are you your mother’s lawyer that’s what dad used to say when he mom had an
dad used to say when he mom had an
dad used to say when he mom had an argument they never had a fight but
argument they never had a fight but
argument they never had a fight but whenever there was an argument I that
whenever there was an argument I that
whenever there was an argument I that made me to show up and try to stand by
made me to show up and try to stand by
made me to show up and try to stand by whoever is arguing and that was
whoever is arguing and that was
whoever is arguing and that was generally my mom that I did for but and
generally my mom that I did for but and
generally my mom that I did for but and most of the times the discussion nearly
most of the times the discussion nearly
most of the times the discussion nearly faded away because they were fed up with
faded away because they were fed up with
faded away because they were fed up with my endless discussion points but what
my endless discussion points but what
my endless discussion points but what could I do that was who I was and who I
could I do that was who I was and who I
could I do that was who I was and who I was going to blossom into what is
was going to blossom into what is
was going to blossom into what is genuinely happening for the sake of
genuinely happening for the sake of
genuinely happening for the sake of being normal
being normal
being normal forget about the definition in the
forget about the definition in the
forget about the definition in the dictionaries
dictionaries
dictionaries if you do not need special care god
if you do not need special care god
if you do not need special care god forbid when you are born then you can be
forbid when you are born then you can be
forbid when you are born then you can be deemed to be normal and can survive but
deemed to be normal and can survive but
deemed to be normal and can survive but survival both physically and mentally
survival both physically and mentally
survival both physically and mentally go successful if you are living on your
go successful if you are living on your
go successful if you are living on your path that you are born into what we
path that you are born into what we
path that you are born into what we generally do when we are kids is what we
generally do when we are kids is what we
generally do when we are kids is what we are taught to do or see others doing
are taught to do or see others doing
are taught to do or see others doing acting along the path system way that is
acting along the path system way that is
acting along the path system way that is mostly appreciated by our surrounding
mostly appreciated by our surrounding
mostly appreciated by our surrounding like parents grandparents teachers
like parents grandparents teachers
like parents grandparents teachers siblings and there are also
siblings and there are also
siblings and there are also circumstances that we try to fit in to
circumstances that we try to fit in to
circumstances that we try to fit in to try to have a good life make good money
try to have a good life make good money
try to have a good life make good money meeting and keeping up the standards and
meeting and keeping up the standards and
meeting and keeping up the standards and etc living a so-called normal life but
etc living a so-called normal life but
etc living a so-called normal life but generally what is normal for the society
generally what is normal for the society
generally what is normal for the society is an illusion created by judgment of
is an illusion created by judgment of
is an illusion created by judgment of people on what others should be like do
people on what others should be like do
people on what others should be like do like or look like and most of the time
like or look like and most of the time
like or look like and most of the time we miss our path because it may not fit
we miss our path because it may not fit
we miss our path because it may not fit into the norms
into the norms
into the norms created but we feel obliged to follow
created but we feel obliged to follow
created but we feel obliged to follow those for the sake of peacefulness yet I
those for the sake of peacefulness yet I
those for the sake of peacefulness yet I do not think that one should be an
do not think that one should be an
do not think that one should be an anarchist to follow his or her own path
at the age of 42 I’ve come to realize
at the age of 42 I’ve come to realize that what makes one feel happy and
that what makes one feel happy and
that what makes one feel happy and contempt in life which is very essential
contempt in life which is very essential
contempt in life which is very essential for successful survival is to follow her
for successful survival is to follow her
for successful survival is to follow her own path and live along her own
own path and live along her own
own path and live along her own normality sometimes you continue follow
normality sometimes you continue follow
normality sometimes you continue follow your route with the help of others like
your route with the help of others like
your route with the help of others like your parents teachers friends lovers who
your parents teachers friends lovers who
your parents teachers friends lovers who know you well and who can figure out
know you well and who can figure out
know you well and who can figure out what your path is and what your
what your path is and what your
what your path is and what your normality is if they’re good analysts
normality is if they’re good analysts
normality is if they’re good analysts then you’re lucky if not then don’t
then you’re lucky if not then don’t
