Stockholm university

"The promise of something more"

Janna is a Master of Laws (LL.M.) student from the Philippines. She had always wanted to specialize in International Law and Human Rights, since it is a field of law that makes her feel passionate and engaged. Watch the film and read the text below to get to know her story.

 

 

"In 2015, I had the opportunity to do a legal internship in the Philippines at an NGO working with urban refugees. The experience was both frustrating and fulfilling. On one hand, I felt helpless as I worked within certain limitations and faced institutional bureaucracy, but on the other hand, I became aware that I was capable of making a positive difference in the lives of others -- and that made me feel alive. Isn’t that gratifying? To work with something that drives you, even when you are tired, even as you continue to deal with setbacks and red-tape? Just having that push. It’s a different sort of feeling, and it gives you more meaning in life. It is not just about making money and winning cases; it is different, once you know.

I graduated from law school with my juris doctor degree and received a specialization certificate in Human Rights law. After I passed the bar exams and became employed as a lawyer for the Republic of the Philippines, however, circumstances led me to be on “the opposite side of the fence” in certain cases of public interest. Working for the Republic is a prestigious position, with great opportunities, but of course you do not always have the luxury of choosing the type of work you need to do or which side to be on. You do what you have to do in the best interest of the client you represent, and you hope that the scales of justice work as they should.

In 2019, I made preparations to take the next step in my career plans and began my application for a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Stockholm…but life had other plans. My husband and I were happy to find out that we were expecting our firstborn, and that changed everything: how could I have time for my newborn baby while studying? I remember calling my sister and crying as I weighed my options. It was early 2020. It was a hard decision to make, but withdrawing my application turned out to be the best decision at that point in time for me and my family. Who would have known I would be giving birth in the midst of a pandemic?

The following year, when I found out that Stockholm University was launching a new LL.M. programme in Public International Law, I felt like it was meant to be! When I read more about it, it made me want to be a part of the pioneer batch of international lawyers who would be trained by prominent International Law practitioners in Scandinavia. If I didn’t go for it, I knew I would regret it… and I did not want to have that regret. It was “now or never”. So, I applied, and I was admitted to the Public International Law programme in 2021. I was absolutely ecstatic. And somehow, everything else fell into place to allow me to pursue my studies in Stockholm.

The way that we were taught at Stockholm University is a bit different than what I was used to. I felt treated more like an equal – my professors and I. The professors do not simply dictate what you should learn. Of course, they lead you to what you should explore, they suggest material to read and study, and then you learn from each other; the professors do not hold a monopoly over knowledge. Your voice, your thoughts, your personal experience and opinions – they are heard and respected. What transpires is a “learning exchange” between you, your classmates, and your law professor.

When you talk about the lofty ideals in International Law and Human Rights, well, it is different when you talk about concepts and when you are actually practicing in that legal field. I want to further my goals, advance my career, and build an expertise in the fields of law that I have a passion for. The future is full of uncertainties and unknowns, but within that unknown is the promise of something more. Risks need to be taken when pursuing your goals and dreams."

Janna Aquino

To learn more about the master's programme, see Master in Laws (LL.M.) in Public International Law.

Visit su.se/study for more information about studying at Stockholm University.

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