Tamara, Northwestern Law & London School of Economics

Tamara Kissoon shares her story as a first generation student who emigrated from Guyana as a child. Through life-changing mentor relationships with high school teachers who encouraged her to travel, Tamara overcame the inequities of being a low-income student from a different school, and she began her pursuit of higher education, first as a Northwestern undergraduate, then as a Master’s student at London School of Economics, and now back at Northwestern, where she is earning her law degree.About the Show:Quad Cast is a weekly show hosted by speechwriter turned higher ed advisor, Inna Effress. In each episode, students and faculty share personal insights into campus life and their programs. Hear about new frontiers in science, real medical research, and departmental STEM innovations. Feel the wonders of arts and humanities. Hear directly from students about their internships and summer programs, unique career paths, and making the most of their potential in a shifting world, all through personal stories. Inna’s love for education began when she emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S., and her family had to start from scratch in a foreign language. After college, she became a writer helping American public figures and lawmakers tell their stories. Now, she works with students applying to top schools. She helps them go after their niche through the transformative force of education, knowing that once a person has it, no one can take it away. Cover art by Raisa Effress“Cathedral of Salt” (intro/outtro) composed by Abe EffressTimestamps:00:00 Intro to Tamara, Northwestern Law02:18 From Guyana to New Jersey06:12 Navigating Inequity in High School10:49 Finding mentors in high school12:12 How travel opened doors15:26 Applying to Northwestern & leaving for Chicago18:48 What was suprising about college20:24 Deciding to study abroad21:20 Finances: Choosing London School of Economics over Columbia23:57 Kids in Need of Defense26:05 Intersection of law and social policy28:58 Becoming editor of Journal of Human Rights31:18 Stay true to yourself: parting words