Reshma Saujani

Yes. Totally. And we had none of the—we had, like, the knockoff version. Yeah. You know what I mean? Of all of that. But so I really tried to be white. Like, I tried to be those other girls and deny my culture and all of it. And, you know, every day I would get made fun of and bullied. And one day, I don't know, there was nothing special about that day, Megan.

Yes. Totally. And we had none of the—we had, like, the knockoff version. Yeah. You know what I mean? Of all of that. But so I really tried to be white. Like, I tried to be those other girls and deny my culture and all of it. And, you know, every day I would get made fun of and bullied. And one day, I don't know, there was nothing special about that day, Megan.

I just, when challenged to go to the back of the school, you know, for a fight, I was like, okay, instead of just getting on the bus. And that day changed my life, right? I got beat up pretty bad. But I also realized I'm not white and I'm never going to be. And I have a responsibility to actually teach people about difference.

I just, when challenged to go to the back of the school, you know, for a fight, I was like, okay, instead of just getting on the bus. And that day changed my life, right? I got beat up pretty bad. But I also realized I'm not white and I'm never going to be. And I have a responsibility to actually teach people about difference.

Like literally, I went to freshman year of high school and started a club called PRISM, like the Prejudice Reduction Interested Students Movement. Horrible name. I got better at that.

Like literally, I went to freshman year of high school and started a club called PRISM, like the Prejudice Reduction Interested Students Movement. Horrible name. I got better at that.

Yeah, I guess it does. So, yeah, I think I turned to hope.

Yeah, I guess it does. So, yeah, I think I turned to hope.

Always wanting to affect change. Yeah. I realized early on what my gift was. So I started going to Model UN and debate, and I realized, ooh, I can give a speech. I can communicate, and I actually feel at home. on stage. And I'm thinking the way to make a difference is to run for office. I'm in love with Dr. King, Mahatma Gandhi, John F. Kennedy.

Always wanting to affect change. Yeah. I realized early on what my gift was. So I started going to Model UN and debate, and I realized, ooh, I can give a speech. I can communicate, and I actually feel at home. on stage. And I'm thinking the way to make a difference is to run for office. I'm in love with Dr. King, Mahatma Gandhi, John F. Kennedy.

Like back then, I thought politics, politics, and you can, you know how to communicate, like that's where you go. And so I, you know, volunteer on my first campaign, the 92 Clinton campaign, fell in love with politics and Washington and Hillary Clinton and the whole thing. And I'm looking at all these people like a Hillary, like

Like back then, I thought politics, politics, and you can, you know how to communicate, like that's where you go. And so I, you know, volunteer on my first campaign, the 92 Clinton campaign, fell in love with politics and Washington and Hillary Clinton and the whole thing. And I'm looking at all these people like a Hillary, like

You know, and they all got a degree from Harvard and they're all lawyers. And so maybe that's my path, right? I'm going to Yale Law School. That's where I'm going. I apply three times. Don't get in. You know what I mean? Finally get in. But not just finally get in.

You know, and they all got a degree from Harvard and they're all lawyers. And so maybe that's my path, right? I'm going to Yale Law School. That's where I'm going. I apply three times. Don't get in. You know what I mean? Finally get in. But not just finally get in.

What did you say? Well, so I had this mentor, Leon Higginbotham Jr. He was like the first federal Black jurist on the Third Circuit Court. And he becomes my mentor. Every Sunday, I am at him and Evelyn's house listening to like the heroes of the civil rights movement. And it is just, I love Leon. And Leon's like, oh, girl, you're getting in.

What did you say? Well, so I had this mentor, Leon Higginbotham Jr. He was like the first federal Black jurist on the Third Circuit Court. And he becomes my mentor. Every Sunday, I am at him and Evelyn's house listening to like the heroes of the civil rights movement. And it is just, I love Leon. And Leon's like, oh, girl, you're getting in.

Like when you go to your law school, when you walk in, there's my photo. Like, I got you. And he dies. And he doesn't write my recommendation letter. Oh, I didn't. Okay. Before he dies. Okay. So I'm devastated. And I don't have a recommendation letter. And it's like, it's his funeral. Everybody is there. And at the funeral, I meet the assistants of the dean of Yale Law School. Wow.

Like when you go to your law school, when you walk in, there's my photo. Like, I got you. And he dies. And he doesn't write my recommendation letter. Oh, I didn't. Okay. Before he dies. Okay. So I'm devastated. And I don't have a recommendation letter. And it's like, it's his funeral. Everybody is there. And at the funeral, I meet the assistants of the dean of Yale Law School. Wow.

And kind of like, she feels sorry for me. And she was like, I'll get an appointment for you. And she kind of squeezes me and Dean Kraman's schedule. And I go to New Haven and make my pitch. And Dean Kraman's like, listen, I'll make you a deal. Like, you've gotten into all these other schools. Like, I got into Penn and Northwest. I mean, like, right? Like, really good schools.

And kind of like, she feels sorry for me. And she was like, I'll get an appointment for you. And she kind of squeezes me and Dean Kraman's schedule. And I go to New Haven and make my pitch. And Dean Kraman's like, listen, I'll make you a deal. Like, you've gotten into all these other schools. Like, I got into Penn and Northwest. I mean, like, right? Like, really good schools.