then you’re lucky if not then don’t worry somewhere someplace sometime some
worry somewhere someplace sometime some
worry somewhere someplace sometime some event will make you realize it and
event will make you realize it and
event will make you realize it and follow it though I have been
follow it though I have been
follow it though I have been acknowledged as the lawyer of my mom for
acknowledged as the lawyer of my mom for
acknowledged as the lawyer of my mom for several years when I was a kid no
several years when I was a kid no
several years when I was a kid no becoming a lawyer was not actually my
becoming a lawyer was not actually my
becoming a lawyer was not actually my childhood dream it was becoming a mom to
childhood dream it was becoming a mom to
childhood dream it was becoming a mom to those boys and girls at the Johnson &
those boys and girls at the Johnson &
those boys and girls at the Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo commercials I can
Johnson baby shampoo commercials I can
Johnson baby shampoo commercials I can sympathize that some of the audience do
sympathize that some of the audience do
sympathize that some of the audience do not even recollect those but they can
not even recollect those but they can
not even recollect those but they can still follow me at my first year in they
still follow me at my first year in they
still follow me at my first year in they say at ease could I make an academy for
say at ease could I make an academy for
say at ease could I make an academy for girls hard to imagine I came to realize
girls hard to imagine I came to realize
girls hard to imagine I came to realize that I had a pretty good voice
that I had a pretty good voice
that I had a pretty good voice apparently a mezzo-soprano which I did
apparently a mezzo-soprano which I did
apparently a mezzo-soprano which I did not have an idea before but my mom had
not have an idea before but my mom had
not have an idea before but my mom had realized it and thanks to her I had a
realized it and thanks to her I had a
realized it and thanks to her I had a chance to sing at the bank children’s
chance to sing at the bank children’s
chance to sing at the bank children’s choir for one year when I was in primary
choir for one year when I was in primary
choir for one year when I was in primary school so that year I took a role
school so that year I took a role
school so that year I took a role the musical Oklahoma and it was the best
the musical Oklahoma and it was the best
the musical Oklahoma and it was the best time of my life I adored it I said this
time of my life I adored it I said this
time of my life I adored it I said this is it this is it I found it I was to
is it this is it I found it I was to
is it this is it I found it I was to become a musical singer or an opera
become a musical singer or an opera
become a musical singer or an opera singer
singer
singer now of course not everything that you
now of course not everything that you
now of course not everything that you feel good at or find yourself good at is
feel good at or find yourself good at is
feel good at or find yourself good at is meant to be your path and most of the
meant to be your path and most of the
meant to be your path and most of the times those that are not meant for you
times those that are not meant for you
times those that are not meant for you to become simply remain as hobbies which
to become simply remain as hobbies which
to become simply remain as hobbies which is a good thing in my second year I had
is a good thing in my second year I had
is a good thing in my second year I had two choices for me to do as
two choices for me to do as
two choices for me to do as extracurricular activities musical Cats
extracurricular activities musical Cats
extracurricular activities musical Cats or attending to the Model United Nations
or attending to the Model United Nations
or attending to the Model United Nations mu on at its first year in our school
mu on at its first year in our school
mu on at its first year in our school though I was raised as an obedient woman
though I was raised as an obedient woman
though I was raised as an obedient woman at the academy I also believed in my
at the academy I also believed in my
at the academy I also believed in my power of persuasiveness and ability in
power of persuasiveness and ability in
power of persuasiveness and ability in negotiating and being in a girl school
negotiating and being in a girl school
negotiating and being in a girl school only had crafted my personality to be
only had crafted my personality to be
only had crafted my personality to be able to defend her ideas in matriarchy
able to defend her ideas in matriarchy
able to defend her ideas in matriarchy far from any fights of against the other
far from any fights of against the other
far from any fights of against the other gender and not try to be wise as the boy
gender and not try to be wise as the boy
gender and not try to be wise as the boy determined as a boy strong as the boy
determined as a boy strong as the boy
determined as a boy strong as the boy hard-working as a boy as a boy as a boy
hard-working as a boy as a boy as a boy
hard-working as a boy as a boy as a boy etc so I did not hesitate to attend mu n
etc so I did not hesitate to attend mu n
etc so I did not hesitate to attend mu n and left my dream for musical for that
and left my dream for musical for that
and left my dream for musical for that year that choice that I made on my path
year that choice that I made on my path
year that choice that I made on my path shaped my life after that I attended to
shaped my life after that I attended to
