Finding Your Unique Career Path: An Interview with Michelle R. Amidzich
Meet Michelle Amidzich
Choose your own adventure
Michelle Amidzich, Esq. (Vermont Law School, May 2022) has redefined the notion that there is only one path for every person. Beginning her professional life at the United States Senate with Senators Herb Kohl and Tammy Baldwin, Michelle then spent time in the music industry with Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., the producers of Summerfest. From there, Michelle began a career in law, securing research internships at Harvard Law and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Now a Trial Court Law Clerk with the Rhode Island Judiciary, Michelle shares her best advice on how to choose the right path for success.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best reflective piece of advice I have received is that it is important to think about what YOU want.
Not your parents. Not what your friends. YOU. The most successful people often know what they wanted to achieve and worked to make it come true. If you have a clear goal that is special to you, it will make the hard work worth it and will help you filter out the advice or hurdles that do not align with your goal.
What did you wish you knew before starting your career?
I wish I knew that most people, no matter how long they have been in their career, do not always have the answer or know what they are doing. Generally, they have learned through repetitive exposure (e.g., seeing similar causes of action for many years, and thus, knowing that area of law well). Therefore, it is okay that you do not know everything right away! You must learn through experience.
What is the best advice for your younger self upon first entering the workplace?
The best piece of advice I could give my younger self would be to have patience with yourself and your colleagues. Patience with yourself means giving yourself the grace to learn and make mistakes. Having patience with your colleagues means remembering that they are also going through their own personal and work situations.
How can young professionals stand out in the workplace?
Ask questions. In-person or over the phone if possible. Even if you think someone is going to be annoyed with you or you are bothering them, ask it anyway.
Just make sure to think through your question before asking it, and you should try to work through the problem yourself first.
If you have, then write down your question(s) because it helps you work through it so you know exactly what you are asking. Always be prepared for follow-up questions.
What are your best tips for those that are new to networking?
If you are an introvert like me, give yourself a pep talk before you walk into an event. Usually, YOU are the only person getting in the way of YOU. A good piece of advice I learned in journalism school is that people love to talk about themselves, so if you are not feeling particularly chatty or are nervous, ask people questions! Great, safe topics outside of the typical professional ones are to ask about peoples’ pets or hobbies. It is easy to bond with people over both and can lead to some great connections.
What do you wish the generations ahead of you, and behind you, knew?
I wish generations ahead of me knew to be more open to change. If something is not proving to be effective or keeping up with modern times, listen to your younger colleagues. We’ll run a mile with an inch if you allow us.
I wish generations behind me knew to have a good attitude, be humble, and do not constantly compare to others. Having a good attitude does not mean you have to be happy all the time; rather, it means approaching your work with positivity where you can. Also, being humble can make all the difference. Your professor may have told you that you are a fantastic writer— and you probably are!—but that does not mean you cannot improve because there is always room for improvement.
Finally, comparing yourself to others stunts your success. Their journey is likely different than yours, so do not feel like you are inadequate compared to another peer. We all have our own stories and journeys. Let your journey be unique to you and not like someone else’s.
Why is mentorship important?
Support from others is essential for success—do not be afraid to ask for it! My parents are loving and supportive, but they often could not provide the insight and guidance a first-generation professional needs. Seek support from those who have gone through it because they have the wisdom and knowledge, and they often want to share it!
What does being a first generation professional mean to you?
I could write a whole book about what being a first-generation professional means to me. It means expanding my horizons beyond the community I grew up in. It means achieving life-long dreams and helping others do the same. It is a privilege not everyone has to be a first-generation professional, and it is something some people risk their lives for. I try to remember how lucky I am, particularly as a woman, to have had unobstructed access to education.
and finally, What do you love about Milwaukee?
I love Milwaukee for its hardworking, friendly, and fun people.
I have lived in New England for the past four years and can say with certainty that Milwaukee’s beer, cheese, lexicon, and sports teams are superior to any other despite what New Englanders may claim. Milwaukee is, shall I say, wicked awesome!
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