Sometimes, people become friends and grow apart as they get older. Other times, people forge friendships in high school or college. Michael Anderson and Daryl Porter, however, are a different case. The two have been in school together from kindergarten all the way through law school, and have maintained a close friendship throughout.
“Daryl — he’s a phenomenal guy. He has a good moral background. It’s been a great experience having him as a friend. I look up to him in a lot of ways,” Anderson said in describing his friendship with Porter.
The 2009 McComb High School graduates were college roommates at Ole Miss and attended the Mississippi College School of Law together.
Anderson, a recent law school graduate, served as Student Body President in his last year at MC, and he is now employed as a clerk for Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr.
Porter, a Summit town councilman, is the current student body president at MC’s law school and completed an internship with Mississippi Attorney General’s office last year.
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Even though Anderson is making strides in the field of law, he wasn’t always sure what he wanted to do.
While he was a student at McComb High School, Anderson attended the American Legion’s Boys State, where participants ran a mock government and held elected officies as a simulated civics lesson. He was one of two students selected to represent Mississippi in Boys Nation. This was when he first thought about going to law school, he said.
Anderson completed his undergraduate studies with a degree in international studies from Ole Miss. Though he was initially unsure of what to do, he eventually decided to go to law school. Despite the challenges that studying law presented, Anderson found a true love for it.
“Having to think about complicated problems and complex situations and apply that knowledge is a lot of fun,” he said. “A lot of times, making a persuasive argument is a critical thing. ... I enjoy the challenge.”
Anderson cherishes the opportunity to work his field and the opportunity to work for the Supreme Court. He was able to draft orders and opinions, and even work on things have become law in Mississippi.
“I’m trying not to sound cocky. ... I’m good at it. I’ve found my niche,” he said.
Anderson said the law can be a complicated thing, and he believes that when it comes to law practice, its important to specialize in certain areas.
“If you don’t take the time reading and understanding the area you’re going to practice, you might miss something,” he said.
He called the opportunity to serve as a law clerk “phenomenal,” and truly admires Waller. Anderson also plans to run for a state legislative office.
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Porter, who began law school one year after Anderson, is going into his third year of law school. He is involved with a legal clinic that the college offers to help children get adopted into good families, and has also worked in the youth court system.
Porter said his friendship with Anderson and their academic journey has been “pretty awesome.”
“It’s been a unique experience,” he said. “We’ve basically watched each other mature into the men we are today.”
Porter said even though the two are best friends, their time as roommates made them learn more about each other, both good and bad.
“Despite all the little quirks I don’t like about him, there are 10 more things I do like,” Porter said. “I consider Michael Anderson to be one of my best friends.”
Porter said he’s glad to be following in Anderson’s footsteps in becoming Student Body President for the 2017-18 school year.
“I’m very honored and it’s a privilege for me. ... I just have some big shoes to fill behind Michael,” he said.
Porter plans to follow Anderson’s leadership and expand upon it, seeing Anderson as a good example.
Porter’s desire to pursue law is built around a desire to help others.
“I enjoy it because there is a need for it,” he said. “It’s all about giving back to those that might have a hard time finding that high-dollar attorney.”
Seeing himself as a public servant, Porter seeks to use law as a way to help others in the community.
As a member of the Summit town council, he sees how studying law has helped him better serve.
“I have the skills now to be able to do legal research myself,” he said.
Porter said was glad that he chose Mississippi College for law school.
Both Anderson and Porter greatly valued their time spent at Mississippi College. On his first tour of the school, he was guided by Anderson and another Pike County native, Jad Khalaf. Porter fell in love with the campus and said that if felt like home.
“I’ll recommend it to anybody,” Porter said.
