I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences.
Sonia SotomayorRead
When you come from a background like mine, where you're entering worlds that are so different than your own, you have to be afraid.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Acknowledging fear is part of stepping into unfamiliar environments.
Sonia Sotomayor emphasizes the need to confront fear when entering diverse and unfamiliar spaces, especially for those who come from different backgrounds. This sentiment reflects the struggles and courage necessary to navigate challenges that arise when stepping outside one's comfort zone, showcasing the importance of resilience in the face of adversity.
Themes
CourageFearDiversityBackgroundResilience
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about overcoming challenges in higher education.
More from Sonia Sotomayor
All quotes →This wealth of experiences, personal and professional, have helped me appreciate the variety of perspectives that present themselves in every case that I hear.
Sonia SotomayorRead
I was fifteen years old when I understood how it is that things break down: people can't imagine someone else's point of view.
Sonia SotomayorRead
The truth is that since childhood I had cultivated an existential independence. It came from perceiving the adults around me as unreliable, and without it I felt I wouldn't have survived. I cared deeply for everyone in my family, but in the end I depended on myself.
Sonia SotomayorRead
As you discover what strength you can draw from your community in this world from which it stands apart, look outward as well as inward. Build bridges instead of walls.
Sonia SotomayorRead
There are uses to adversity, and they don't reveal themselves until tested. Whether it's serious illness, financial hardship, or the simple constraint of parents who speak limited English, difficulty can tap unexpected strengths.
Sonia SotomayorRead
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