shaped my life after that I attended to the MU n which where the general
the MU n which where the general
the MU n which where the general assembly was held in the hague and we
assembly was held in the hague and we
assembly was held in the hague and we were to act as Liberian diplomats and
were to act as Liberian diplomats and
were to act as Liberian diplomats and try to defend and negotiate for Liberian
try to defend and negotiate for Liberian
try to defend and negotiate for Liberian state and people I had a great time I
state and people I had a great time I
state and people I had a great time I was so amazed by everyone who was
was so amazed by everyone who was
was so amazed by everyone who was talking there at the General Assembly
talking there at the General Assembly
talking there at the General Assembly and when I came back I said I knew what
and when I came back I said I knew what
and when I came back I said I knew what I want to do I wanted to negotiate for
I want to do I wanted to negotiate for
I want to do I wanted to negotiate for claim
claim
claim defend prove and achieve fairness and
defend prove and achieve fairness and
defend prove and achieve fairness and justice and I thought I was to become a
justice and I thought I was to become a
justice and I thought I was to become a diplomat like the ones that I acted for
diplomat like the ones that I acted for
diplomat like the ones that I acted for the state of Liberia but then my dad
the state of Liberia but then my dad
the state of Liberia but then my dad said and I said I was to study political
said and I said I was to study political
said and I said I was to study political sciences which was a very new department
sciences which was a very new department
sciences which was a very new department in Turkey back then and my dad said no
in Turkey back then and my dad said no
in Turkey back then and my dad said no political sciences is not a fundamental
political sciences is not a fundamental
political sciences is not a fundamental profession and you know what if you
profession and you know what if you
profession and you know what if you become a diplomat you would probably
become a diplomat you would probably
become a diplomat you would probably wander all around the world and not be
wander all around the world and not be
wander all around the world and not be able to raise the family of yourself
able to raise the family of yourself
able to raise the family of yourself like he had seen in many of his friends
like he had seen in many of his friends
like he had seen in many of his friends lives remember my childhood dream no
lives remember my childhood dream no
lives remember my childhood dream no that was not a risk that I could take so
that was not a risk that I could take so
that was not a risk that I could take so he advised that I go to law school and
he advised that I go to law school and
he advised that I go to law school and decide later on on who I should become I
decide later on on who I should become I
decide later on on who I should become I went to one of his college friends who
went to one of his college friends who
went to one of his college friends who was a great lawyer and had known me
was a great lawyer and had known me
was a great lawyer and had known me since I was a baby and I talked to many
since I was a baby and I talked to many
since I was a baby and I talked to many lawyers at his office I wandered around
lawyers at his office I wandered around
lawyers at his office I wandered around and tried to feel the air of negotiating
and tried to feel the air of negotiating
and tried to feel the air of negotiating mediating and litigating and thereafter
mediating and litigating and thereafter
mediating and litigating and thereafter at the age of 17 I said okay I’m going
at the age of 17 I said okay I’m going
at the age of 17 I said okay I’m going to study law I’m going to graduate all
to study law I’m going to graduate all
to study law I’m going to graduate all with my classmates I’m going to win the
with my classmates I’m going to win the
with my classmates I’m going to win the university exam and get to the school I
university exam and get to the school I
university exam and get to the school I want to however every path has its
want to however every path has its
want to however every path has its tumbles I thought it was nearly
tumbles I thought it was nearly
tumbles I thought it was nearly impossible graduating from this school
impossible graduating from this school
impossible graduating from this school and winning the school that you want to
and winning the school that you want to
and winning the school that you want to win and get into but I failed in the
win and get into but I failed in the
win and get into but I failed in the university exam and I couldn’t get into
university exam and I couldn’t get into
university exam and I couldn’t get into the two schools that I had on my list
the two schools that I had on my list
the two schools that I had on my list and that year was the worst of my life I
and that year was the worst of my life I
and that year was the worst of my life I guess all my genius friends good friends
guess all my genius friends good friends
guess all my genius friends good friends having want the schools that they had
having want the schools that they had
having want the schools that they had one two two and I was there to study one
one two two and I was there to study one
one two two and I was there to study one more year with a bunch of losers like
more year with a bunch of losers like
more year with a bunch of losers like myself really very humiliating both for
myself really very humiliating both for
