Summary Of My Beloved Word By Sonia Sotomayor

In “My Beloved Word,” written by Sonia Sotomayor, Sonia writes an autobiography of the hardships she has endured. She reminisces her struggles, defeats, and accomplishments throughout different stages in her life. Sotomayor, who spent her childhood in the streets of the Bronx and Coop City in New York, is a woman of determination and strong will. From fighting diabetes at an early age and losing countless confidants, to attending an Ivy League institution and now a Supreme Court Justice, the highest court in the United States, Sotomayor has proven to be a woman who welcomes challenges to find purpose in life; Sotomayor has resembled who I am.

Like Sotomayor, I too am low-income. I too suffered from hateful remarks. I too am Hispanic. I too,

have faced adversity. And yet, even with these hardships, I too am going to an Ivy League institution. I too love helping others and am going far away from home to further my education. Struggles of a Puerto Rican family describe the struggles of a Mexican family in the southern parts of Los Angeles, a location immersed with drug and gang activity. We overcome adversity, move forward through our struggles, learn from them, and prove to others that dreams do come true.

As I finished the book, I now understood, grew, and learned a little more about myself with the insight of Sonia’s personal and professional life. Upset that Sonia did not describe her life from Federal District Court Judge to Supreme Court Justice in full detail, I remain aware that her life has been a constant battle. Diabetes never stopped her from dreaming big, and because of this, my Asthma and Pectus Excavatum conditions will not hold me back either.

Whenever I walk into my bedroom and notice the photograph with a huge smile sitting on top of my desk, I stop and stare; glaring cherry-colored lipstick perfectly align the contour of her lips, followed by her shining white teeth contrasting her black clothes, Sonia Sotomayor is smiling and happy. Before reading the book, My Beloved World, I figured it was another famous person telling her story about reaching success. But after hours of sitting at the library – at times with tears on my face crashing along the pages – I ask her motionless face in the picture: How do you do it?

Though an Ivy League institution, at Brown I will remain positive and aware that help is there and always available for me.

To thrive, I will use resources, and plan ahead to be ahead. It may be Sotomayor’s book, but in a way, it is as close to me as my own diary. I can now look at her beautiful smile, and say, “You did it. We did it. I can be happy too.”

The following quotes – and meanings – are reasons of aspiration and why I will try much harder at Brown:

"Achievement was all very well, but it was the process, not the goal, that was most important" (Sotomayor 92) – I live among these lines. You learn more over the process of your goal than the goal itself.

"Don't be shy about making a teacher of any willing party who knows what he or she is doing" (Sotomayor 91) – This gives me courage. At Brown, I will ask for the utmost help I can get. Anyone can be a teacher, but it takes initiation to make someone a teacher.

"I probably wasn't going to live as long as most people, I figured. So I couldn't afford to waste time. Once in school, I would never contemplate taking a semester or year off. Later might never come, so I'd better get to work right now" (Sotomayor 99) – One of the quotes that made me tear up. Because of my conditions, I have also believed I cannot waste time. I will continue to be the proactive student I have always been, and work whenever I

can.

"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" (Sotomayor 171) – I have shockingly felt the same for a very long time. Regardless of any negativity, though, this positive message gives me strength to keep trying and understand that I am no less than any student at Brown.

"Take support and comfort from you own group as you can, but don't hide within it" (Sotomayor 188) – This proves an important point to me. At Brown, diversity will cause great culture shock to me, but I know to broaden my horizon and take initiative to make friends everywhere rather than separate from the rest.

"Build bridges instead of walls" (Sotomayor 208) – I absolutely love this. Rather than blocking others in life, we should all learn to collaborate together; it will go a long and positive way.

"..but I'm proud to offer living proof that big dreams are not out-of-bounds" (Sotomayor 355) – I love this too. To me, I know if you work hard for your dreams, they will eventually come true. Anyone can achieve a goal; no one is left behind.