8 B - Sonia Sotomayor

The book My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor displays a positive inspiration towards young people. Throughout the book, the author provides detail of the struggle and adversity she faced while growing up in the Bronx, New York. The book was assigned as the common read because it shows young people such as ourselves, that hard work and dedication can help you overcome any obstacle. As a child, Justice Sotomayor was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and she had to learn how to care for herself, and track her insulin at a very young age without the assistance of her parents. She also discussed how her fathers drinking habits, and her mothers work schedule negatively impacted the family. Her father died from alcohol abuse, and her mother worked so many hours at the hospital that they barely maintained a stable relationship. It was at a very young age that she developed an interest in the judicial system of the United States, and planned to pursue it through attending Yale Law School, and graduating in 1979. From there she went on to become the first Hispanic, and the third woman to be appointed United States Supreme Court Justice.

            The book explains all the hardships she faced before she became so successful, and that is what is so inspiring to young people. It promotes a positive message to not only people who are facing the same hardships she did while growing up, but it also inspires people who have goals that are difficult to achieve. Many young people who have goals that may seem out of reach tend to lose hope, and Justice Sotomayor is a tremendous example of why it is important to not take simple luxuries for granted, and to always work hard towards what you want to accomplish. She proved that no matter what you are given, what obstacles you may face, it is always important to work towards achieving your goals in life no matter how hard they may be to reach. Justice Sotomayor is an inspiration to many people, and her book was a great way of explaining her story and passing it on to people everywhere.