Alumni Spotlight: Melanie Sava, Lover of Learning, Law & Laurel Springs

When she’s not reading about history, law, or social justice issues—or relaxing with her pets while watching her shows—Laurel Springs alumna, Melanie Sava is working toward becoming an advocate for social justice issues. With the launch of the LSS Alumni Connect social networking platform, we caught up with this recent Yale Law School graduate to reminisce about her time at Laurel Springs and see how it’s shaped her life so far. 

A Longstanding Love of Learning

Melanie has a lot of love for learning and for Laurel Springs. She credits her student-centered education for not only expanding her curiosity but also improving her self-motivation, organization, and time management skills. “Having a self-directed learning experience helped develop a longstanding love of education and a strong intellectual curiosity that has served me well in the years since.” 

Justice for All

Melanie has certainly done well in the years since LSS. For someone with such a passion for learning, particularly in the area of law, it’s no surprise that Melanie’s education continued well after graduation. “Life after LSS has so far been focused on continuing my educational journey and engaging with my interests in policy, law, and issues of social justice, particularly gender justice issues.”

After receiving her Laurel Springs diploma, Melanie attended Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles and graduated in 2017 summa cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science & Global Politics. Next stop, Yale Law School. Here she focused on issues of reproductive justice, LGBTQ rights, and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence. In May, Melanie received her Juris Doctor degree and returned to L.A. to study for the California Bar Examination. Later this year, she’ll become an associate of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, a large global law firm. 

Forging Forever Friendships

Laurel Springs has not only provided Melanie with a stellar education that launched her all the way through law school, but she also left with friendships that have lasted just as long. “Even as a distance-learning student, I was fortunate enough to meet some of my best friends through my time at Laurel Springs, and I will always be grateful for the relationships forged through the school.”

Melanie plans on keeping in touch with those in the Laurel Springs family through the LSS Alumni Connect platform. “I am always eager...to stay connected to the LSS community! I hope to use the network to learn more about what my classmates and friends are up to now, and potentially be a resource to younger alumni.” Melanie recognizes that Laurel Springs is a global community and she’s ready to reach out across borders. “I am excited that LSS Alumni Connect will now allow that network to continue to remain strong even after graduation.”

If you’re an Laurel Springs alum and are ready to reach out as well, register for LSS Alumni Connect and start catching up with your peers.

 

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