Seventh grader McKensey Simmons did her homework before hearing Justice Sonia Sotomayor speak at the WashU Field House Sept. 10.
“She is the third woman to be on the Supreme Court and the first Hispanic,” said Simmons, who attends Brittany Woods Middle School in the University City School District.
But she learned much more during the justice’s conversation with Chancellor Andrew D. Martin — that Justice Sotomayor’s mother was her first and best teacher; that she never dreamed of being a lawyer because she didn’t know any; that she truly believes — even today — that every person has something good inside, you just need to look for it.
Justice Sotomayor was at Washington University in St. Louis to share her book, “Just Shine! How to be a Better You,” a tribute to her mother, Celina, who showed the world her love by spreading kindness, healing others and treating all with respect and dignity.
More than 200 elementary and middle school students from neighboring University School District, Clayton School District, St. Louis Public Schools, KIPP St. Louis, Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District and other local schools sat in the Field House’s front rows. WashU Student Affairs provided each child, as well as audience members, a copy of the book.
One of those students, Will Villa, a seventh grader from Wydown Middle School in the Clayton School District, had the opportunity to meet Justice Sotomayor at an event for students and other guests. He asked how she overcame so many challenges as a little girl growing up in the Bronx, N.Y.
“She told me, it was stubbornness that got her through — not stubbornness in a bad way, but in a good way,” Villa said. “It made me think that whenever I’m doing something, I just need to be stubborn and push through.”
Bella and Lucy Rastaletti Undurraga also got the chance to ask Justice Sotomayor a question during the Q&A portion of her appearance. What would she do today if she was 9 years old? they wanted to know. Justice Sotomayor invited the girls on stage and gave them the Spanish edition of “Just Shine” before telling them to read, read, read — not just textbooks but stories about people and places. For Justice Sotomayor, that meant Nancy Drew mysteries.
“The world was so much bigger than I thought,” Justice Sotomayor said. “I knew nothing about the Supreme Court. How can you dream about something you don’t know about? You can’t.”
It’s an important message for those children in the audience who, like the young Sotomayor, do not have a lot of money or resources, said Matthew Wittenberg, a social studies teacher at KIPP Inspire Academy in north St. Louis. Later this year, he will be teaching his eighth graders about the Supreme Court and its impact on their daily lives.
“For our students to hear directly from a woman of color in a position of power is very inspiring,” Wittenberg said. “She shows them what is possible.”
