Pass it Internship Spotlight: Stephanie Faudoa

After I graduate from Marquette Law School, I hope to continue working at the Wisconsin State Public Defenders Office in order to be an advocate for those in my community. Working at the Wisconsin State Public Defenders’ Office has allowed me to understand that a bridge-building community can be created by seeing the world through the eyes of those who live different lives.

There is a sense of peace that I feel when I work with my clients.

Many of them give me hope for humanity when I see their desire for change; they take accountability for their actions and learn from them. As a witness to the evolving versions of my clients, who play a significant role in my own journey of growth, I can close my eyes and see the light that illuminates my dream of becoming a public defender and being the voice for those who may be silenced behind bars. I aspire to illuminate the power that clients have to transform themselves into people who transcend expectations and demand that individuals see the good within them. Most importantly, I endeavor to teach my clients the limitless opportunities that await them if they are just willing to take that first step towards change.
Marquette University Law School embraces “the search for truth,” and this phrase directly aligns with the advocacy I aim to pursue in my legal journey. A good advocate knows that the law holds the answers to many questions, but a great advocate will voice those answers with transparency for all to understand. I am eager to work to be a great advocate who transcends beyond expectations and leads with poise, persistence, and resiliency.

The Pass It Forward Program allowed me to learn the rudiments of journalism and become a better writer with each article I was assigned. It helped me sharpen my communication and interpersonal skills through the various interviews I held with community members in the Green Bay Metropolitan Area. Writing articles and being able to see the finished product published in the Green Bay Press Times and the Stevens Point Gazette allowed me to look at journalism from an entirely different perspective.

Through this program, I learned about the importance of keeping our communities informed and updated on issues in our surrounding communities to continue fostering a functioning democracy. The Pass It Forward Program gave me the skills and confidence to find my true aspirations in life, and the guidance from my mentors was one of my biggest motivators to continue to strive for more.

The Pass It Forward internship program is sponsored by Nicolet National Bank and the Packers Give Back.