New Yorican Judge Sonia Sotomayor followed a straight path, becoming a lawyer and vastly exceeding the expectations of her humble upbringing.

Barack Obama has nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme Court appointment.  She is born of Puerto Rican parents and raised in the Bronx of New York after her family moved to the mainland USA during World War II.

Inspired by Nancy Drew and Perry Mason, Sotomayor got on the fast track to becoming a lawyer, attending both Princeton and Yale Law School.

Starting out with humble roots, living in a housing project near Yankee Stadium, never held her back. She was goal oriented and steadfast, and today she has now risen to probably the most important legal position in the entire world. Imagine being charged with defining standards of justice for the entire United States, in decisions that will impact the entire world for hundreds of years to come.

Puerto Rican youth: Don’t assume for one minute that just because the rest of los ninos in the barrio are lobbing bullets and aspiring to sell drugs, lob bullets, and play slap ass that you have too follow them.

If anything having a rough start gives you a psychological advantage. The rich can’t buy that kind of experience, and they can never develop the kind of empathy that will make them know what your life is truly like.

Play within the system. Push it to it’s limits without breaking the rules. Eventually you’re going to land on a vacant Boardwalk. Keep rolling. You can collect too.

By the way, when I say “Play within the system” I’m not referring to this disgrace. There are positions where 2nd chances are appropriate, and this is not one of them.

Without ever knowing any of her positions, beliefs, or politics (throw that aside) you should be inspired by Sotomayor’s climb to the top. We can argue the politics another day.

The Insider

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