"A strong woman stands up for herself. A stronger woman stands up for everyone else." — Unknown
Have you ever been questioned for doing something people don’t usually expect from you... something often associated with men you know? I have.
I’ve found myself in that position more than once, simply because I chose a path that feels different from what others are used to. I volunteer in construction work, and at the same time, I study law. To some, that combination feels unusual. To me, it feels right.
Because I’ve come to realize this: there is something deeply powerful about a woman who chooses to learn the law not because she has already arrived, but because she refuses to stay where she is.
Here in the Philippines, many women are pursuing law. In fact, women have been consistently excelling in the Bar Exams, with many topnotchers being female. As of 2020, over half (50.49%) of judges and justices in the country are women, a reflection of how far women have come in the legal field. And yet, despite these numbers, challenges remain. Gender stereotypes still exist. Some people still assume that female lawyers are less capable of handling intense negotiations or adversarial cases.
And without announcing it, I’ve decided to prove those assumptions wrong not with arguments but with growth. Because although I am not in law school, I am still learning.
I don’t carry a stack of casebooks under my arm, nor do I sit in lecture halls debating jurisprudence with professors. But every day, in my own small and determined way, I am becoming a woman who understands the language of law. I study on my own, watch legal lectures, and follow Senate hearings building knowledge piece by piece. And that, in itself, is a journey worth writing about.
Because learning law especially without formal education, where the path is costly and takes years is not just about memorizing terms or understanding cases. It is about building a voice.
As someone who has been a public speaker for five years, I’ve come to value the power of words. And I hold on to the belief that one day, my voice... ofcouse, refined by knowledge and guided by purpose... will matter in ways I cannot yet fully see.
So let this stand as a reminder:
A voice that once hesitated now questions.
A voice that once stayed silent now reasons.
A voice that once doubted now dares.
Where it all began
If you’ve been following my journey since day one, you might remember that this passion didn’t start with certainty, but it started with curiosity.
What does justice really mean?
Why do laws exist the way they do?
How do carefully written words shape real lives?
But beyond curiosity, there was also something personal.
While my immediate family—my parents and siblings—are incredibly close, almost like best friends, we have faced difficult experiences with some relatives on my mother’s side. There were moments of harassment (physically, emotionally, and psychologically) that left a mark on me.
And in those moments, I made a promise to myself:
I would learn.
I would understand the law.
And one day, I would use that knowledge to protect the people who have always protected me.
Not out of revenge but out of justice.
So at first, legal terms felt like a foreign language (to me). Words like jurisdiction, liability, and burden of proof sounded distant and intimidating. But the more I encountered them, the more I understood something important:
Law is not only for those inside courtrooms. It belongs to anyone willing to learn.And so, I stayed.
Still, there is a ntural loneliness in learning something you deeply care about without a structured path... no syllabus, no professor, no grades to measure progress. Just me, my notes, my online resources, and my determination.
I read what I can.
I listen carefully to debates.
I observe how arguments are formed, how logic is built, how words are chosen not just to impress, but to persuade.
There are days when I feel behind. Days when I feel small in a field so vast. But I’ve learned that growth does not always happen loudly. Sometimes, it lives in persistence, you know in choosing to understand one concept today, even when yesterday felt overwhelming.
And guess what, there is a unique strength in being a woman drawn to law.
Because law demands clarity and women are often taught to soften their voices.
Law demands confidence and women are often taught to second-guess themselves.
Law demands presence and women are often taught to shrink.
So every time a woman chooses to study law, even informally, she is doing more than learning. She is unlearning limitations. She is rewriting expectations. She is becoming someone who understands not only her rights but her worth (and trust me, it's so satisfying).
So yes, even though people may question my progress because I am not still in law school, I am confidently sure that I am becoming someone who thinks like one.
I analyze.
I question.
I listen beyond what is said and pay attention to what is meant.
Even without a degree (yet), I am already changing. Because I somehow learned that law is not just a profession. It is a way of thinking and a way of seeing the world with structure, fairness, and intention.
If you are reading this and thinking, “I’m not qualified,” or “I don’t have the opportunity,” this is for you.
You do not have to wait for permission to begin.
Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Learn at your own pace.
Because the journey into law is not reserved for the already accomplished but to the open to the willing. And often, the most powerful women are not those who were given everything, but those who chose to rise anyway.
Of course, this is not about choosing one gender over another. Law is a space where both men and women can use their voices to stand for those who cannot speak for themselves. I respect everyone who chooses this path, regardless of gender and I am rooting for all of us.
And one day, when I finally stand where I have long envisioned myself to be, I will remember this version of me:
The one who started with nothing but curiosity and courage.
Because she is where it all began.
