Meet Tara Fitzgerald

Sister Spotlight

Tara Fitzgerald

BYU Baby.

Sometimes life comes full circle. That’s certainly the case for Tara Fitzgerald a recent BYU grad in Law. Born here in Provo while her parents were students at BYU, Tara spent her first two years in Provo before her family moved to Fruita, Colorado after her mom’s graduation.

Life is sweet!

Castle Rock, view from Tara's house

During their seven years in Fruita, Tara’s dad ran a candy business before moving the family to a little valley in Southern Utah namely Castle Valley. With not even a gas station in town, and the family needing to travel to Moab for groceries, gas and all other needs, it’s surprising that Castle Valley had its own tiny branch.  It was there between the ages of 8-14 years surrounded by mountains and the world famous red rock, and mountains with names like the La Sal Mountains, the Three Mile Mesa, Castle Rock, Jello Mountain, Priest and the Nuns, and Porcupine Ridge, that Tara felt like she tasted Zion. The reason is simple: in their little LDS branch, they did everything together including canning and gardening. And when it came to expanding their small building, they brought people into the church. At the dedication of their little branch building, the branch sang the Temple Dedication Hymn, “The Spirit of God,” for the Seventy who was in attendance for the dedication. Tara thinks of Castle Valley when she reads the words describing the place of Mormon in the Book of Mormon: “how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever.” Mosiah 18:30. Although her family has since moved to Rexburg, Castle Valley was the place that laid foundation for her testimony and who she is today.

New Kid in School

As if being a new kid in school isn’t tough enough, imagine being the new kid in a different school every year of your life from 3^rd to 10^th grade. No wonder Tara is great at making new friends. One year she even went to a 7^th day Adventist school. At this school, Tara was taught in a one room school house with just one teacher. On their way to school, they would eat apples off the trees, and for recess they would swim in a pond, riding a zipline off a tree into the pond. When the weather got cold, they would ice skate. Tara’s childhood in Southern Utah was also full of hiking and river rafting down the Colorado River. In short, Tara’s childhood was nothing short of an adventure.

Mozart in the Desert (Southern Utah). And the Jungle (Rexburg).

Since there were no cultural opportunities in Castle Valley, Tara’s grandfather would come pick the family up to go to his symphony performances. But Rexburg provided more of the cultural opportunities that had been missing thanks to the proximity of BYU-Idaho.

Tara’s own involvement with music has a long history. During high school, university and even into law school, Tara has accompanied choirs and plays ranging from My Fair Lady and Into the Woods at high school, Pirates of Penzance, Secret Garden at university and even for a community theatre plays such as 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Oklahoma, and Oliver. Not surprisingly, Tara completed a degree in Music Education at BYU-Idaho focusing on choral education with an emphasis in piano, a unique combination since most people focus on voice. What is coolest though is that Tara got to pioneer the coursework for her degree because she was in school at the time Ricks College transitioned to the 4 year university, BYU-Idaho. A highlight of her BYU-I experience was accompanying many of the choirs there. Today she continues accompanying on the piano, something that has allowed her to make money for most of her life, and something that brings her great joy.

Called to Serve . . . in the Emerald Isle

Tara in the Emerald Isle

Not surprisingly, when Tara received her mission call, she was called to a land associated with lovely music, the Emerald Isle (both Ireland and Northern Isle).  Even more fun, Tara got her mission call on St. Patrick’s Day and with her Irish name, Fitzgerald, she’d meet a lot of people with the same name, not to mention the many places named with her first name, e.g., Hill of Tara, Church of Tara. In short, Tara felt called to the right place and others recognized it as well.

Not surprisingly, the mission, a Catholic stronghold, was very low baptizing. Although they didn’t see a lot of baptisms, they did witness a lot of miracles, and saw many hearts turn closer to Christ. In her beloved Emerald Isle, Tara started in Dublin and ultimately circled the island serving in Eglington (Londonderry), Killarny (where Tara brought the sunniest summer in years), Wexford (near Waterford), ending in Portadown up north. Getting to serve in both countries, Ireland and Northern Ireland, she felt the heaviness in the air in Northern Ireland that lingers from the conflict between the Catholics and Protestants, though they are working to resolve it. Interestingly, without the conflict in the south, there is a lovely levity.

Wait?! You did Law School?

