The University of Miami School of Law community gathered for the inaugural "Miami Law Stories," an evening that reminded everyone in the room why stories matter. Launched by assistant dean of engagement and student leadership Camila Souza, the event was created to build community through authentic storytelling and reflection.
"I wanted to create a space where our students could see the power of reflection and vulnerability as part of their professional growth," said Souza.
Through laughter, vulnerability, and reflection, students took the stage to share personal experiences that shaped who they are and who they are becoming as future lawyers. Each storyteller had five minutes to share their journey, guided by the Writing Lab Radio team, who helped students craft their experiences into compelling narratives through various workshops.
Top storytellers and their journeys
The stories were evaluated by a panel of judges on stakes, change, vividness, vulnerability, and delivery. The top storytellers each received a $2,500 prize, generously made possible by donor Larry Silverstein, senior vice president of marketing and trading at NextEra Energy Resources, who attended the event and expressed how meaningful it was to witness such openness and connection.
The evening's winners were two LL.M. students: Roberto Barbery Cronembold and Luisa Villa Yepes.
Cronembold's story described "the best 21 minutes of his life" and captured the pure joy of an unexpected moment. He reflected on the challenging yet rewarding process of crafting his narrative. “Writing and sharing a personal story wasn’t easy, because there’s always that part of you that feels vulnerable to how the audience might react,” said Cronembold. “But it turned out to be one of the best experiences I’ve had, since the response was even better than I expected." He emphasized the clarity gained through the exercise, adding, "I had always carried that story in my mind, but it was scattered. I had never taken the opportunity to write it down, put all the memories together, and build a cohesive story. I’m grateful that this workshop pushed me to finally do it.”
Yepes, a J.D./LL.M. student, reflected on how life’s surprises can shift priorities and the courage it takes to rebuild when plans change. For Yepes, the event was a powerful exercise in human connection. “Miami Law Stories was a great opportunity to build community. The sense of belonging that I felt in the event makes me feel grateful for being part of the University of Miami School of Law,” she said. She also gained a critical perspective on their collective identity. “More importantly, I realized we all are more than lawyers and law school is just a piece of who we are. I did not see a room full of future colleagues but a room full of human beings with more things in common besides law - we all had been through challenging times.”
The Audience Choice Award went to Denisse Sandoval for her moving story about forgiveness and her mother’s resilience.
Learning and transformation
Beyond the celebration, "Miami Law Stories" is a powerful learning experience. Through the process of writing and performing, students learn to listen deeply, honor difference, and transform vulnerability into connection. They also develop greater self-awareness of their values, motivations, and identities as future lawyers, while gaining skills to craft clear and compelling narratives.
For many storytellers, the night offered more than reflection; it offered transformation.
Third-year student Sri Chaturvedula found the experience to be grounding and empowering. “The Miami Law Stories experience gave me the space to reflect on where I come from and how far I’ve come,” she said. “It reminded me that vulnerability is powerful.”
For J.D./LL.M. student Rodrigo Almeida Grillo, the process reconnected him with his past. “It brought me back memories and allowed me to ‘feel’ as a kid again,” he said.
Federico Sivak, an LL.M. student, noted how the writing process rekindled his professional passion: “Writing this story brought back the fascination I felt when I was led to study law, and how captivated I became not only by the power of a good argument, but also by a classmate I could never quite forget.”
Another third-year student, Marisa Ewing, described the experience as fun and rewarding. “I had the opportunity to reflect on a transformative moment in my life and am excited to share that journey with Miami Law,” she said.
By the end of the night, it was clear that Miami Law Stories had become more than an event—it was the beginning of a new tradition. This tradition will continue to shape how future lawyers understand themselves, one another, and the communities they serve.
