Korean Popstar In My Section And Diversity At Northwestern

So it seems like my section has a lot of the really interesting people this year. Turns out that in addition to the 19 year old I recently posted about, I also sit next to a Korean pop star. My section mate, who for now wishes to remain anonymous, graduated from Korea University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in English literature, but since graduation she's been making a living by singing and performing in Asia. Ultimately, she chose to come to Northwestern Law to become an international human rights lawyer but also plans to continue performing after school. My classmate is a really great addition to the section, and we've already become library buddies during the first two weeks.

While having a Korean pop star in my section is certainly unique, I think the general notion of having varied professional and ethnic backgrounds is old news to Northwestern Law, statistically the most diverse law school in the world. It's also water under the bridge for top MBA programs, which constantly aim for as diverse classes as possible. In today's professional community, diversity is the standard, so schools are trying to reflect that in their learning environments. Schools not only welcome, but also embrace, a student body enriched by individuals of various nationalities, cultures, interests, and points of view.

Practically speaking, the core of our learning model in law school, the Socratic method, continually reinforces this notion. In the Socratic Method, students must continually demonstrate the ability to work across these boundaries. They must absorb multiple perspectives while articulating their own views. They must also demonstrate the ability to work with and through other people. The capacity to confront a wide variety of issues, both legal and non legal. And the facility to build consensus amidst a variety of competing opinions and perspectives. The diversity here at Northwestern makes it a great place to learn these critical professional skills.