The challenges I have faced — among them material poverty, chronic illness, and being raised by a single mother — are not uncommon, but neither have … - Sonia Sotomayor

First of all, a girl like you should always dream big. Second, never let anyone say that you can’t do it. And the minute they say that, you should do as I have done myself and say: "You are telling me I can’t do it? Well, I’ll show you I can." Third, you have to study, study and study. That’s the only way you can achieve what you want in life. Education is the key to the future. And fourth, you have to work very hard. In life no one will give you anything for free. You must earn every single thing in this life. It is by studying and working hard that you will become president of the United States.

Seeing the task in the context of another

What holds a jury’s attention, essentially, is the quality of one’s own attention.