As Women’s Month draws to a close, I reflect on my own journey, which, like many women’s stories, is filled with challenges.
Recently, during a law school class, my professor called me out for reading instead of reciting a case. “Are you done reading?” he asked about three times. I simply smiled and continued reading, just wanting to finish the case. I had slept only two hours the night before, trying to meet a deadline, but I knew no excuse would justify coming to class unprepared. That night, I again barely slept, wondering how I could recover from my poor performance in a five-unit subject.
Still, I never considered dropping the subject—an option some of my classmates, unfortunately, chose. I have faced setbacks many times in my life, having been a solo parent for more than 20 years, raising three children, but I have always found a way to keep going. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, whose biopic I recently watched for another class, faced even greater challenges in her career, caring for two kids and a husband with cancer while studying, yet she never gave up.
Justice Ginsburg’s life wasn’t easy. Despite being an outstanding student, she persistently faced sexism and discrimination both as a student in the 1950s and later as a lawyer. Yet she became a symbol of resilience, fighting for gender equality and the rights of the disadvantaged. Her story reminds me that life isn’t about avoiding failures but standing up after each one.
I’m no Justice Ginsburg, but her life reminds me to keep pushing forward. No matter the challenges—whether they come from age (I am the oldest in most of my classes), personal difficulties, or failure—I know I can keep moving ahead, just as she did.
When friends ask why I chose to pursue law school even after completing a post-doctorate degree—especially at an age when I should be taking things easy as I approach retirement—I simply smile. Life unfolds differently for each of us. While some have spouses or partners to share their burdens, I have often spent my time alone, distracted by Netflix or online shopping. I view law school as more than an academic endeavor; it is a personal journey to heal from past struggles, like the trauma of taking the same subject in college when I could barely afford food to nourish my body and mind. It is also an opportunity to serve my countrymen better during my remaining years in government service and beyond, as I believe there is life beyond retirement. Most importantly, it is a way to inspire my children and others to pursue a similar path and realize that education is the surest way to better oneself.
Setbacks don’t define us. Like Justice Ginsburg, I choose to meet each challenge with resilience. Life may be difficult, but we always have the chance to improve, rise, and start again.
To all the women out there: keep moving forward. We are stronger than we realize.
