple habit that instantly improves your mood?
Elexis
Oh, going on walks.
Jeremy
What's a comfort food you could eat any time?
Elexis
Soup.
Jeremy
Go to activity when you have an unexpected free afternoon?
Elexis
Pilates or dance.
Jeremy
Would you rather live in a bustling city or a quiet small town?
Elexis
Quiet small town?
Jeremy
What's a song that instantly takes you back to a specific memory?
Elexis
“Vienna” by Billy Joel?
Jeremy
Okay, I'm going to pause here. I, so, I listen to Billy Joel sometimes, and I was on a trip with my two daughters who are younger than you, a little, a little bit younger than you. And “Vienna” by Billy Joel comes on and they're just singing every word of it. What is it with “Vienna” and your generation?
What is that? Because that's more of one of his concert songs. It's not like one of his top hits on the airplay or anything.
Elexis
You know? I don't really know what it is with our generation. I know that it resonates with me because I've always felt very rushed in my life. I think because I did everything so quickly, that it's, it's kind of nice to take a message of, yeah, slow down, it's okay.
If it's supposed to happen, it's going to happen. But as far as our generation as a whole, I don't really know.
Jeremy
Okay, well, I was asking you to speak for the entire generation, and you utterly failed. Would you rather explore space or the deep ocean?
Elexis
The deep ocean.
Jeremy
A pause button in your life or a rewind button in your life?
Elexis
Spain. So that's why I would use a rewind and pause.
Jeremy
What's the best spontaneous decision you've ever made?
Elexis
Moving to Spain.
Jeremy
What's the last show you binge watched?
Elexis
Oh goodness, I don't really watch TV that often. “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”
Jeremy
Okay. See that?
Elexis
I know.
Jeremy
You definitely now have no excuse for not watching.
Elexis
I know.
Jeremy
King of Kong.
Elexis
I knew that was going to hurt me.
Jeremy
What's your favorite movie soundtrack?
Elexis
Oh. Interstellar.
Jeremy
Okay, I understand you may have a question for me.
Elexis
Yes. If you were a part of any historical event, what would it be and what role would you play?
Jeremy
Oh, well. I wouldn't want to play a role, but I'd like to be an observer.
I would want to be at the Constitutional Convention. I would like to hear what they were saying about why they put the things in that they did. We have, we have the Federalist Papers, you know, we've got some perspective on that. But to be present in the, the conversations would be really, really interesting. I think, you know, I know that's kind of a law professor, nerdy kind of thing to say, but, yeah, that would be, that would be, I think that, that's what comes to mind first.
Elexis
That's a great answer.
Jeremy
Thanks, Alexis. Enjoyed it. I appreciate you. Very proud of you.
Elexis
Thank you so much.
Jeremy
Watch that movie.
Elexis
I know. I will, after finals.