myself really very humiliating both for my stuff and against my family who had
my stuff and against my family who had
my stuff and against my family who had so much
so much
so much in me but a path is a path to follow I
in me but a path is a path to follow I
in me but a path is a path to follow I did not give up on my will to become a
did not give up on my will to become a
did not give up on my will to become a lawyer the second year I wanted to
lawyer the second year I wanted to
lawyer the second year I wanted to include only two schools again in my
include only two schools again in my
include only two schools again in my list for the university entrance but my
list for the university entrance but my
list for the university entrance but my father said this time no no no not to
father said this time no no no not to
father said this time no no no not to schools we’re going to have more under
schools we’re going to have more under
schools we’re going to have more under the list but I got into the first one
the list but I got into the first one
the list but I got into the first one that I had on my list and started to the
that I had on my list and started to the
that I had on my list and started to the faculty at the Istanbul University along
faculty at the Istanbul University along
faculty at the Istanbul University along the faculty I met extraordinarily
the faculty I met extraordinarily
the faculty I met extraordinarily well-equipped professors and lecturers
well-equipped professors and lecturers
well-equipped professors and lecturers who made me see and my passionate
who made me see and my passionate
who made me see and my passionate friends that I had met having dreams
friends that I had met having dreams
friends that I had met having dreams like myself what being lawful and just
like myself what being lawful and just
like myself what being lawful and just meant especially in the case studies
meant especially in the case studies
meant especially in the case studies that we had
that we had
that we had I saw the outcomes the reasonings the
I saw the outcomes the reasonings the
I saw the outcomes the reasonings the consequences of defending the rights of
consequences of defending the rights of
consequences of defending the rights of other people and I gave up being a
other people and I gave up being a
other people and I gave up being a diplomat because then I thought if I
diplomat because then I thought if I
diplomat because then I thought if I were to become a diplomat I would have
were to become a diplomat I would have
were to become a diplomat I would have defended the state politics but
defended the state politics but
defended the state politics but lawyering was not meant for that whereas
lawyering was not meant for that whereas
lawyering was not meant for that whereas being a lawyer you could have defended
being a lawyer you could have defended
being a lawyer you could have defended other people’s rights in the way that
other people’s rights in the way that
other people’s rights in the way that you think it should have been so I chose
you think it should have been so I chose
you think it should have been so I chose to become a lawyer but then what type of
to become a lawyer but then what type of
to become a lawyer but then what type of a lawyer was there a normality to lawyer
a lawyer was there a normality to lawyer
a lawyer was there a normality to lawyer in as well that did not become apparent
in as well that did not become apparent
in as well that did not become apparent until the last year of my university and
until the last year of my university and
until the last year of my university and as a good english-speaking woman thanks
as a good english-speaking woman thanks
as a good english-speaking woman thanks to the Academy I was apparently meant
to the Academy I was apparently meant
to the Academy I was apparently meant for assisting foreign clients in Turkey
for assisting foreign clients in Turkey
for assisting foreign clients in Turkey which was boosting at the beginning of
which was boosting at the beginning of
which was boosting at the beginning of the millennium but then again there were
the millennium but then again there were
the millennium but then again there were so many ways to assist foreign clients
so many ways to assist foreign clients
so many ways to assist foreign clients in Turkey as a commercial lawyer I could
in Turkey as a commercial lawyer I could
in Turkey as a commercial lawyer I could have been an in-house lawyer employed by
have been an in-house lawyer employed by
have been an in-house lawyer employed by a company I could have
a company I could have
a company I could have had my own shop and have one-woman show
had my own shop and have one-woman show
had my own shop and have one-woman show or I could have attended to a law firm
or I could have attended to a law firm
or I could have attended to a law firm and practice with colleagues now being
and practice with colleagues now being
and practice with colleagues now being an extrovert all my life I feed and
an extrovert all my life I feed and
an extrovert all my life I feed and thrust on collective power so I’m not a
thrust on collective power so I’m not a
thrust on collective power so I’m not a loner and for having grown from obedient
loner and for having grown from obedient
loner and for having grown from obedient to rebellious at the law school I had
to rebellious at the law school I had
to rebellious at the law school I had this great energy to defend the rights
this great energy to defend the rights
this great energy to defend the rights of those who sought for justice and
of those who sought for justice and
