Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is the epitome of a leader. She grew up on a small ranch in Arizona and is now one of the two female justices in the Supreme Court. Our school had the honor of having Justice O'Connor visit and speak to us about her experiences growing up in the west and then her struggles getting a job when she was discriminated against as a woman.

Justice O'Connor's talk was inspiring to me as an immigrant of this country. After Justice O'Connor graduated from law school she tried to get jobs with big law firms but was turned down or was offered jobs as a typist that she didn't want. Justice O'Connor was discriminated because she was a woman and yet she stood strong. She refused to be given anything less that what she deserved and that determination is what got her to the place she is today. I am a determined individual who wishes to some day be a lawyer who will represent people of any race who may not have the chance to pay for an expensive attorney. I believe that with determination, I can accomplish anything that I put my mind to and Justice O'Connor really strengthened that belief through the struggles that she shared with us.

One of the leaders that I could relate to in this program was Gaddi Vasquez because he and I have many things in common. Not only is he a native of Central America but he was also the first of his family to go to college and get a degree. I am a Nicaraguan and this coming fall, I will be the first in my family to go to college and get a college degree at the University of Virginia. Mr. Vasquez's community service work is inspiring and shows the heart of a leader. Mr. Vasquez radiates leadership in not only the example that he is setting as a community leader but also the work that he does in giving back to his community with community service projects. Mr. Vasquez reinforces the saying "If your going to talk the talk, then you have to walk the walk." He not only carries the title and does the paper work of the director of the Peace Corps but he goes out there everyday and actually does the community work and physical assistance that people need. Mr. Vasquez's determination as a Hispanic growing up in America has been hard but has allowed him to become the wonderful person that he is today and has given him the strength to refuse to let adversaries hold him down. Just like Mr. Vasquez is giving back to his community, I want to give to my community and help people who are discriminated and who are less fortunate as an attorney.

Going to college in the fall will make me happy for the obvious reasons but will also be an honor for the family because I'll be setting an example for the other Hispanics and other minorities to never give up, to follow their dreams and to put an end to the "soft bigotry of low expectations," as President Bush once said. I want to be recognized for the accomplishments that I have done and will do and not to be recognized solely for the fact that I am Hispanic. From watching Students and Leaders, I've learned that to be leader one must over come all adversaries as a woman/man and/or a minority and to have the determination towards whatever one's goals in life may be despite those that may hold you back or mock you. Stay focused and in the end you will be successful and become a strong leader like I will continue to be throughout my life.

Read More Essays