Ralph Banchstubbs

Hometown (city and state): Cleveland, OH

What do you love most about your family?
Spontaneity, my family is like a box of chocolates you never know what you’re going to get.

What made you want to serve your country?
At the time in my life, it was the best opportunity for me to help others. I wasn’t sure what I would go to school for, but I had a drive to give back to the community. The military was everything rolled into one. 

What are you most proud of as a member of the service?
I was able to learn a lot and see parts of the world I never imagined I would be privileged to experience. Also, free Applebee’s on Veterans Day.

Why do you want to be a lawyer?
At this time in my life, it is the best opportunity for me to help others. (There is a theme here). The legal community has impacted my life in various ways. I want to be a part of that community in order to inspire others like me.

What do you like most about Brandeis?
Jet’s Pizza but also the people I get to interact with every day. Everyone at Brandeis has their own path and reason for wanting to be a lawyer but more often than not I find that we are working together to better ourselves and each other.

How have you changed since you started law school?
I’ve learned to appreciate myself more and have patience for the things I want in life. As a nontraditional student, returning to academia was scary at first but now I believe I have chosen the right path.

 What would you tell a 1L about law school and/or life?
Don’t be afraid. Whoever you are or want to be starts with the goals you set for yourself. Law school, like life, is a series of wins and losses that propel you forward, so don’t stress about it.

How do you cope when times are challenging?
I do most of my critical thinking at the gym and most of my coping on a jiu jitsu mat.

Your favorite quote? (any quote from a family member, from a stranger, from a book, from a website, etc.)

“We learn from failure, not from success!”

 ― Bram Stoker, Dracula