The Big Journey Is Coming to an End

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

April is in full bloom, and I know it sounds like a cliché, but time really does fly. It feels like just yesterday I received my acceptance notification from Loyola Law School. I remember that day so clearly—the rush of excitement, followed by all the arrangements: booking flights, organizing logistics, and getting everything in place. I’m sure many of us experienced something similar.

Now, this chapter is reaching its climax. Finals are just around the corner, and preparations for graduation are nearly complete. My cap and gown are already reserved, and there’s a strong feeling of achievement in the air.

As I write this, I’m sitting outside the library at a table facing the Darling Pavilion. The weather is perfect. The DTLA skyline stretches out in front of me while I get ready for my final class of the week and take a moment to reflect on everything that’s brought me here.

I’ve shared my perspective throughout this experience, but now I’d like to open the space to hear from my esteemed colleagues—fellow Loyola Lions—whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting along the way. Their insights and stories have always been interesting and thought-provoking, and as we approach the end of our LL.M. program, I’d love for them to share the highlights of their journeys and the key lessons they’ll carry forward as we conclude this chapter together.

“Completing my LL.M. at Loyola Law School has been one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of my legal career. The program taught me advanced U.S. legal system knowledge and the critical tools to adapt, thrive, and serve others in a complex legal landscape. Educating myself alongside international attorneys—each bringing unique backgrounds and career paths—enriched my understanding of global legal practice involving multicultural perspectives. Loyola empowered me to grow personally and professionally, making me realize that my capabilities can transcend borders. I am honored to be part of a community that champions excellence, innovation, and a deep commitment to justice.”

España Martinez, Mexico.

“I’ve found that my LL.M. experience at LLS is already transforming how I will continue to support international entrepreneurs and creative clients in the vibrant entertainment landscape of Los Angeles. The program has deepened my understanding of corporate structures, regulatory compliance, and transactional drafting—enhancing my ability to guide global clients as they establish and grow their presence in the U.S.”

Douglas Merlini, Brazil

“The most valuable outcome of my LL.M. experience has been the people I’ve met and the connections I’ve built. From classmates with incredibly diverse backgrounds to professors who are leaders in their legal fields, I’ve found mentors who’ve truly inspired me to dream bigger. Seeing their accomplishments made me believe that with the right preparation and effort, I can get there too. Loyola feels like a web of opportunity, once you step in, you become part of something greater.”

Kristels Zamora, Venezuela

“The most significant takeaway from my LL.M. experience in the U.S., with a focus on business law, was the opportunity to integrate my knowledge of French-German law with American law. Although these legal systems are very different, their combination enables a comprehensive understanding of international business law.”

Mykyta Litovchenko, France-Germany

“The most valuable outcome that I take away from my LL.M. experience is the people who I met here – charismatic leaders, top-level professionals, passionate scholars, good friends and reliable business partners with multicultural personal and professional backgrounds. I enjoyed every minute being among these people during my studies and I hope that our professional paths will cross many more times in the future.”

Daria Kurtikova, Russia

“It is really hard to name what is the biggest takeaway from my LL.M, as this chapter of my life I have named “the discovery”. As a foreign licensed attorney it was important for me to take as much as I can from this LL.M program as I plan to continue my profession in LA. I took this program as I wanted to get more specialized in the IP & Entertainment field and as you know Loyola is one of the best places to take that knowledge and enter into the market with confidence. And of course, I would never imagine that even at this stage of my life I could acquire friends that would be like sisters to me. This program let me feel not only experience that I will use in my future career, but also warmness that filled my heart.”

Liana Manusajyan, Armenia

Collaboration has been a key theme throughout this journey—after all, together, we can go farther. This shared value inspired me to co-write part of this article with Liana, whose thoughts will add to the conversation.

Liana: As Julio said, it is hard to believe that we came already to the end – one more week and we will officially become Loyola graduates. I want to go back and remember the moment when each of us took that important decision to start something new and perhaps even scary by taking a risk and applying for the LL.M program. Don’t know about you, but it took me 3 months to make the final decision. I remember when last April I got an acceptance letter from Loyola I had 2 types of contradictory feelings. On one hand, I was so happy and excited that I, a girl from a small city, got a chance to come to the big city, the city of my profession – as I was/am an IP & Entertainment lawyer, and gain new experience by growing as a professional. On the other hand, I was scared, as it will be a totally new and unknown journey for me which I should face alone. In the end, in July, 2 weeks before my studies begin, the future I saw for me here threw my fears away and here I am – already graduating.

I think each of us should not only take the knowledge from our LL.M program, but also a lesson that sometimes, you should go for the unknown, even in fears, if you want to achieve more than you have. And you know what? At Loyola our professors always reminded us about our right choice, as they served as motivators and ones who believed in us the most. Everyone needs that! And maybe reading this article and thoughts of my classmates will remind you again about your right choice and that you are now at the end of this story of the long journey that is still waiting for you. Keep your head up and believe in you. We do!

Julio: Thank you, Liana, for sharing your experience. I definitely believe that being exposed to the study of different regulations and jurisdictions—with all their complexities—reshapes our mindset. It rounds up our way of thinking, giving us the ability to approach complex scenarios and make smart-risk decisions, all while balancing facts with broader resources. It’s like strengthening a global legal vision—one that allows you to handle situations in a practical way. Looking back, after long hours of study, exchanging ideas, and contrasting strategies, everything began to take a clearer shape. There’s now a deeper understanding of why we pay attention to certain legal aspects in our regions. It’s like we’re now speaking the same legal language.

Before closing this article, we’d like to invite you to check out the reels prepared by students like Liana and the Loyola Students Associations—a brief glimpse into how LL.M. students live these academic experiences.

See you in my next and final collaboration with Jury of Peers. Thank you so much—and see you around.

Julio Zerecero,  Liana Manusajyan & Students from the LL.M. Class of 2025 at Loyola Law School

TOPICS: International Students, LLM, Los Angeles, Networking, Student Life