A Conversation with Minerva Alum Lydia Etherington

What career opportunity are you pursuing after graduating from Minerva?

I’ve begun my law degree in McGill University's bilingual BCL/JD program. 

What led you to this opportunity? What help did you receive from your peers, alumni, or the Coaching and Talent Development team (CTD) in your journey to this position?

I'm pursuing law for many of the same reasons I decided to major in Computational Sciences: it is a field I am deeply curious about that is full of interesting people. I hope to explore how the law will change over the next few decades as generative AI becomes more mainstream, and I want to work on bridging knowledge gaps between these two fields. The Minerva community has been a constant source of support on this journey. CTD coaches Mateo Corby and Neepa Parikh have helped me articulate my goals and future plans. My professors have given me endless support and mentorship, and I am particularly grateful to Professors Lucas Tambasco, Robert Karl, and Rena Levitt for writing me letters of recommendation and supporting me as I figure out what to do with my life. Most importantly, the generosity of my classmates never ceases to amaze me. Whether we're extending networks, sharing knowledge, proofreading statements of interest, or offering emotional support, I am where I am today because of this community. 

What skills have you acquired during your studies at Minerva that you believe made you stand out?

I look back on my growth over these past four years, and I see the resilience, confidence, and problem-solving abilities that come with a Minerva education. Learning from this international cohort has given me such a nuanced perspective on global issues. The active learning model has made me much better at contributing to discussions and asking questions. Outside of the classroom, I've had to fight off monkey attacks, track down a towed car in rural Argentina, navigate the bureaucracy of visa applications, and stage a musical without funding. I cannot believe how much I've been able to learn and experience in just four years, and I know that this education will stay with me for the rest of my life.

What experiences—academic, professional, or personal—during your global rotation had the biggest impact on your growth?

Since graduation, I’ve been struck by how unique the Minerva community is. The global rotation is not a personal endeavour. When you land in a new country and the only thing you recognize is the people you’ve been traveling with, those people become your home. The group dynamics of trust and collaboration that develop in an entire cohort are magical. My favourite memories are the ones where I ended up exploring a new place with someone I didn’t know very well, or where our entire cohort got together for a celebration or performance. It was not uncommon, after arriving in a new city, for someone to text our cohort group chat and ask if anyone wanted to go grocery shopping together. Being a Minerva student teaches you how to show up for each other, leave your comfort zone, and give and receive help. In my post-Minerva life, I’ve found myself drawing on the values and habits of fellow M25s to seek out new opportunities and connections. 

Can you share a (civic) project or internship you’re especially proud of from your time at Minerva?

Not a civic project, but I am still very proud of the “Left on Turk” documentary I worked on in first year. Our San Francisco residence hall is in the Tenderloin neighbourhood - an area that struggles with high poverty and crime rates. Minerva’s diverse cohort meant that many students hadn’t encountered a neighbourhood like this before. There were many feelings of fear or even disgust. A couple of my friends and I wanted to help our classmates understand the stories of the homeless individuals in our neighbourhood, in the hopes of creating more empathy and awareness.

Our documentary featured five people living in the Tenderloin, and was incredibly well-received by our classmates. I hear that it’s still part of the San Francisco orientation materials today, and I’m glad that the message continues to be shared with younger cohorts.

How has Minerva’s global and interdisciplinary approach shaped the way you think about your career or long-term goals?

Minerva helped me appreciate how valuable an interdisciplinary education really is. It feels a bit like a buzzword when you first hear about it, but the curriculum is designed so intentionally that you really do learn more about your subject when it’s framed through another discipline’s lens. The HCs give students a shared vocabulary that lets us carry our conversations outside the classroom. As we specialized in our upper years, my friends and I continued to share concepts with each other and discuss ideas across colleges. Learning didn’t just happen from professors, but from late-night conversations like “what would a vector space of philosophers look like?” I’ve always been someone who has too many interests to know what I want to do in life, and Minerva helped me realize that narrowing your interests is not a prerequisite to success. 

What’s something unexpected you’ve learned about yourself during your time at Minerva?

That I’m a lot stronger than I knew. When I applied, Minerva’s application slogan was: “Are you ready for a challenge?” I quickly learned how real that challenge was. Moving to a new city is usually a big life event, and the fact that we did it every four months on top of a rigorous course load is a bit unbelievable. But it made me feel like I was able to tackle anything else life might throw at me.

What advice would you give to peers or younger students regarding finding and leveraging professional opportunities in your industry?

Follow your interests and trust yourself. Don't force yourself to spend time on commitments you don't enjoy just for the sake of building your profile. Minervans are passionate and diverse, and that's where our strengths lie. Focusing on what you love will yield the best results and will bring you closer to opportunities that suit you. There will always be opinions about where you should go or what you should do. At the end of the day, you don't need to justify the choices you make about your future to anyone but yourself. Be happy, be silly, take risks, and make the most of this adventure and every adventure to come.