05/12/2026
Today I watched my cousin graduate law school at UCSF. I was torn about leaving the office after already being out Friday, but sitting in that auditorium listening to incredible speakers was just what I needed.
The opening remarks came from a Japanese civil rights lawyer and activist whose message landed hard: when you’re in a position to advocate for others, you have a duty to show up and do it.
And then the closing speaker gave the class a charge that stuck with me too: to be resilient, you need connection, purpose, and adaptability. Connection is community….that one makes intuitive sense… communities are supportive and uplifting. Purpose is what makes you feel fulfilled. And adaptability, she said, is the WILLINGNESS to adapt. Something about hearing it framed that way was powerful. We will all face roadblocks. We CHOOSE how we change course, and we can actually develop the skill of adapting quicker, more gracefully, or with a better attitude. Im sharing (paraphrasing 🙃) her message in case someone else needs to hear it today.
Sherri, we are SO proud of you! 28 with a double masters and a JD… you beat all your siblings and cousin with your letters and diplomas 😉
Fun Fact 🤩: I had a rare opportunity to hang with my incredible brother today outside of work (we’re Irish twins and the same age until May 18!) For any of you that follow he joined me on the operations side of the clinic last year.
