Just Determined

Name: Melissa Medhat Mikail, J.D.

UCR Alumnus, Class of 2015

B.A. in Philosophy/Law and Society

I was born to immigrant parents who fled religious persecution in Egypt to diligently pursue an elusive American dream. My father was diagnosed with Guillain Barré syndrome when I was 7. For the next 2 years, my mother financially supported 3 young children while managing to stand by his bedside, giving him whatever strength she had remaining. Following his death, she immediately returned to work. People advised my mother to take us back to Egypt, warning her of the difficulty of being a single mother of 3 in the U.S. In the midst of unrelenting poverty, my mother taught me the value of education and persistence.

My pursuit in a career in law had its genesis in a dream my father envisioned for me. When I was rejected from my top choice for college, I knew I had to work harder. I commuted to UC Riverside while working 2 part-time jobs, taking above-average units each quarter, and supporting my family. I graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and was admitted to my dream law school, even though many laughed at the mention of Harvard. My college years taught me a valuable lesson: strength is made perfect during weakness.

My acceptance to Harvard has been the greatest reward through all of my adversities. I came to see the law as the language that governs our lives; however when I arrived, I didn't speak the language. It struck me, not so much as a language but as a reminder of the world I come from. While their language was alien to me, my reality was alien to them. I accepted that I was there to learn their language with fluency, to master it. My history, education, and story provide me with an elevated seat at the table where I can bring my mother, my Coptic community, my struggles, and my experiences—the languages I speak with fluency. I have an obligation to teach my language to others. I am inspired by the courage of those who came before me who enshrined values of fairness within enduring principles, and it behooves me to move that legacy forward. Just as countless people carried me on their shoulders to get to this point, so too will I serve as a stepping stool for those who equally deserve this privilege. All thanks to God!

Melissa Medhat Mikail, J.D.

#whotellsyourstory #lawschool #classof2015 #summacumlaude