Rowan Elsmore: Sarah Metrick Scholarship in Introductory Law recipient

Meet Rowan Elsmore! Originally from Ottawa, Rowan is currently pursuing a combined BA Honours in Law and Philosophy with a concentration in Transnational Law and Human Rights. Rowan is also one of the recipients of this year’s Sarah Metrick Scholarship in Introductory Law.

1. What lead you to pursue your degree at Carleton? I was drawn to Carleton for a few reasons, but I will give the two main ones. First, the size and style of Carleton’s legal studies program appealed to me because I am interested in understanding what the law ought to be, not just what it is. I love the interdisciplinary approach, as students are given an opportunity to see dimensions of the law that formalistic law programs omit. The law is so complex and deserves to be studied as such. Second, Carleton’s campus is beautiful. I love being by the river, having the option to walk in the tunnels when it’s cold outside, and the amount of quiet study space were all factors that drew me in.
2. What has been your favourite part of the program? It sounds simple, but my favourite part of my program is any opportunity where I get to write. Regardless of the course topic, I try to find some subject or angle in my writing that I can sink my teeth into. This past winter, I took LAWS 2105C with Professor Deniz Konuk, where I produced some of my best writing to date. It was a paper about addressing the rise of anti-transgender legislation in Canada through not only rights frameworks but also democratic institutions. I believe that I presented a compelling vision for structural reform, which extends beyond the rights framework typically considered when addressing discrimination. I’m quite proud of that paper.
3. What do you hope to do after graduation? I hope to attend law school after I graduate, although I have not yet decided which school I wish to attend. I could see myself doing several jobs in the legal world, but I would most definitely want to work in a field that is related to human rights in Canada. I could also possibly end up in international law, but I am quite sentimental about the Canadian legal system despite its flaws. It is also possible that I would look for opportunities to teach law or legal studies later in my career or engage in academic legal research. There are so many possibilities, and I try to remain as open to them as one could possibly be.
4. What advice do you have for incoming students? In giving advice to new students, I cannot help but think back to who I was two years ago, and there is so much I would say to that person. However, the main thing I would say is this: Do not allow fear to author your story. There is so much potential for wonder and beauty in this life, but our ability to see it is too often clouded by fear—mainly a fear of trying. So far, my solution is to be kind to myself, especially when I fail or make a mistake. When we become our own biggest supporters and take failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, life becomes much brighter. Make connections with people, join clubs, volunteer, and don’t let fear prevent you from seeing what life has to offer.