As a senior in Marquette’s Opus College of Engineering majoring in environmental engineering, I frequently encounter confusion when I express my interest in pursuing law school. To me, however, the fields of engineering and law are deeply intertwined.
My family is originally from Lebanon, a small country in the Middle East facing numerous not-so-small challenges. Among the most pressing are the environmental issues that have long been overshadowed by political and economic instability in the region. While these challenges are understandable given the circumstances, they often mask the profound impact that environmental degradation has on quality of life.
In Lebanon, problems like lack of access to clean drinking water, air pollution, and inadequate waste management practices are not just environmental concerns – they are also public health crises that affect both physical and mental well-being. Having family still in Lebanon, these issues resonate with me on a deeply personal level. Lebanon, despite its struggles, remains the place to which I feel most connected, and being part of the Lebanese diaspora is difficult at times when I have no choice but to watch the place I love and the family I left suffer from afar.
It was this connection to Lebanon’s environmental landscape that initially sparked my interest in environmental engineering. However, it’s the need to protect and preserve this environment that has driven me to consider the law as a critical tool for change. Lebanon’s minimal environmental regulations are poorly enforced, and a lack of trust in the government has allowed unsustainable private practices to dominate in managing the region’s natural resources.
Through my experiences in Lebanon and my work in the field of environmental engineering, I’ve come to understand that true environmental protection requires not only technical solutions but also robust legal mechanisms. These realizations have fueled my desire to pursue a legal education so that I can advocate for policies that ensure sustainable, long-term solutions to environmental challenges. By combining my engineering background with legal expertise, I hope to be a stronger advocate and part of the change that creates a more sustainable future.
Engineering is a degree with no limits, and regardless of your specific major, law school is a viable option to expand upon your knowledge base in ways that may not be emphasized as much as other traditional engineering routes.
To any STEM major reading this that is interested in pursuing a law degree, take this as your sign to do it!
