Shirley G. has always been an underdog — a shortcoming that motivated her to excel in life, she says.
Her parents were poor, but caring, she says. She was the first in her family to graduate from high school.
After graduation, her mother, who was a realist, advised her that there was no money available for college. That moment was a turning point in her life because she determined that yes, she would pursue a college education — her way.
On November 14, Shirley visited Harvard Law School as part of the AARP’s Wish of a Lifetime program, which grants older people dreams they might not otherwise have been able to make a reality. Her visit, which included a campus tour and participation in a law school class, confirmed her desire to continue in her legal education — and to have an impact on others.
“It was awesome,” she says of the experience. “Everyone was so welcoming.”
‘A big, black hole’
At 17, and with the United States already deeply embroiled in the Vietnam War, Shirley decided to enlist in the Navy. Because she was underage, her mother had to sign the paperwork since her father refused.
“This was a time when the military was not really respected, because the Vietnam War was very unpopular with the citizenry,” Shirley says. “The military served as a visual scapegoat for this resentment.”
At this time, service men and women were discouraged from wearing their uniforms on the street, in order to avoid becoming targets of the widespread protests, she says.
The Vietnam War era was a time of grave uncertainty, Shirley says. Wartime transfers, long duty shifts, and mounting deaths were an everyday occurrence for the military. “Here today, and gone tomorrow, was the order of the day,” she says.
The war became personal for Shirley while she was on duty at the First Naval District in Boston, when she received word that someone very close to her was in a helicopter crash over the South China Sea and presumed drowned.
For someone so young, that tragedy was devastating. It left her in a very dark place, she says. Life was still happening as usual, all around her, but for her, it had stopped. “It seemed as though I was sinking deeper and deeper into a big, black hole.”
At this early age, she was forced to realize that life isn’t fair, she says, before adding that it wasn’t a reason to give up the fight. “Unlike the approximately 58,220 military men and women who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, I was able to take advantage of the G.I. Bill’s educational benefits.”
Now that seemingly impossible college education was within her grasp, she says.
She decided to pursue her educational dreams, enrolling in college and completing her B.A. in just three years — all while working a job to support herself. After that, Shirley worked in law enforcement and security. Ten years into her career, she felt the urge to once again build on her knowledge base. She went back to school and earned a master’s degree in criminal justice, although law school was never far from her mind.
As she continued in her law enforcement career and taught occasional courses at a community college, Shirley also says she realized that the law is essential in a just and orderly society. “Everyone should be subject to the law, and no one should be above it.”
Her interest in the law has only blossomed since then. Today, Shirley wakes at 4:30 every morning and turns to a set of bar exam guides, which she reads to understand torts, contracts, criminal law, civil law, real property, evidence, and constitutional law. She writes her own summaries of the case law, then takes the practice tests and bar exams, or consults her Black’s Law Dictionary to learn more.
After completing those materials, Shirley says she now has a concise guide to the first-year law school subjects that she can review at any time.
Visting Harvard Law School
Hoping to get a taste of law school, Shirley contacted the Wish of a Lifetime program, which helps those over 65 achieve a cherished goal. The organization set her up with Elizabeth Bliss-Burger of Harvard’s Divinity School, who arranged a visit to Harvard Law’s campus on November 14.
As part of her tour, Shirley attended a class, where she engaged with the instructor and guest speaker. It was an interesting and thought-provoking conversation, she says. “Just being in the classroom made me homesick for my days as a student.”
She also appreciated exploring Harvard’s storied buildings, including Wasserstein Hall and the Harvard Law Library. “Since it was nighttime, seeing the people studying and looking out the windows, could only be described as beautiful.”
According to Shirley, the Harvard experience was “awesome,” and the Harvard affiliates, including Bliss-Burger, fellow Harvard Divinity School student Emily Hill, and Lecturer on Law Betsy Miller, were “very welcoming and knowledgeable.” “In addition, Harvard’s excellent photographer Lorin Granger’s pictures will provide lasting memories.”
Rosalie Nicastro, who works for the city of Gloucester and accompanied Shirley, also made the experience memorable, she adds.
Shirley says the campus visit confirmed her desire to keep learning and growing in her knowledge about the law. No matter what, she plans to use her time wisely, time that she knows not everyone who served alongside her was granted. “Judge Judy always says that people have too much time on their hands in this society, and if you happen to be one of those, don’t just sit around and feel sorry for yourself, study the law.”
Her next step is to explore where she can learn the fundamentals of legal writing and research. She also hopes to someday to take some courses at Harvard Law itself.
Shirley says she also wants to use her legal skills and knowledge to help others, especially veterans. Right now, she says she is trying to create innovative, permanent, independent housing for low-income veterans. “After all, all veterans have sacrificed something — some more than others.”
As an underdog, it is in her nature. “We have to keep fighting,” she says.
Want to stay up to date with Harvard Law Today? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.