Committed to Community: Cecelia Tate ’27 Serves Others Through the Law
Sometimes the best inspiration comes from simply looking across the table and listening. Many of Cecelia Tate’s family members, for instance, are military or retired military. And she learned from their stories.
“Through those family members, I saw many examples of protecting justice and upholding the law, which made me want to get into a career that would do the same things,” Tate says.
Born in Chesapeake, Virginia, Tate’s family moved to Fayetteville, N.C., and eventually to Virginia Beach. The latter location, she admits, led to more than a little culture shock.
“I was leaving everything that I had known since I was five years old to go to a semi-familiar place at the age of 14,” she says. “After high school, I attended an HBCU to learn more about myself and my culture. Washington, D.C., was a bustling city with a lot of new opportunities, and I wanted to see if I would be able to challenge myself in the city.”
Tate’s decision allowed her to discover what she wanted to do with her future and with her identity. In May 2024, she graduated after three years from Howard University, receiving a B.A. in criminology and a minor in psychology. During that time, she participated in internships in accounting, data science, family law, and immigration law.
“At Howard University, I was able to explore my interests in mentoring, cultural studies, family law, and immigration law,” Tate says. “Growing up, I was always told that I was good at making arguments, which would make a good lawyer; however, I didn’t find my love for the law until I reached college.”
Acting on her interests, Tate looked far and wide and chose William & Mary Law to solidify her plans. And she did so because of community.
“Every time I visited William & Mary Law, the students were willing to share their experiences and learn about my experiences,” Tate says. “There was never a time when I felt there was a divide between the person that I was talking to and myself.”
Tate credits William & Mary Law’s Admitted Students Day with solidifying her choice. Hearing about the alumni and their generosity and speaking to students about their futures made her envision herself at the Law School.
“I remember hearing the statement, ‘Those who come here, belong here,’ and that stuck with me because in the beginning of my undergrad freshman year, I didn’t feel like I belonged, but here I feel like I do,” she says.
In high school and undergrad, Tate would constantly join groups that interested her—and her three main hobbies—singing, gardening, and baking—add to the mix. However, in Law School, she plans on pursuing only a few extracurriculars, perhaps joining a competition team and at least one extracurricular that is dedicated to serving students.
“I have always helped the community around me and would like to do the same here,” she says. “I think I will also pursue at least one extracurricular closely relating to my identity and experiences. Coming from an HBCU and being African American are important identities in my life that I want to stay connected to.”
Hearing cases in law classes, Tate relies on her experiences, perspective, and legal theory to guide her decisions. She hopes her experiences at an HBCU add to her perspective.
“Similar to William & Mary, Howard University has a long history; every building has a historical significance and I hope I can bring that history with me in the classroom,” Tate says. “Also, I want to add my perspective as a first-generation student whose mother comes from a medical, nursing, background rather than legal.”
It’s early yet in her first semester, but Tate has her sights set on becoming a family law or immigration law attorney. No matter which field she chooses, she believes that she must commit herself to her community through the knowledge and education she gains in the next three years.
“As a Citizen Lawyer, I hope I will provide the same care that other attorneys have shown me,” she says. “The reason that I can attend William & Mary is because many attorneys were willing to give me advice and share their experiences.”
With community and service so important in her life, Tate plans to keep these values as she becomes a lawyer.
“’In Truth and Service’ is Howard University’s motto,” she says. “And I will represent this motto alongside being a Citizen Lawyer as I commit to my community.”