Yes, despite Tara’s natural inclination for music, she has completed a JD (law degree). Ya, I know you’re scratching your head figuring out how that happened, so here’s the story:

Tara served a mission to Ireland after college and upon her return, she was trying to figure out different things to do. It was at this time that she looked into grad school. The first person in her family to go to grad school, she toyed with the ideas of educational leadership and music, among other things. She knew that something was missing, and while accompanying in Rexburg, Tara had the feeling she needed to be back in school by the next year. It suddenly hit her that she had never considered law school and the moment she did think about it, things started falling into place. She knew that she didn’t have much time--the LSAT was coming up, and she realized that if she was going to do this, then by golly she needed to do this for real. So her and her mom hopped into a car to drive to Provo to walk around the BYU law school. While there, this life path just lit up, even over an MPA  (Masters of Public Administration) which she had previously been leaning toward. The feeling she got just inspired her. She figured if it was the right path for her, then she’d ask for the Lord to open the door and she’d do her part to make it happen. With a week before LSAT, her fears made her feel like she should wait because she wasn’t quite prepared, yet she felt pushed to follow through anyway and live up to her commitment. So, she just showed up, and on the day of the test she got the best score she had received from any of her practice tests. She knew she had been helped from above.

Graduation Day with her JD (law degree!)

Every day while at law school, her initial feelings were confirmed, and she knew that she was in the right place. She was super driven by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies whose major purpose is to help bring more religious freedom into the world. During law school, she worked for the Center as a Research Assistant, and then went on to serve on the management board. As a result, she got to attend conferences both in Washington, DC and at Oxford (yes, THAT Oxford). Her trip to Oxford was a real treat in part because she got to visit Runnymead where the Magna Cart was signed 800 years ago. She also got to visit the British Library to see the originals and thereafter went on to visit her mission (more below)!

Striking a Balance in Law School

Even during law school, Tara kept very busy. She brought music into her law career by serving as the Director of the Law School Choir. She also served as Spirit in the Law Club President and as the Managing Editor of Administration for the Journal of Public Law. This is no small feat. Law school is exceptionally busy without all the additional work, so her engagement in good extracurricular activities is noteworthy.

From Law School to the Courtroom by Means of the Police Academy

After graduating the end of April, Tara started training at the Police Academy to become a law clerk/bailiff. It’s the small part of her job as a bailiff that required the training which consists of 3 parts: physical training, defensive tactics (taking control of situations including via arrest) and then classroom preparation on the specifics of the law). The training was 6 weeks in length and is akin to boot camp training. No, she won’t be carrying a gun; she’ll be armed with pepper spray. She’ll be serving as bailiff in Judge Howard’s court in the 4^th District Court. Future opportunities that would interest Tara? Working as a guardian ad litem (representative and advocate for minors) or working with religious liberty like in her law school days.

Favorite Calling She’d Wake up at 4am to Do?

You guessed it: Ward organist. Piano is her love and yes, she’d wake up at 4 am as a child to practice!

And Now for Something Totally Random

Not only has Tara worked as a dinner theatre accompanist, but she’s also gutted fish in Alaska and has a CDL license from working for a shuttle service in which she drove busses up to 45 feet in length. Tara’s no wilting violet!

Ms. Fitzgerald Goes to Washington

While many of us have visited Washington, DC and NYC, Tara’s recent trip had the bonus of getting to hear oral arguments at SCOTUS. Plus she got to do the fun stuff such as touring the White House (the parts open to the public), the Statue of Liberty and even catching a Broadway play. Ask her which one! J

A Celebrated Sister

Among her accomplishments, Tara counts the Thomas E. Ricks Award of Excellence at BYU-Idaho and the Faculty Award for Meritorious Achievement and Distinguished Service at BYU Law School. But perhaps the greatest honor she received came through a Community Integrity Award she received from her community while in High School. This last one came out of nowhere, and she still has no idea who recommended her. Nice way to be involved, Tara, in local matters!!

The latest picture of the growing Fitzgerald Clan

Inspiration

So what inspires this inspirational sister? Music, the gospel, good people, nature, and of course Christ.

Perceptions

If Tara could have people see her in a certain way, it would be to be viewed as someone who helps others feel loved and have fun in her presence.

Walk and Not be Weary

Let’s close with some good counsel for us all as we face the challenges of all there is to do. It’s summed up in one of Tara’s favorite scriptures, Isaiah 40: 31,

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”