I’m not quite sure where to start, so let me start with a simple thank you. Thank you for everything.
When I first contemplated joining Mock Trial as a baby freshman four years ago, I was stuck between Mock and JSA. It was at the urging of my aviation teacher, Mrs. Doltz once she found out that I was considering being a lawyer, that I eventually ended up choosing Mock. Thank goodness for that. As the irrelevant witness, Cameron Clark, I didn’t really do much as a freshman besides sit in the back of 201 and play Slope while chatting with Mrs. Doltz. It wasn’t until the competition in February and our loss to Mendham in the semi-finals that I came to finally realize what Mock was all about.
The next two years passed in a blur of ups and downs. Mistakes made and lessons learned. Tears shed and smiles shared. Upperclassmen graduated and underclassmen matriculated.
Senior year felt like the year everything was supposed to come to fruition. Our rebuild was finally over. All of our attorneys were returning, and we all knew what we needed to do. Pulling Mendham in the prelims felt like a blip, a quick setback that laid foundation for our eventual path to underdog glory. This was our year, after all. And then came the semifinals.
But I’ve come to realize that’s not true.
Our real wins have never been at the Morris County Courthouse; they’ve been in Room 201, at Panera Bread, in the library, in the auditorium, on Zoom, and everywhere else we’ve been able to be together. My favorite memories from Mock Trial have never been from arguing with the opposing counsel in the 80 degree courthouse, but from sharing laughs as we practice our case. I’ll never have a Mock Trial trophy on my desk, but these four years have given me something better: memories and friends.
A first thank you goes out to my fellow attorneys: Anushka, Akshay, and Aanvi. These past two years together have bonded us in a way I didn’t know was possible. I’ll miss seeing the familiar orange profile picture of our group chat light up my phone. I’ll miss arguing over insignificant case details. I don’t think it’s hearsay to say that I’ll miss all our silly inside jokes, ranging from inverted knees to how to make cupcakes. I’ll miss being on (and falling asleep on…) Facetime memorizing openings and closings past midnight. So, thank you for all of it.
A second thank you has to go out to our amazing witnesses and clerks: Aiden, Nicolette, Shriya, Sanjana, Vaidehi, Jiya, Ella, Anoushka, Eileen, Abhay, Kaya, and Jennifer. You guys are the people that make Mock go. We would have no case to perform without you and it has truly been an honor to see everyone grow whether it be for four years (looking at you, Nicolette) or just one. I know it’s not at all speculative to say that this club is going to be in good hands in the future because it has you.
A third thank you goes out to all of our parents. Mock Trial is a big commitment for not only the students and teachers, but also for the parents who have to pick up their kids over three times a week. We all appreciate you not only for that, but for your invaluable feedback during the parent dress rehearsal. That day truly is the scariest of the year, worse than any competition against another school, but it is also the most helpful.
A final thank you has to go out to the one and only Mrs. Doltz. You don’t have to do all of this. You don’t have to let us keep you after school multiple times a week every week from October through January. But, you do. You don’t have to let us up to meet you during lunch. But, you do. You don’t have to answer our typo-riddled emails on the weekends or late at night. But, you do. Your commitment to Mock Trial goes beyond everything that can be expected or hoped for, and I will always be eternally grateful for everything you have done for us.
Losing isn’t fun, but in my expert opinion I don’t think we’ve lost anything. We get to walk out of the competition this year knowing that everything we did, we did it on our own and we did it together.
Thank you one more time, Morris Hills Mock Trial, for four years of lessons and laughs. Thank you for letting me be a part of your family. I can’t wait to see where you go in the future.
Sworn and signed to be true,
Priyanka Patel