Nicole Young-Kuykendall, JD'06
An early recognition of their daughter's sharp intellect and unquenchable curiosity inspired the parents of Nicole Young-Kuykendall, JD'06, to continually stoke her eclectic interests. Or, as the recent graduate said with a chuckle, "I was overexposed."
And prepared. Young-Kuykendall acquired the traits of a disciplined father whose children weren't allowed to drive until they first mastered regular car maintenance skills, and a resilient mother who served as the family's backbone. That blend provided her the strength and confidence to face any obstacle from changing the oil to changing career tracks at a moment's notice.
Adaptability has served her well over a decade crowded with a lifetime of changes. In 1994, the New Jersey native headed south to Xavier University of Louisiana intending to become a medical examiner. "My entire life I wanted to do autopsies," she said, realizing the oddity of a child obsessed with life's ending. "To me, life is the deepest form of science, and I was fascinated with the medical reasons for its end."
One short year later, that goal took a backseat as death became personal; her mother succumbed to a fight with cancer. "Her passing left a huge void in our family," she said. "We are still feeling it 11 years later."
A changed outlook brought with it new questions about life and death. Young-Kuykendall's interests expanded to medical research, so she headed to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences where she completed one year in a pharmacology program. She soon discovered an interest in the business side of medicine and left for Memphis to pursue an MBA in marketing and management at Christian Brother's University in Memphis.
In 2002, a married Young-Kuykendall moved to Indiana with her husband who was pursuing a degree in Higher Education, and took a job with IU. Soon, another of her long-held interests bubbled to the surface: the law. On a lark, she took Kaplan's free LSAT and did well. Her husband made a bet with her. If she could repeat her scores on the actual exam, she would apply to law school.
Matching her previous scores, a new path was forecast. During the already-difficult first year of law school, Young-Kuykendall became pregnant and, in the start of her second year, prematurely gave birth to twins, Neala and Jackson. Later the following year, her marriage ended. "Great friends, great daycare, and great faith"—as well as her willingness to adapt—helped her through the tumultuous period.
Her transformation continued at Indiana Law where she was challenged not just as a student but as a person. "Employers see that I did well at a good law school, but they are also interested in character, because that's what they market to their clients," said Young-Kuykendall, who will work for Chicago's Swanson Martin & Bell after passing the bar this spring. "At Indiana Law, we are prompted to question what kind of person we will become, because that's what makes a good lawyer."
Her intellect and curiosity continue to compel her to explore all that life has to offer, although the path can sometimes be challenging. "While change gets harder as I get older," she admitted, "it also brings about newness and growth. So bring it on!"