Why Everyone Should Go To Law School | Jana Al-Akhras | TEDxNewAlbany

Summary

The speaker shares their personal journey of choosing law school as a first-generation American with immigrant parents. They emphasize the challenges of being a visibly Muslim woman in a monolithic space and highlight the struggle for authenticity versus performative identity. The speaker critiques the outdated, expensive, and demanding nature of law school but values the critical thinking skills it teaches. They advocate for inclusivity over mere diversity, encouraging others to challenge societal norms, embrace their identities, and impact their communities positively, regardless of whether they choose law school.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker chose to attend law school because, as a first-generation American, traditional career paths like law, engineering, or medicine were emphasized. Lacking math or science skills, they pursued law.
• 👩‍⚖️ Being a visibly Muslim woman in law school presented unique challenges, including assumptions and biases based on appearance.
• 💰 Law school is expensive and emotionally, physically challenging, making it one of the hardest experiences the speaker faced.
• 😓 Many law students experience imposter syndrome, realizing they are not the 'smartest' in the room, leading to struggles with mediocrity.
• 🤔 Law school forces students to critically think, analyze, and become intellectual, which is a valuable skill set, despite its outdated system.
• 🙅 The speaker faced stereotyping, with others suggesting career paths like immigration law or the FBI based solely on their background and appearance.
• 💡 Authenticity is crucial, and it's important not to perform an identity just to please others. The speaker advocates for remaining true to oneself in all spaces.
• 🌈 Diversity is important, but inclusion is even more crucial. Having a seat at the table means more than just being represented; it means shaping the environment.
• 👫 The speaker had a strong reaction to seeing another Muslim woman in law school, showing how starved marginalized communities are for representation and inclusivity.
• 🚪 The ultimate message is to push for inclusivity, challenge the status quo, and avoid living life on 'cruise control.' Everyone has the potential to impact others and deserves a seat at the table.

Q & A

What motivated the speaker to pursue law school?

The speaker chose law school because they lacked aptitude in math and science, but also because they wanted to address the fact that this country's laws were not made for people who look like them. As a visibly Muslim woman, they felt the value of advocacy and representation in a predominantly monolithic space.

What challenges does the speaker identify about law school?

The speaker highlights several challenges of law school: it's an outdated and extremely expensive system, it can be emotionally and physically demanding, and it forces students to confront their own limitations and mediocrity. Additionally, they faced personal challenges related to identity and external perceptions.

How did the speaker's identity influence their law school experience?

The speaker's identity as a visibly Muslim woman and Arab American led others to make assumptions about their career path, such as suggesting they pursue immigration law or work for the FBI, based solely on their appearance and background rather than their interests or abilities.

What does the speaker see as the difference between diversity and inclusion?

The speaker explains that diversity is like having a 72-color Crayola crayon pack, which represents a variety of options. Inclusion, however, means being the artist who creates the coloring book, ensuring the surroundings are familiar and representative of diverse experiences. Inclusion means creating an environment where people feel they truly belong, not just that they are present.

What does the speaker mean by 'authenticity' in the context of their speech?

Authenticity, according to the speaker, means being the same person across different spaces without compromising one's identity to please others. It involves not performing a version of oneself that is designed to make others comfortable, which can be exhausting and inauthentic.

How does the speaker describe the concept of 'performative identity'?

Performative identity is when individuals, particularly from marginalized communities, feel pressured to perform a version of themselves that aligns with others' expectations rather than their true selves. This can be exhausting and harmful, as it forces people to conform to stereotypes rather than embracing their authentic selves.

What advice does the speaker give to those considering law school or any challenging endeavor?

The speaker advises identifying the spaces that need change and pushing for inclusivity. They encourage people to be authentic, expand opportunities for others who are underrepresented, and not live life on cruise control, passively accepting societal expectations. Instead, they should actively shape their paths and impact their communities.

How does the speaker view the role of representation in their decision to attend law school?

Representation is a central theme in the speaker's decision to attend law school. They wanted to ensure that someone who looked like them was present in the legal field, advocating for communities that are often excluded or misrepresented by the law. Their goal was to be a visible example and pave the way for others.

What does the speaker identify as the main problem with just focusing on diversity?

The speaker points out that focusing solely on diversity without inclusion can be problematic. While diversity adds different faces to a space, inclusion ensures that these diverse individuals feel genuinely welcomed and are given the opportunity to influence and shape the environment, rather than merely being present.

What personal realizations did the speaker have during their time in law school?

During law school, the speaker realized that others were trying to define who they were, often based on stereotypes. This realization led them to reflect on their own authenticity and the importance of not conforming to others' expectations but instead pursuing their true passions and interests, regardless of external pressures.