I just came back from attending an administrative luncheon where one of our head partner’s spoke to a group of administrative staff. Originally I figured that I would attend because free lunch would be served. Who am I to turn down free food? My next thought was *shrug* this may be interesting. Little did I know.
After a proper introduction citing her many accomplishments she stood up to speak. I wasn’t at all prepared for what was to come. She’s a white woman. I’m a black woman. She’s from the south. I’m from the north. She’s older. I’m younger. She’s a lesbian. I’m not. With all of these differences her story…her experience resonated so deeply within me.
She attended college in the 50’s or 60’s in the south, and then traveled to NYC to attend grad school. She worked for many years as a high school teacher, and then as an administrative worker in the social security office. She recited that while in grade school she had a male teacher who said that he’d take it as a personal failure if she didn’t attend law school and become the first female judge for the supreme court.
I was never heavily influenced by any teachers growing up. If anything I was really put off by many. Recently, I had a professor who did have an impact on how I view my academic journey. On one of the graded assignments she returned to me she wrote across the top “Go to law school!!!” That meant the world to me.
She went on to say that when she decided to go to law school she was in her 30’s. A lightbulb hit her and she decided that it was what she wanted to try. She wandered if her age would be a hinderance, but she forged ahead.
For much of my life I knew I wanted to practice law, but I allowed myself to be deterred by one thing or another. When I contemplated going to law school I counted on my fingers and gasped at how old I’d be as a graduate. She thought “Who’s going to hire someone in their late 30’s?” I’ve thought the exact.same.thing. many, many times. It’s only this time I keep putting one foot in front of the other moving in that direction.
On the day 3rd day of her summer internship her appendix ruptured and she had to have emergency surgery…forcing her to take 6 weeks off to recover. She felt like she’d just lost her opportunity to be seen. Instead the firm sent her flowers and told her she’d have plenty of time to do good work. At the end a job offer was extended and she started work with the firm that following year. Four years after joining she had another setback. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. Again she had surgery, as well as chemotherapy and then needed substantial time to recover. Her words were “Don’t let a set back, set you back” (This is going on my vision board).
At this point I’m soo touched by her story that I wonder if I should send her an email. On the other hand, I’m thinking I’m sure she’s busy and I’d hate to write an email that’ll just fall into a black hole. So I say to myself “Well I’ll pray about it and decide“. Then she talks about what an honor it was to be recognized by a renowned industry publication. She went on to say “It was when I started to receive emails from *pointing to the group* you that I felt really proud“ My eyes started to well with huge balls of tears. That was the quickest answer to prayer ever.
Next she addressed the group regarding our dreams. She said “You may be deciding to go back to school, or to pursue your dream…do it“ She also said something along the lines of doing whatever you need to do…sometimes you have to be flexible when pursuing your dream, but never go totally off course. I literally had to tune her out. I couldn’t take it anymore. I would be slobbering and have had to make a long akward trek across a room to get out. I pictured Bird and T playing one of the wii games and laughing. I could not take it. It was truly overwhelming.
God is so attentive. He knows that I’ve been struggling here and there mentally. This was a message that felt like it was prepared specifically for me. Yet, not only for me. I know there are plenty of people, and many of you that have goals, or concerns about your life. Know that He hears your concerns and that He does speak, and that He will give confirmation.
UPDATE: I sent the email right after posting this. She replied shortly after thanking me for my kind words and she asked me to let her know how my process is going. I assured her that I would and thanked her again.
