Emma Peterson, 1L, Tutored Students in Peru and Estonia, Fulbright Scholar
Prior to enrolling at Minnesota Law, Emma S. Peterson, 1L, tutored youth in two countries (Peru and Estonia) and also volunteered as a tutor in New Orleans during her freshman year of college at Tulane. She has an M.A. in English and was a recipient of a prestigious Fulbright Award.
You did some volunteer work in Peru. Could you talk a little bit about that?
For the five months I was in Peru, I spent about five hours a week in the outskirts of Lima tutoring academically struggling students aged 9 to 18. This tutoring program in the low-income district of Villa El Salvador was run by Building Dignity, an organization headquartered here in St. Paul!
College Writing Buddies had its pilot semester during the spring of my freshman year and I took the opportunity to get engaged with local students. For that semester, I tutored 6th grade students from a local school in writing. We collaborated over Google Docs to give personalized feedback.
After getting an M.A. in English from Tulane, you received a Fulbright Award to work as an English TA in Estonia. Can you talk about that experience?
Throughout the year I spent in Valga, Estonia, I created a schedule to work regularly with four schools and the local youth center. I assisted teachers in English courses and led some classes of my own as well as planned visits to other schools and events for the youth center.
What is motivating your decision to become a lawyer?
After my work and volunteer experiences, I found that there were a lot of issues faced by youth and low-income families that I wanted to be able to address effectively. Through my research for potential jobs, I came across listings for public lawyers that I knew instantly I wanted to pursue.
What do you hope/plan to do with your legal education (realizing, of course, that may change during the course of your studies)?
While I am not entirely sure of the specifics, I plan to go into public interest law through nonprofits that work with underserved populations.
Why did you select Minnesota Law?
When it came to choosing a law school, I knew that I wanted the opportunity to engage with the local community through volunteer opportunities and to be able to study human rights law. Minnesota Law offered clinics, great connections to local organizations, and a growing city.
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Can you discuss a bit the importance of diverse perspectives in the classroom and what you hope to add to the mix?
Diverse perspectives offer the opportunity to look at situations though different lenses. They bring light to a variety of issues, many of which remain underreported and without support. Having had the opportunity to work and live internationally, I hope my experiences will offer an interesting perspective within the classroom and work environments.
Minnesota Law as an institution emphasizes leadership. What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership is committing yourself to your community and your peers through direct action and advocacy. It means engaging with the people around you to better understand the issues and their root causes in order to collaboratively develop lasting, community-led solutions.
Law School can be stressful at times. What do you like to do for wellness or to de-stress?
To unwind, I usually like to either go outside and read, hang out with friends, or watch home renovation shows.
What three words or phrase describe(s) you best?
Adaptable, Independent, Bookworm
Do you have any interesting hobbies or leisure activities you’d like to share?
While I am not currently with a team, I love playing rugby and did so throughout my time in New Orleans with the Tulane University Women’s Rugby Club. I am hoping to pick up the sport again here in Minneapolis when it is safe to do so!
