Amber Goodwin’s inspiring journey serves as a powerful reminder not to give up, even when faced with multiple rejections and obstacles. Despite being turned down by her top choices for law schools, she never lost sight of her dream of becoming a lawyer. This week, at the age of 41, she will proudly graduate from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, almost two decades after completing her undergraduate studies.
While seeking avenues to fulfill her aspirations, Goodwin pursued a master’s degree and found herself working on Capitol Hill. Driven by her passion for justice, she went on to establish the Community Justice Action Fund (CJAF), a program dedicated to addressing gun violence within communities of color.
Although she devoted considerable attention to her action fund and her job on Capitol Hill, Goodwin made the courageous decision to reapply to law school in her late 30s. Adopting a resilient mindset, she resolved to keep applying until someone said yes. “I’m not going to call the question on myself,” she asserted, as she persevered through the application process.
Now on the cusp of graduation, Goodwin celebrates her hard-earned victories and encourages women of all ages to pursue their dreams relentlessly. In a social media post, she humorously warned of an impending influx of law graduation photos while sharing her own image in cap and gown.
As a 41-year-old woman who has never been married or had children, Goodwin acknowledges the societal challenges faced by individuals like her. However, she embraces her accomplishments and recognizes their significance. She expressed gratitude for the positive responses her story received, both in public comments and private messages, as people resonated with her experiences and felt inspired to pursue their own aspirations.
Goodwin didn’t anticipate the overwhelming response her tweet generated, initially assuming that only family and friends would engage with it. She considers herself brave for returning to law school at 38 without a clear post-graduation plan. In her view, women, especially Black women, often aren’t celebrated during their journey but rather after achieving significant milestones such as winning major cases or starting families.
For Goodwin, every day is worthy of celebration, and she remains open to the possibility of starting a family in the future. Her story serves as a reminder that accomplishments should be acknowledged and celebrated at every stage of life.