of those who sought for justice and rightfulness so being a company lawyer
rightfulness so being a company lawyer
rightfulness so being a company lawyer would not do as I would have then needed
would not do as I would have then needed
would not do as I would have then needed to defend company policies as I was told
to defend company policies as I was told
to defend company policies as I was told to do but rather I chose to defend those
to do but rather I chose to defend those
to do but rather I chose to defend those who are need in for law and justice as I
who are need in for law and justice as I
who are need in for law and justice as I decide so I started my career at my
decide so I started my career at my
decide so I started my career at my father’s independent law firm and sudden
father’s independent law firm and sudden
father’s independent law firm and sudden there’s an intern at the commercial law
there’s an intern at the commercial law
there’s an intern at the commercial law consultancy department and at the end of
consultancy department and at the end of
consultancy department and at the end of one year when I finished my intern I got
one year when I finished my intern I got
one year when I finished my intern I got this advice which was very fashionable
this advice which was very fashionable
this advice which was very fashionable those days probably it is still they
those days probably it is still they
those days probably it is still they said go and get your master’s degree in
said go and get your master’s degree in
said go and get your master’s degree in the UK or us now I said I don’t have any
the UK or us now I said I don’t have any
the UK or us now I said I don’t have any intention to go abroad I want to live
intention to go abroad I want to live
intention to go abroad I want to live here with my family
here with my family
here with my family be here with my boyfriend marry him
be here with my boyfriend marry him
be here with my boyfriend marry him and they said oh no that’s all right you
and they said oh no that’s all right you
and they said oh no that’s all right you would be able to find many other
would be able to find many other
would be able to find many other boyfriends where you go to even better
boyfriends where you go to even better
boyfriends where you go to even better ones so that should not be a concern for
ones so that should not be a concern for
ones so that should not be a concern for you
you
you really it’s true they said it I said ok
really it’s true they said it I said ok
really it’s true they said it I said ok thank you and I did not follow their
thank you and I did not follow their
thank you and I did not follow their normal way and stayed in the country and
normal way and stayed in the country and
normal way and stayed in the country and at the firm I was a student
at the firm I was a student
at the firm I was a student assisting foreigners in Turkey and what
assisting foreigners in Turkey and what
assisting foreigners in Turkey and what was that I had some kind of an idea in
was that I had some kind of an idea in
was that I had some kind of an idea in the first year but
the first year but
the first year but it was negotiating and arguing for the
it was negotiating and arguing for the
it was negotiating and arguing for the sake of your clients while they were
sake of your clients while they were
sake of your clients while they were making investments acquiring assets and
making investments acquiring assets and
making investments acquiring assets and dealing with other parties and other
dealing with other parties and other
dealing with other parties and other parties lawyers and try to get the best
parties lawyers and try to get the best
parties lawyers and try to get the best legal structure for a deal so that once
legal structure for a deal so that once
legal structure for a deal so that once they are finished with the project that
they are finished with the project that
they are finished with the project that you are assisting them at they would
you are assisting them at they would
you are assisting them at they would have lists of any legal problems in the
have lists of any legal problems in the
have lists of any legal problems in the future and I became a negotiator for
future and I became a negotiator for
future and I became a negotiator for these deals rather than a litigator
these deals rather than a litigator
these deals rather than a litigator because in the turkish system litigation
because in the turkish system litigation
because in the turkish system litigation at courts does not give you any chance
at courts does not give you any chance
at courts does not give you any chance to speak up to defend orally that’s what
to speak up to defend orally that’s what
to speak up to defend orally that’s what I do but it’s all in writing so I was
I do but it’s all in writing so I was
I do but it’s all in writing so I was trained by them by my partners as a
trained by them by my partners as a
trained by them by my partners as a negotiator rather than a litigator
negotiator rather than a litigator
negotiator rather than a litigator we used to shut up before the judges
we used to shut up before the judges
we used to shut up before the judges after 15 years of great experience in my
after 15 years of great experience in my
after 15 years of great experience in my formula law firm I started to feel that
formula law firm I started to feel that
formula law firm I started to feel that there is something missing and I was
there is something missing and I was
there is something missing and I was uneasy I was complaining all the time
uneasy I was complaining all the time
