This week, the 8th grade class heard from Westridge parents Daniel Prince and Roxie Smith, who spoke about their experiences as a lawyer and health care worker respectively, adding real-life perspectives as students read "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson in history class and "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee in English class.

"I asked our guests to come speak since so much of what we are reading is around the criminal justice system," said Middle School History Teacher Jennifer Irish. Prince (father of Marley '27 and Vivienne '30), a partner at Paul Hastings LLP, spoke about what lawyers do, how bias can affect the court system, and the importance of jury selection. Smith (mother of Makayla '27) discussed mental health and shared anecdotes from work she has done as a therapist. She spent years working with ex-incarcerated individuals and now works with young children.