Finding My Niche
By Sabriya Zaman
When I was young, I searched for my niche - that special something I was passionate about and good at. All my friends had interesting hobbies that they could talk about during ice breakers, but I never felt like I had a mind-blowing fact about myself to share. Over the years, I tried out many musical instruments, sports, and art mediums, but I never found that one thing that resonated with me.
As I got older, I realized that most people’s interests directed them towards an associated career path. Skilled animators wanted to work for Disney and illustrate movies. Aspiring singers wanted to sing songs that end up on the Billboard Top 100.
The Supreme Court building in Washington, DC, where RBG served as a Supreme Court Justice from 1993 until her death in 2020.
Then there was me. I was lost. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life… that is, until I enrolled in an Advanced Placement Government class during my junior year of high school. That’s where I “met” her.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, aka RBG.
The Supreme Court building in Washington, DC, where RBG served as a Supreme Court Justice from 1993 until her death in 2020.
My first introduction to the late Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg was when I watched a movie about her life called On the Basis of Sex. I was entranced by her passion to help women break free of limits society places on them. She graduated at the top of her class at law school and went on to become one of the first female law professors in the US, to found a law journal focused on women’s rights, and to work with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) where she fought for gender equality. She made it her mission to advocate for women’s rights in the workplace, in academic institutions, and in society in general. RBG soon became my biggest role model (next to my mom, of course).
After watching On the Basis of Sex, I decided that becoming a lawyer might be the ideal career goal for me. I am extremely passionate about helping others in any way I can, and I’ve always been involved with community service and mentoring programs, so law seemed like an amazing way to uplift other women.
But now that I am in college, where I interact with so many new people and am exposed to many new ideas in classes, I feel like I’m back at square one. I still know I want to make a difference like RBG… but do I still want to make my mark in a courthouse?
I’m honestly not sure.
Regardless of where I end up though, I have realized a few things I wish I had known as a young girl.
It’s okay to not know what you are doing. Every girl you look up to is just winging it. We are all learning as we go.
It’s okay to make mistakes. Society tells us that mistakes are flaws, but they are really just experiences we can grow from.
Don’t give up on something just because it’s hard. If you give up too early, you won’t know what you are missing. It’s better to regret trying too hard than not trying enough.
There is not one right or wrong thing to be passionate about. You do not need an interest just like everyone else’s. Find something you believe in and want to fight for and then just go for it.
I think Ruth Bader Ginsburg says it best—"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you." Whether I end up fighting for things I care about in a courtroom or not, I know I’ll find my niche doing something I believe in.
