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Watching her daughter be nominated to the Supreme Court by President Obama brought Celina Sotomayor Lopez to tears on Tuesday. Obama noted her commitment to her children during his introduction of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, "Her mother worked six days a week as a nurse to provide for Sonia and her brother -- who is also here today, is a doctor and a terrific success in his own right. But Sonia's mom bought the only set of encyclopedias in the neighborhood, sent her children to a Catholic school called Cardinal Spellman out of the belief that with a good education here in America all things are possible." Now the 82-year-old is all smiles, too, telling reporters, "Words cannot tell you how proud I am...I never told them [Sonia and her brother] to do anything for a living. I didn't tell them to be this or be that. I just said be the best you can always be. Be honest. If you have to clean toilets, that's fine." She added, "I am feeling great, but very tired...I guess the best word is overwhelmed."
Sotomayor's Mother Is "Overwhelmed" With Pride
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If my daughter became a US Judge, I would cry too.
No, I don't have children.
And this lady's quotes should be recited in every school.
"...be the best you can always be. Be honest. If you have to clean toilets, that's fine."
The media cliches are hilarious, but sad because it belittles Sotomayor's achievements, really. For example, what on earth could the oft-repeated "...bought the only set of encyclopedias in the neighborhood" mean? That somehow all the residents of her neighborhood were fighting over the only encyclopedias available? In New York City?
I believe it means she was the only one in the hood who wanted a better education for her daughter so she got her some books. All the other kids probably didn't care too much for reading.
Awh. Hooray for mothers.
Sotomayor's achievements are to be applauded but I'm with #2: tired of the media-hyped feel-good narratives, success mythologies, zero-to-hero hyperboles.
fwiw, Gladwell does this in in Outliers. Just because you're from the South Bronx with a devoted mother does NOT mean you can be anything one day, let alone a S.C nominee; likewise, I know plenty a Ivy cat who rode the legacy cottails, and is doing no better than any other Joe at their 9-to-5 job.
Couldn't agree more. Her success is the unique result of an outstanding mother and her own determination combined with megawatt brain power.
My husband has two frinds that graduated from Harvard College. I have a friend that went to McGill.Both great schools, right? Perhaps not for everyone though since McGill grad works as a paralegal and restaurant hostess while the other abovementioned are working absolutely meaningless (we're talking administrative/ office crap)9-5 jobs because , perhaps, they utterly lack creativity, but certainly lack fire-in-belly motivation.
Every time we see these people back in Boston we can't believe that they're still doing absolutely nothing with their lives. It boggles the mind. So yes, Sotomayor is an outlier in my opinion.
I love this story and we need more like it...if only because of the garbage coming out of republicans about Sotomayor.
Is Mom a member of La Raza, too?