Kerly Cristina Nave dos Santos is a labor judge from Brazil who participated in the Moritz College of Law Foundations of U.S. Law & Practice Summer Program.

I waited for three long years during the pandemic before coming to Mortiz College of Law. But this year, I finally got to come. For three weeks, I lived at this magical university, and I got a taste of American law from incredible professors. I am a labor judge in Brazil, and my focus is alternative dispute resolution. The class about this was incredible; the professors were all highly educated with a practical and theoretical method that made the classes extremely entrancing. We visited some state and federal courts, watched trials and were welcomed by the judges.

The team who led the summer course was incredible too. Some moments were dedicated to visiting the campus and discovering how good American football is. The stadium is huge and beautiful. We took a guided tour with a memorable gentleman who knew every single detail of the place. The group of students I studied with was special too – they were from different parts of the world and during this time, we exchanged experiences that enriched our cultures.

During my free time, I visited many places in the city. One of them was the botanic gardens at the Franklin Park Conservatory, a magic green space. I am a runner, and I ran trails throughout the campus with a beautiful environment around. All in all, I consider this time to be an incredible experience for my profession and personal life. I definitely recommend it for everyone.