“Let’s keep beating all their odds, baby.”
A 24-year-old single mum who finished up her last exam while in labour has graduated from Harvard Law School.
Briana Williams shared an open letter to her infant daughter, Evelyn, on Instagram after her graduation.
She revealed that she had gone into labour in last April while she was going through her final exam period – and had immediately asked for an epidural, so her contractions wouldn’t interfere with her exam.
She continued:
“And, with tears in my eyes, I finished it. This ‘biting the bullet’ experience is quite quintessential of my time at Harvard.
“To say that my last year of law school, with a newborn, and as a single mom was a challenge would be an understatement.
“Some days I was so mentally and emotionally fatigued that I did not leave my bed. I struggled with reliable childcare. It was not atypical to see me rushing through Wasserstein to the Dean of Students’ office with Evelyn in her carriage, asking DOS can they keep her for a few until class was over. If not, she’d just have to come with me to class. Evie attended classes often.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjLFNUHglWh/?taken-by=lovexbriana
“So I’m going to be honest with you guys.. I didnt think I could do it.
“I did not think that, at 24 years old, as a single mom, I would be able to get through one of the most intellectually rigorous and challenging positions of my life.
“It was hard. It hurt. Instagram can make peoples’ lives seem seamless, but this journey has been heartwrenching.
“However, I am happy to say that I DID do it.
“Today, Evelyn in my arms, with tears streaming down my face, I accepted my Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. At first, I was the anomaly of my [marginalized] community.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjTBKSHgR3q/?taken-by=lovexbriana
“Then, as a single mother, I became a statistic. Next, I pray that- for the sake of my baby, I will be an example.
“Evelyn- they said that because of you I wouldn’t be able to do this. Just know that I did this BECAUSE OF YOU.
“Thank you for giving me the strength and courage to be invincible. Let’s keep beating all their odds, baby.”
