When she was just a child my daughter, Melissa Banda, expressed her desire to become a lawyer. My initial question was, "Do you know what a lawyer does?"
She assured me that she knew what the responsibilities of a lawyer were with extreme confidence.
"Yep, think so," she answered.
"It's a lot of work, you think you can do this?" I asked.
I look down at her in her little Holy Trinity uniform, with her back pack full of books weighting her down, glasses on the edge of her nose as she nodded her little head.
She again assured me she was able to do the work.
"Yep, mommy, I can do this."
I grabbed her little hand and led her to the car to start this incredible journey.
Some years later she came to me with the next step in her well planned out career choice.
"I'm going to talk to the counselor to see what courses I need to take to prepare me to transfer to a good college," she said.
"College?" I asked. "But you're only in the 8th-grade."
"Yes, got to prepare now," she said.
Throughout her journey, Melissa continued to show unexplainable confidence in her chosen profession, her plans and the journey she was taking to get there.
"Mom, I can do this," she repeatedly said to me.
Some time later she told me she was sending out her college applications.
"But graduation is a year away."
"I know, but I've gotta do this to be the first," she said.
Again I asked her if she thought she was ready for such a big step.
And again, she assured me that she was.
"Ma, I'm more then ready".
Her persistence and hard work paid off when she was accepted into Loyola Marymount University.
"I told you Mom!"
"Yes you did, but this is just the start and you have four hard years of studying ahead," I told her.
I was so excited when the good news came.
"Mother?" I was accepted into Loyola Law School. I did it Mom! I did it!"
On Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, at 6:04 p.m. I was driving on the 405 Freeway connecting to the 710 Freeway. I was with my sister, Nina Linda, her friend from work, Sara, and my niece and nephew, when my phone rang. It was my daughter. I had been waiting for this call since July. Her voice was echoing though my mind, and then, she said it or maybe she yelled it; "Mom, I passed the bar! "Mom, I passed the bar!"
My eyes filled with tears as memories flooded my mind, taking me back to the day when she said, "Mommy, I want to be a lawyer."
That little girl, full of promise and hope in her Holy Trinity uniform, with her back pack full of books and glasses on the edge of her nose. I can still hear her voice echoing in my mind.
"Yep, mommy, I can do this."
Melissa you are my inspiration.
She assured me that she knew what the responsibilities of a lawyer were with extreme confidence.
"Yep, think so," she answered.
"It's a lot of work, you think you can do this?" I asked.
I look down at her in her little Holy Trinity uniform, with her back pack full of books weighting her down, glasses on the edge of her nose as she nodded her little head.
She again assured me she was able to do the work.
"Yep, mommy, I can do this."
I grabbed her little hand and led her to the car to start this incredible journey.
Some years later she came to me with the next step in her well planned out career choice.
"I'm going to talk to the counselor to see what courses I need to take to prepare me to transfer to a good college," she said.
"College?" I asked. "But you're only in the 8th-grade."
"Yes, got to prepare now," she said.
Throughout her journey, Melissa continued to show unexplainable confidence in her chosen profession, her plans and the journey she was taking to get there.
"Mom, I can do this," she repeatedly said to me.
Some time later she told me she was sending out her college applications.
"But graduation is a year away."
"I know, but I've gotta do this to be the first," she said.
Again I asked her if she thought she was ready for such a big step.
And again, she assured me that she was.
"Ma, I'm more then ready".
Her persistence and hard work paid off when she was accepted into Loyola Marymount University.
"I told you Mom!"
"Yes you did, but this is just the start and you have four hard years of studying ahead," I told her.
I was so excited when the good news came.
"Mother?" I was accepted into Loyola Law School. I did it Mom! I did it!"
On Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, at 6:04 p.m. I was driving on the 405 Freeway connecting to the 710 Freeway. I was with my sister, Nina Linda, her friend from work, Sara, and my niece and nephew, when my phone rang. It was my daughter. I had been waiting for this call since July. Her voice was echoing though my mind, and then, she said it or maybe she yelled it; "Mom, I passed the bar! "Mom, I passed the bar!"
My eyes filled with tears as memories flooded my mind, taking me back to the day when she said, "Mommy, I want to be a lawyer."
That little girl, full of promise and hope in her Holy Trinity uniform, with her back pack full of books and glasses on the edge of her nose. I can still hear her voice echoing in my mind.
"Yep, mommy, I can do this."
Melissa you are my inspiration.
Love Mom, Yvonne Rangel
Beautiful heartwarming story. Much success to you Melissa.
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