uneasy I was complaining all the time this time it was my husband’s turn to
this time it was my husband’s turn to
this time it was my husband’s turn to remind me and make me acknowledge that I
remind me and make me acknowledge that I
remind me and make me acknowledge that I had to get out of my comfort zone and
had to get out of my comfort zone and
had to get out of my comfort zone and continue to evolve and run to the future
continue to evolve and run to the future
continue to evolve and run to the future where I find it to be now that future
where I find it to be now that future
where I find it to be now that future found its way through a historical day
found its way through a historical day
found its way through a historical day dream that I had with two of my dearest
dream that I had with two of my dearest
dream that I had with two of my dearest girlfriends at Law School where we used
girlfriends at Law School where we used
girlfriends at Law School where we used to study days and nights trying to
to study days and nights trying to
to study days and nights trying to graduate from the law school I decided
graduate from the law school I decided
graduate from the law school I decided to join them and now I’m a managing
to join them and now I’m a managing
to join them and now I’m a managing partner in my own law firm where I still
partner in my own law firm where I still
partner in my own law firm where I still feel the same energy the same enthusiasm
feel the same energy the same enthusiasm
feel the same energy the same enthusiasm and this
and this
and this willingness that I had for defending
willingness that I had for defending
willingness that I had for defending people or my life at the school and I’m
people or my life at the school and I’m
people or my life at the school and I’m trying to do the same thing for my
trying to do the same thing for my
trying to do the same thing for my clients I chose to follow my passion and
clients I chose to follow my passion and
clients I chose to follow my passion and desire for all these a journey starting
desire for all these a journey starting
desire for all these a journey starting from defending my mom acting as
from defending my mom acting as
from defending my mom acting as miserable Liberian diplomats and then
miserable Liberian diplomats and then
miserable Liberian diplomats and then acting for many business people that you
acting for many business people that you
acting for many business people that you name them and not a single morning in
name them and not a single morning in
name them and not a single morning in the last eighteen years I said I do not
the last eighteen years I said I do not
the last eighteen years I said I do not want to do this anymore us three one of
want to do this anymore us three one of
want to do this anymore us three one of the lawyers achieved what we wanted to
the lawyers achieved what we wanted to
the lawyers achieved what we wanted to achieve in life lawyering in matriarchy
achieve in life lawyering in matriarchy
achieve in life lawyering in matriarchy mothers to to all of us and fairly good
mothers to to all of us and fairly good
mothers to to all of us and fairly good citizens trying to help those in need
citizens trying to help those in need
citizens trying to help those in need for justice and law I saw that how
for justice and law I saw that how
for justice and law I saw that how little the social system the educational
little the social system the educational
little the social system the educational system business life gives you a little
system business life gives you a little
system business life gives you a little chance for you to spot follow your route
chance for you to spot follow your route
chance for you to spot follow your route it is always there for you to walk on
it is always there for you to walk on
it is always there for you to walk on and even if you step off it then you can
and even if you step off it then you can
and even if you step off it then you can step on it again and again as long as
step on it again and again as long as
step on it again and again as long as you do not give up for what you believe
you do not give up for what you believe
you do not give up for what you believe in life and being happy and contempt in
in life and being happy and contempt in
in life and being happy and contempt in life I believe it would lead all human
life I believe it would lead all human
life I believe it would lead all human life and kind to happiness and
life and kind to happiness and
life and kind to happiness and prosperity if we could all raise
prosperity if we could all raise
prosperity if we could all raise ourselves and develop ourselves on path
ourselves and develop ourselves on path
ourselves and develop ourselves on path and in the normality of ourselves and
and in the normality of ourselves and
and in the normality of ourselves and try to do the same for the ones that we
try to do the same for the ones that we
try to do the same for the ones that we raise as little ones we with all the
raise as little ones we with all the
raise as little ones we with all the hope that every one of you here
hope that every one of you here
hope that every one of you here walks along her and his own path and I
walks along her and his own path and I
walks along her and his own path and I kept along his or her normality which I
kept along his or her normality which I
kept along his or her normality which I am sure is going to be the most
am sure is going to be the most
am sure is going to be the most beautiful one thank you
beautiful one thank you
beautiful one thank you you
”
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