Get to know Maija Itenberg, a passionate member of Phi Kappa Phi attending Michigan State University.

Although Maija was born in Tucson, Arizona, she moved frequently during her youth because of her father’s work. After his passing in 2018, she relocated to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. While her early years were spent in various places — including South Lansing — she now calls Marquette her chosen hometown. Though she lives about 30 minutes outside the city in a rural area, she graduated from Marquette Senior High School in 2023 and considers the area central to her upbringing.

Currently, Maija is pursuing a bachelor of fine arts in English literature with a minor in Russian at Michigan State University’s Honors College. She anticipates graduating in May 2027 and is considering a double major. Her long-term goal is to attend law school.

Maija keeps busy with multiple academic and professional roles. She’s a member of the Story Team for the M.I. Diaries sociolinguistics research project and is spending her summer as a legal intern at Bensinger, Cotant & Menkes. This fall, she’ll begin working as a consultant at MSU’s Writing Center — an opportunity she’s particularly enthusiastic about. Her knack for writing and helping others refine their own work makes this role a natural fit.

In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, Maija often supports her peers by reviewing and editing their writing. She has helped friends polish law school application essays — contributions they credit with helping them gain acceptance.

Through her commitment to learning and helping others, Maija exemplifies the values of Phi Kappa Phi.

What drew you to combine English Literature and Pre-Law in your academic journey?
I’ve always had a passion for reading and writing, and I wanted to pursue something I’m good at, specifically using and analyzing language. I once considered teaching but realized it wouldn’t be the right fit for me. As I gain experience in the legal field, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy helping people, and I see law as a way to use my strengths in English to support and guide others.

What’s been your favorite piece of literature to study so far and why?
My favorite book of all time has got to be The Book Thief, but my favorite piece of literature to study academically was Frankenstein back in high school AP Literature. I don’t have a very profound reason for this — the hubris of man is interesting, as is the creature’s conflict of social alienation and the innate human desire to be accepted — but I just loved how insane Victor was. He’s the blueprint for the mad scientist. He’s overdramatic and spends almost the entire book lamenting his woes. He’s kind of pathetic. It’s fun to have such a strong personality in a narrator.

Has any book or literary character influenced your desire to work in the legal field?
Raskolnikov from Crime and Punishment and Jonathan Harker from Dracula are two examples of literary characters associated with the legal field that come to mind, but neither did much for my career aspirations. I’d even say that the Ace Attorney franchise could be more influential than literature in my career aspirations. Ultimately, though, I really just saw firsthand how the law could be used to help people, and I wanted to do something meaningful in that way. 

Why did you accept the invitation to join Phi Kappa Phi?
Truthfully, I often forget that I’m “smart” because I’ve always expected that of myself—it’s just part of a perfectionistic standard I hold. I graduated third in my high school class, but I didn’t see it as a big deal at the time. Lately, I’ve started to recognize the significance of my accomplishments, both academically and personally. It’s nice to have that acknowledged by an organization like Phi Kappa Phi, which connects me to a network of similar people and future opportunities. Honestly, I also noticed the members-only Visa card with 2% cash back on gas—given how much I drive between MSU and home, that alone could help with law school costs.

What is one thing most people would be surprised to learn about you?
I’m not really sure, honestly. As people, we’re always concerned about how others perceive us, so I’ve never thought much about how people don’t perceive me. A lot of people seem to think I’m a “theatre kid,” which I can’t entirely blame them for—I guess Mock Trial is theatre for speech and debate kids, and I had a pretty intense Phantom of the Opera phase last summer. I also have most of Hamilton memorized, which actually helped me in APUSH, but I never did theatre in high school. I was an orchestra kid—I’ve played the violin since fifth grade. I asked a coworker about it once, and she said it’s because I’m “outgoing and friendly.” I never really thought of myself that way, but if that’s what being a theatre kid means, I guess it’s not such a bad thing.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?
This year, I helped my Mock Trial team place third at Regionals in Columbus, making MSU Mock Trial history: all three of our program’s teams—A, B, and C—earned bids to advance to the next round of the American Mock Trial Association championship series. Being accepted onto the team was an accomplishment in itself, since I didn’t audition with much performance or debate experience—or really anything aside from playing Ace Attorney in middle school. But seeing my growth as a competitor culminate in that third-place trophy and program milestone? Amazing. Also, I finally was able to bench the bar at the gym last semester, for what it’s worth.

What advice would you share with someone entering a graduate program?
Since starting college, one thing I’ve learned is that you have to be prepared to change—a lot. No matter what degree you’re pursuing, you won’t leave college the same person you were when you started. I’ve grown academically and professionally, but the most impactful lessons have been personal. Since arriving at MSU in 2023, I’ve realized I’m not the same person I was—and I’m genuinely grateful for that.

What is your favorite movie, and why is it your favorite?
The Batman with Robert Pattinson. The cinematography is absolutely stunning, the orchestral arrangements are beautiful, and the portrayal of Bruce Wayne is in-depth and true to his character. Also, Robert Pattinson. Everything Everywhere All at Once is a good runner-up—but no Robert Pattinson.

What is your favorite holiday, and why is it your favorite?
I don’t really get as excited for the holidays as I did when I was younger, but I enjoy dressing up for Halloween. Having an excuse to wear dramatic makeup and costumes is always fun—that’s part of the appeal of Mock Trial, too, when I get to dress up for character witnesses. I also like Christmas, since it means winter break and a chance to catch up on lost sleep.

Do you cook? If so, what’s your favorite meal to cook?
I actually love to cook. My dad went to culinary school in New York after immigrating from the USSR, and preparing food helps me feel closer to him. We liked a lot of the same music, movies, and books, but cooking was his passion—and now I get to engage in it, too. I had an obsession with pork buns during COVID, and lately, I’ve been really into parfaits. And egg drop soup—I had the best egg drop soup of my life during my freshman year at MSU, and ever since, I’ve been trying to perfect my own recipe.

To learn more about Maija and connect, visit her profile within our online member community  here.

Is there someone you would like to see in the spotlight? Send your nomination to news@phikappaphi.org, and include background information for the nomination.