CHAPTER 1 BECOMING THE BEST n June 25 1954 a new baby was welcomed to the South Bronx Juan and Celina Sotomayor named their new baby girl Sonia a name that means wisdom Juan and Celina Sotomayor had come to New York City when Celina was serving in the Women's Auxiliary Corps a branch of the U S Army during World War II After Sonia they had one other child a boy who was named Juan after his father The family was not very well off and the Bronx was one of the poorer and rougher areas of New York Still the Sotomayor kids had The interest in law that led Sotomayor to the Supreme Court has its roots in her
BECOMING THE BEST North Riverdale Westchester Wakefield one advantage that was going to make a big difference in lverdale Eastchester Ed Spuyten Duyvil Kingsbridge WHEliamsbridge Marble Co op Cit Bedford Pariolinville Baychester Pelham Gardens hatta Pelham Parkway University Heights Morris Mount Hope City stand Mount Eden Pelham Bay Morris Park Country C Westchester Square Parkchester H S West Farms their lives a Claremont Village Concourne village I I Morris ania Schuylerville mother who Soundview Castle Ham Edgewater Park tral Harlem Longwood Throgs Neck Hunts Point Mott Haven understood that getting an education Port Morris East River Beechhurst Queens College Point Whitestone Astoria Heights was going to be the key to her children having a brighter future Sotomayor grew up in the Bronx which contains some of New York City's toughest neighborhoods GETTING AN EDUCATION Despite her mother s support Sonia faced some challenges in getting an education Her
SONIA SOTOMAYOR THE SUPREME COURT S FIRST HISPANIC JUSTICE father a factory worker whose highest level of school had been the third grade never really adjusted to speaking English regularly after moving from Puerto Rico Spanish is the most common language in Puerto Rico and in her early years Sonia and her family spoke mostly Spanish around the house Because of this when Sonia went to school in New York City Her mother s insistence on getting an education and setting high standards started Sotomayor on the road to
BECOMING THE BEST she had to take her lessons in a language she did not regularly speak Language was not the only challenge Sonia faced When she was seven she found out that she had childhood diabetes Then when she was nine her father died This meant that her mother had to work long hours as a nurse to support the family and they had to live in a public housing project Despite all those obstacles Sonia's mother made sure her kids understood the importance of getting an education She told them I don't care what you do but be the best at it Young Sonia took that advice seriously She was the valedictorian which is an honor for being the top student in one s class in both grade school and high school QUICK FACT As a student Sonia Sotomayor won academic awards in grade school high school and
