Let’s talk about second chances. Everyone has their own experience or interpretation of what a second chance looks like. For many it’s another opportunity to succeed in something or even to have another chance at making history. Madam Vice President Kamala Harris is someone who has had her fair share of second chances throughout her professional life. Here’s a great example of her pure determination.
When she took an exam during her time at Hastings Law School, she unfortunately failed her first attempt at the bar exam. However, when she took the exam again, she passed! Her professional life up to this moment in time, has always been about making significant changes to improve the quality of people’s lives. She always made sure to do the best of her own ability and to push boundaries that have never been pushed before; especially by a woman. If there is something that should always be remembered in life is that, if at first you don’t succeed, try again. And that is exactly what she did and still does to this day.
Kamala Harris has always said that she wouldn’t be where she is today without the influence and inspiration from her first grade teacher and her incredible mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris. There is no doubt that Kamala grew up surrounded by driven and inspirational women. However, the raw truth is that her supporters – the Khive to be specific – would not be where they are now, if it wasn’t for her and what she has accomplished. Despite all odds and people telling her that it isn’t her time, thousands of young women and girls across the world have seen this powerful woman rise up. She went from being elected as District Attorney of San Francisco to being a Senator for California and is now the first female and first woman of color to be Vice President of the United States. As she always says to the young leaders who will eventually follow her great example, “you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last”. This is something that Kamala’s mother told her growing up and the amazing part is that she took that to heart and is now passing this meaningful message onto us and our future generations.
The world has seen Kamala break barriers and shatter glass ceilings more than once, and we all know she will not stop until she has done what she first set out to do. She is one of the most determined, goal-achieving, empowering and not to mention one of the most powerful women the world of politics has ever seen. With the power Kamala has today, she is not only trying to pave the way, but has already done what her mother advised her to do. One of the most recent historical events that took place this month was the moment Vice President Harris presided over the historical nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. She made history as the first woman of color to be elected into the highest court in America – the Supreme Court of the United States. She is someone who is now an incredible history-making icon for many young women and children who look like her.
There are many incredible women such as Vice President Kamala Harris and Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. More and more children across not only America, but the whole world look at this as a newfound opportunity to stand up and fight. We should all be reminded that shattering glass ceilings and breaking barriers often takes a long time, but it will pay off in the end. Let us all come together and make our own history. It’s time we all get out there and break barriers and glass ceilings of our own now.
ROARA Magazine 