AS Women’s Month draws to a close, I would like to share a recent experience in law school when I was called out by my professor for reading instead of reciting a case.
“Are you done reading?” my professor asked about three times. It was a signal that he was close to getting annoyed, but I just smiled and continued reading each time he cautioned me. I knew no explanation could justify coming to class ill-prepared.
That night, I barely slept, wondering how I could recover from my setback in my five-unit subject. Thoughts of dropping the subject, as some of my classmates had done—heartbreakingly but understandably for their peace of mind—came to mind. I couldn’t use the excuse of having too much on my plate with my usual pro bono work for my various advocacies, as it would only have made things worse.
But I have spent my entire life fighting against the odds. While my body sometimes feels worn and my mind isn’t as sharp as it used to be, I know there is still a chance to improve, to show up stronger next time. There is still time for me to be like the few students in their senior years who march into bar examination centers, get featured on social media, and inspire young and old alike to better themselves, proving that neither age nor challenges are barriers to higher education. Admittedly, law school is different. It is rigorous and requires a lot of memory work.
When friends ask why I chose to enter law school even after earning a post-doctorate degree, I just smile. I can’t explain that our lives are different. While they have partners to share their days with, before law school, I often spent my free time alone, occupied by Netflix, Plants v. Zombies, and online shopping—all addictive distractions, with the latter being quite costly.
For me, law school is more than just an academic pursuit. It’s a personal journey, a way to heal the trauma I experienced in my Obligations and Contracts class in college, when I struggled because I barely had enough money to buy lunch to feed both my body and mind.
What advice can I give myself and others? Keep going. Life throws challenges our way, but each struggle is a stepping stone to something greater. There will be setbacks, but each one is an opportunity to rise stronger. In the end, it is not about perfection—it is about resilience. And I know I have that within me. Shit happens. But there is still time to clean it up. More power to women everywhere. Keep pushing forward.
