Who Is She?

Sandra Day O'Connor is the first female Supreme Court justice. She inspired many women never give up and believe in yourself.

                                            Early Life and Personal Life

     Sandra Day O'Connor was born March 26,1930 in Hotel Dieu Hospital in El Paso, Texas. She grew up on her family ranch, called Lazy B. Lazy B was 35 miles from any help so that taught her to be independent and to never give up or back down, this helped her later on in her career. Her parents were Harry and Ida Mae Day. She had 1 brother named H Alan Day. Later, in 1952 she married John O'Connor and together, they had 3 sons. Their names were Scott, Brian, and Jay.

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                                                Education and Career

When Sandra Day O'Connor was 4, she already learned how to read. She was proven to be very bright at a young age. Her mother sent her to her grandmother's house to attend school there. Sandra Day O'Connor went to Stanford University and Stanford Law School. She received a bachelor's degree in economics in 1950 and received her degree in law school in 1952. She pursued her career in her field of study, law. At that time, for a lawyer, it was very rare for a woman to get hired and still get paid reasonably. Sandra Day O'Connor found it difficult. Her first job was an unpaid intern for the county of San Mateo. She strode towards her dream of becoming a big lawyer and never backed down no matter who gossiped behind her back and threatened her to give up. In 1981, all her hard work paid off. President Ronald Reagan appointed Sandra Day O'Connor as the first female justice of the Supreme Court, which is the highest court of the nation.

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                              Famous Quotations and Inspirations

"The more education a woman has, the wider the gap between men's and women's earnings for the same work”  ~Sandra Day O'Connor
”The power I exert on the court depends on the power of my arguments, not on my gender.”
                                                                                                           ~Sandra Day O'Connor
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These two quotes are very important. They express Sandra Day O'Connor's beliefs. Both quotes explain that women should be judged on who they are and what they should be by education, not by their gender. Earlier in young O'Connor's career, she was objected from many jobs, despite her education, which was better than most men's, because she was a female. She has inspired many women never to give up or back down, be independent, and to believe in yourself. 
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                                       Awards/Accomplishments

During Sandra Day O'Connor's career, she won numerous amounts of prizes and awards. Out of 106 awards, the most important one was the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award that can be given to the highest civilian of peacetime. She has proved to everybody that women are equally capable of doing anything men can do.

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                                                    My Tribute

Sandra Day O'Connor has made a big impact on our society. My tribute to her is a law school named after her, it's called Sandra Day O'Connor Law School. I did this because she cared greatly for education. In front of the law school is a statue of her holding a law book in her left hand and holding her right hand up as if swearing into the Supreme Court. She is wearing a black dress uniform and standing on a plaque that has the two quotes, "The more education a woman has, the wider the gap between men's and women's earnings for the same work”  and the quote, ”The power I exert on the court depends on the power of my arguments, not on my gender.” on both sides of the plaque. The law school is made of red brick and the statue will be made out of Orthoclase Feldspar ( the 5th hardest rock in the world, it's hard but carvable). The law school is approximately 751 feet and 4 inches long, 350 feet wide, and 288 feet high. The location of the law school is in Washington, DC. The statue will be dyed different colors so as students walk past, they might be inspired. My tribute is interactive by letting students having a hands-on experience learning law. This is how I will honor Sandra Day O'Connor.  
                                                                                                           

Cites/Resources-
Sandra Day O'Connor: Justice in the Balance (Biography Written by Ann McFeatters)
http://www.oconnorhouse.org/oconnor/biography.php
http://www.biography.com/people/sandra-day-oconnor-9426834
http://www.oconnorhouse.org/oconnor/awards.php ​