Our conversation with Shipley alumnus, author, and law student Jesse Wang ’14 focuses on themes from his book, Underdog: 12 Inspirational Stories for the Despondent Law Student, including finding paths to growth, strategies for resilience, and maintaining personal well-being while navigating adversity and performing at a high level. Jesse reflects on his own experiences of growth through struggle in high school and during his early days as a law student. He also shares some tips and tricks to help listeners grow from struggle, too. It was a really enjoyable conversation filled with plenty of food for thought for anyone out there struggling in various ways, but in particular, for recent college graduates trying to find their way in the world and figure out what it is that they want to do and contribute.

Jesse Wang '14 is currently a graduate student in the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, as well as a class action litigation law clerk for Lawyers for Justice, and the managing editor of USC’s Spotlight Entertainment Law Review. Jesse is donating 100% of the proceeds from the sale of his book to USC’s Public Interest Law Foundation and Small Business Clinic. He is currently working on his second book.

Website: https://linktr.ee/wangesque

Facebook: Jesse Wang

Instagram: @wangesque

Linkedin: Jesse Wang

Book: Underdog: 12 Inspirational Stories for the Despondent Law Student

4:06 Jesse’s Shipley story

9:45 Shipley blog post

10:46 Angela Duckworth: GRIT

11:15 Jesse’s educational journey

22:00 Underdog at USC

24:40 Positive stress

25:07 Shipley Alumni Development Series

27:00 Focus on mental health, well-being

29:20 Small wins

36:42 Shawn Achor

37:04 Rick Merrill

40:00 Writing Underdog: 12 Inspirational Stories for the Despondent Law Student

46:17 Advice for college graduates

49:05 Major themes of the book

49:50 Adam Grant: Give and Take