For those who want to get involved in the West Salem High School community, the plethora of clubs and programs to choose from can be overwhelming. If you’re struggling to find something that interests you, few programs may be as versatile as Mock Trial. Teacher Drew Moneke cultivates an equally challenging and uplifting community in which students can build on social skills, public speaking, and debate in a trial setting, as well as explore careers within and outside the realm of law. If you’re still unconvinced, allow Moneke and members of the program to plead their case.
“My quirky adage is I’m going to give you the skills that pay the bills,” said Moneke. As someone who strives for a primarily student led program, he creates an environment that brings out the best in those involved. “If there’s less of my voice then we’re winning, and not just winning a competition. We’re just winning in that it’s student driven. I love creating leaders, dude.”
His students can attest to this. Senior Malcolm McGregor claimed that one of the best reasons to join Mock Trial is: “Probably the community more than anything. I mean, people who don’t even want to be lawyers or barely have an interest in law still join just for that community.” Malcolm also reflected on his personal growth as a result of the program. “I was always capable of being good at public speaking, but Moneke created that space where everyone can kind of grow into their capability. And [he] does a fantastic job fostering a community where that can happen effectively.”
One of the greater strengths of this community is that it allows you to step outside of your comfort zone in taking on different roles, from representing as an attorney to standing as a witness. But the benefits of Mock Trial go beyond working in the legal system; anyone can benefit from developing their social skills in a professional setting, or building solid foundations for arguments that one can execute effectively.
“Mock Trial isn’t just about law, it’s about so many other things,” said Junior Echo Carter. “Say you want to go into business, right? Learning how to negotiate, learning how to form arguments, how to present yourself. That’s important”. In terms of how she’s individually benefited, Echo said, “I carry myself more confidently. I understand the importance of when and how to say things. I’ve gained more of a filter, if I’m being honest. And I’ve gained my best friend through it.”
Mock Trial also has opportunities to form new relationships through events and team-building. When recounting her time at onboarding camp, Senior Guadalupe Barajas Navarro said “There’s lots of team building activities, and team bonding which I really enjoyed…It was everybody contributing and pulling their weight into what they were supposed to do.”
On a larger scale, the program has had the opportunity to attend Mock Trial State. “We go up to Portland since it’s multiple days long,” said Echo. “State in itself is an amazing experience because you’re working with real attorneys or even real judges. It’s also just really fun because we’re essentially given a little vacation with our friends. And we’re still given time to have fun.” It’s a perfect opportunity to get a sense of careers in the legal field as facilitated through a supportive coach and time with peers.
That said, the rewards of the program must still account for its trials, as participating takes time and dedication from all parties involved. “Don’t let this scare you if you’re thinking about joining Mock Trial,” prefaced Malcolm, “but sometimes you’ll have to memorize like upwards of 2 pages of questions. It’s not necessarily impossible to do. It just takes a lot of effort.”
“We have an expectation that we’re off books,” confirmed Moneke. “We’re always telling them that you can perform so much better when you’re free of that script.” The efforts put in are equally true for Moneke and the rest of the staff involved with the program. “We have 15 adults to come in to support these human beings. So that is certainly a challenge of managing the needs and the wants and the desires of everyone.”
This isn’t to say that the time and effort put into it isn’t worth it. “It definitely is a lot and you have to memorize each and every single objection that is put in your way. But receiving enough help from coaches and just my peers in general and mock trial, it has definitely helped out,” said Guadalupe.
In addition to the supportive environment, Guadalupe said that her time in Mock Trial has inspired her to develop new outlooks in her own life experiences. One of the greater ways she’s benefited from the program is “seeing everyone for their humanity. At the end of the day, everybody’s going through their own things in life and everybody’s different.”
This notion is telling of the strength of relationships formed within the program.“Just be confident and be ready to join that sort of community that will uphold and build you up,” said Malcolm. “That’s what mock trial is really for. It’s not really about the law. It’s about having that community.”
Moneke, who in his time running Mock Trial has had his own family involved, couldn’t agree more with this sentiment. “We want your heart at peace. We want you to be happy. We really want you to do the role you want to do.” As a teacher who endeavors more than anything to let his students run the show, he advocates for and facilitates qualities you’d hope for in any club offered at West. “The biggest take away is we’re all Titans and if we [can] come together as a community as a whole, that’s great. I love the individual communities we have, and I think Mock Trial is one of those communities.”
