Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Hello, my name is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I was born in a big, busy city called Brooklyn, New York, on March 15th, 1933. When I was a little girl, my wonderful mother, Celia, taught me so many important things. She shared her love of reading with me, and we spent many hours with books. My mother also taught me to be an independent girl. She wanted me to know that I could do anything I set my mind to, and I always remembered her words.

I loved school and learning new things. When I grew up, I decided I wanted to become a lawyer, so I went to a special school called law school. I started at Harvard Law School in 1956. It was a little different back then because I was one of only nine women in my whole class. There were about 500 men. In those days, some people didn't think women should be lawyers, but I knew I could do the job just as well as anyone else. I was lucky to have my husband, Martin Ginsburg, by my side. He was my biggest fan and always cheered me on, telling me I could achieve my dreams.

During the 1970s, I worked as a lawyer. My job was very important to me. I didn't just help one person at a time; I worked to change rules that were unfair to many people. I saw that some rules treated women differently than men, and I didn't think that was right. I believed that everyone should have the same chance to follow their dreams. It shouldn't matter if you are a boy or a girl. I went to court again and again to argue for fairness for everyone.

After many years of being a lawyer and a judge, something very exciting happened. In 1993, I was chosen to be a justice on the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the most important court in the entire United States, and its decisions help everyone in the country. It was a very big honor. When I joined, I was only the second woman ever to have this important job. I was so proud to serve my country in this way and to help make fair decisions for all Americans.

I served on the Supreme Court for 27 years, working hard every day to make our country a better and fairer place. I lived to be 87 years old. Today, people remember me as someone who fought for fairness and never gave up on what I believed in. My story shows that one person, even a quiet one, can help make the world a more equal place for everyone.