DIVERSITY AT PENN LAW

Samara Thomas '11

Hometown: Montego Bay, Jamaica
B.A. 2006 Haverford; M.A. 2008 Bryn Mawr

Although I’m an international student who thrives on diversity, my main focus in applying to law schools was finding one with a friendly, collegial environment. I wanted my law school experience to be somewhat akin to my undergraduate Quaker experience. When I realized that Penn Law is the epitome of collegiality and is also in a city I know and love, I quickly made it my top choice.

However, in the middle of wading through the overwhelming novelty of 1L, I realized belatedly that there were virtually no international students in my section or class. I began to lament the lack of diversity as one of the many obstacles of 1L year. At some point during the spring, I recognized two important facts: 1) diversity is not just about one factor such as country or origin, and 2) it’s so easy for people of different ilks to fit in at Penn Law as well as shape our experiences while here.

I came to realize everyone in my class and in the school (L.L.M.s included) was bringing such a wealth of experiences and opinions to the table – I had been foolishly overlooking such great diversity. Also, if you crave a particular type of diversity and find it lacking, the administration will support you in creating it. I am a member of many different groups on campus and have friends from very different backgrounds. That being said, Penn Law is one of the more diverse law schools around and it will become even more so as people like you and I help to make it so.