“I came to accept during my freshman year that many of the gaps in my knowledge and understanding were simply limits of class and cultural background, not lack of aptitude or application as I’d feared.” Sonia Sotomayor
From modest beginnings to being a member of the highest court in the land, Sonia Sotomayor’s journey is an inspiration and example of breaking boundaries.
As the 3rd woman and very first Latina to be on the Supreme Court, she has inspired countless people and changed the stereotypical view of Hispanics forever.
Sotomayor was born on June 25th, 1954 in New York City to Puerto Rican parents.
As easy as she made it look, Sotomayor fought through many obstacles to get to where she is today. When she was seven years old, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Two years later, she would face another devastation when her father passed away.
In addition to these hardships, Sotomayor faced discrimination throughout her life because of her Hispanic background, so it was always her goal to move outside the limits society had placed on women and Latinos.
As the valedictorian of her high school, Sotomayor was accepted to Princeton University, but the weight of this opportunity and responsibility was not lost on her.
In her autobiography My Beloved World, she wrote: “There were vultures circling, ready to dive when we stumbled. The pressure to succeed was relentless, even if self-imposed out of fear and insecurity. For we all felt that if we did fail, we would be proving the critics right, and the doors that had opened just a crack to let us in would be slammed shut again.”
The inequity in educational opportunities for Hispanic students and other students of color remained a source of frustration and motivation for Sotomayor.
She joined an on-campus group that fought for minority students and convinced the Board of Trustees of Princeton to hire its very first Hispanic Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.
Sotomayor was relentless in her pursuit of education, and she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton in 1976. Later, in 1979, she received her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.
Throughout her educational and professional careers, Sotomayor has continuously fought for the underdog and helped millions of people’s voices be heard which is why, in 2009, she was nominated by President Barack Obama to be a member of the Supreme Court.
Strengthened by adversity, Sotomayor carved her own path to success which is why she is an inspiration and role model to so many people across the country.
Ms. Castillo, a Spanish teacher at ND, said, “As a Latina woman myself, I think that being Latino comes with a lot of adversity in this country. Sonia overcoming that adversity offers inspiration for our community to keep moving forward and be a part of the American government.”
Sotomayor is also inspiring the younger generation. ND student, Latina, and aspiring lawyer, Abigail Orellana said, “ She is one of my biggest role models as she has been a big inspiration for me to pursue law in the future.”
Sonia Sotomayor has made a lasting impact on the Hispanic community and people across the country. She is proof that no barrier can hold people back as long as they are driven and determined to reach their goals.
