Sotomayor: one of many in a long line of Ivy League graduates, but also a symbol of hope

July 14, 6:47 PMLA College Bound ExaminerEllen Richards

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Just like moons and suns,

With Certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise."

Maya Angelou

As Sonia Sotomayor awaits the decision of those who sit in judgment of her, the time offers an opportunity for Americans to stop for a moment to consider not just Sotomayor and her nomination, but also how she worked her way - as a Latina woman - to what very likely may be a seat on the Supreme Court.

Should Sotomayor be elected, she will join seven other graduates of Ivy League schools. In fact, an Ivy League education seems to be an unwritten pre-requisite if one aspires to be on the Supreme Court. Historically the court has favored those who hail from elite schools - or would one might argue "the elite people" at those schools? Half of the 110 justices in our nation's history attended an Ivy League institution either as an ungraduate, graduate or law student.  Since 1950, 70% of the justices attended an Ivy League and since 1900 every president has chosen at least one Ivy League graduate to fill a vacant spot on the Court.

Some argue that a group which represents the citizens of the country should be as diverse as the people within the country and educational backgrounds should be included under the catgory of diversity. Many might suggest that the people in power choose people with the same background as themselves, exemplifying how the power elite exercises its hegemony.

On the other hand, many believe that graduating from an Ivy League institution proves a solid work ethic and that the schools have pre-chosen future leaders because the top schools allegedly accept only the nation's best and brightest students.

High school and college students today might be surprised to learn that Ms. Sotomayor reportedly admits that she did not do well on the SAT (gasp!) and that her scores "were not comparable to that of [her] collegues" at Princeton University. Students today are indoctrinated to believe that who they are perceived to be by pieces of papers with grades and scores stuffed into a file equates to who they actually are or will become. Sotomayor is a testament to the fact that we are so much more than what others would have us believe. We are so much more than the color of our skin, the wealth of our family or the scores we attained on standardized tests.

Sotomayor graduated from Princeton with the highest honors, causing one to wonder, "what ever happened to those classmates who achieved a perfect score on the SAT"? More importantly, she stands as a beacon of hope for those who believe that a strong work ethic and a brave soul can withstand any hardship and overcome any boundary. Regardless of all else, the nation's youth must reject the indoctrination that binds them, causing them to fear what might happen if they break out of the cage that others so carefully craft for them.

Ms. Sotomayor carries with her a strong message: you are so much more than a test score or grades on a transcript. You are the promise of our future and brings to mind the often quoted phrase, "if you believe it, then you can achieve it."