“We have to talk about liberating minds, as well as liberating societies”.
In first year, we were encouraged to write letters to ourselves. These letters were to contain our ambitions, our fears, our worries and the words we aspired to live by. As part of the letter I wrote to myself, I included an excerpt of a blog I wrote when I was 18 years old.
“To be Black, is to be radiant. A radiance that transcends aesthetics; a radiance that tells a story of fortitude. So, let us take pride in making the celebration of Blackness the norm, rather than the exception. Let us stand tall together. Let us celebrate Blackness from a place of unconditionality. Let us stand tall and always, always, unapologetically Black”.
In reflecting on this letter, I spoke to some of the friends I had made during my first year at Osgoode Hall Law. We laughed and we cried, and we discussed the various reasons we had decided to pursue a career in law.
“I wanted to become an effective advocate and learn how to use the law to empower communities that have been historically and continue to modernly be disenfranchised, criminalized and overlooked by the justice system”.
“I wanted to create space for the stories coming out of racialized communities”.
“I wanted to help people that grew up with similar backgrounds as me. People who thought that their life options were limited because society set it up that way”.
“I wanted to empower underserved groups”.
Unfortunately for us, law school provided a rude awakening. Our carefully planned out dreams and ambitions were quickly subsumed by the fast paced, high stress environment that was 1L. I can only speak for myself and my closest friends, but for us, we developed a laser eye focus. ON what you may ask? On meeting the next deadline. On creating a perfectly curated and easily accessible summary. On ensuring our resumes were padded. On participating in extracurriculars, volunteer work, OPIR hours and of course, everyone’s favourite pastime: networking! I became so consumed by the demands of 1L that I quickly lost sight of my priorities, my ambitions, my purpose.
And then one of my closest friend’s got sick. And then the pandemic hit. And then my dog got diagnosed with cancer. And then my aunt, who had taught me just about everything I know about activism, advocacy, resilience and Black pride, passed away unexpectedly.
I was forced to regain perspective. I realized that for the past few years, I had allowed work, school, grades and internships to consume me. As a result, my relationships suffered. My health had suffered, and I had lost sight of why I had even come to law school in the first place.
However, after spending some much-needed time with my friends and family, and slowly rebuilding my relationship with God, I became reacquainted with my purpose. I became reacquainted with the eighteen-year-old version of me that sauntered about with my head held high, my crown of natural hair, my ambitions, my confidence, my commitment to making a difference.
I realized that I could not commit myself to a stringent and linear career path. My purpose could be served in a plethora of different places; whether that be on Bay Street, a small boutique firm, a non-profit, a government agency or a combination thereof. And so, I began to welcome the “L’s” law school seemed so comfortable dishing out. I began to seek out and welcome opportunities from people, firms and places that I had not initially considered part of the mission. It didn’t matter where I was or where I ended up, I knew my purpose and it wouldn’t be subsumed or threatened by any outside noise.
I began to actively practice gratitude. For my family, my friends, my health, my family’s health and the opportunities that I had been afforded thus far. I began to accept that certain things were just beyond my control. I began to trust in my own capabilities. I began to believe that I belonged in every room that I entered. I am powerful, I am capable, I am blessed.
All that being said, I want to wish everyone reading this good luck on their own individual journeys. Good luck and don’t forget who you are and why you came here.
Don’t forget to stand tall and always take pride in being unapologetically Black.