The Adventure Isn’t Slowing Down Anytime Soon

When you truly connect with your surroundings, the answers you seek will find you.

My name is Julio Zerecero, an LL.M. student at Loyola. What I like to think about myself is that I live to learn—about new things, new places, new ideas. Whether traveling or diving into a new challenge, I’m always chasing the next story, the next experience.

I have a deep fascination with history; it’s the backbone of everything around us, the answer to the “whys” in life. Art keeps me grounded, especially surrealism and syncretism—where the unconscious mind and the integration of eclectic symbols create a deeply materialized concept of the perception of reality. I also love music—Zoe, Interpol, Camilo Séptimo, Depeche Mode, and experimental music, as they are part of my everyday meditation.

Before coming to Loyola, and throughout my more than a decade in the technology and law field, I worked at a well-known tech company, designing legal strategies to help governments in the region adopt cutting-edge technologies—from AI to any cloud-based solutions. It was an incredibly dynamic and thought-provoking role.

Along the way, I took some detours. One led me to Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak in the Americas and one of the Seven Summits, alongside Everest. I set out to reach the summit, but the mountain had other plans. Still, the lessons from that climb were invaluable, and I’ll be back someday. Another stop was Barcelona, where, after wrapping up business, I visited the temple La Sagrada Familia. Antonio Gaudí’s masterpiece wasn’t just about architecture; it was genius. He left behind blueprints for a structure so ambitious that it’s still under construction nearly a century after his death. If all goes well, it will be finished by 2026. Walking through that space, your senses go into overdrive. It’s more than a temple—it’s an experience, definitely a place to be.

Back in Mexico City, I was training for a national Jiu-Jitsu championship. Under the guidance of Okami with Sensei Arturo, Jorge and my peers, I fought my way to second place. Not bad, but there’s always room for more. At the same time, I was wrapping up my plan to move to L.A. and finally pursue my LL.M.—a goal I had put off for too long due to work, life, and the usual responsibilities. Last summer, I finally made it happen, and I am seriously committed to sitting for the bar next July.

Loyola has been a ride—pushing past my comfort zone, burning through books, building a new routine, and embracing every second of the experience. Los Angeles is a huge, beautiful city, with some similarities to mine, but at the same time, full of new experiences and information to absorb. It’s not just about law; it’s about the people, the stories, the grind.

As for the future? I plan to stay in the legal profession for a long time. Like many other human-centric fields, this profession opens opportunities to help society, advocate for those who need it, and guide (legally speaking) individuals trying to innovate and make a better world. The passion to dig deep into the root causes of solutions that will make us better as a society—or solve problems that shouldn’t exist—drives me.

In the long run, I see myself lecturing in person or through digital tools. It’s something I’ve always been passionate about. My mother, “Maestra Paty,” was a professor in Mexico City, and somehow, that stuck with me. Over the years, I’ve realized that teaching isn’t just about sharing knowledge—it’s about constantly learning from those around you and keeping in mind that we always have something new to learn.

Wherever I go next, one thing is certain: the adventure isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Julio Zerecero

TOPICS: International Students, LLM