Linda Qiu
“Not being what people expect and feeling confident being myself, both intellectually and physically.
As an Asian American woman, I think people I meet are often surprised to find out I'm a lawyer. Going through law school and practicing law at a big firm isn't easy--facing those hardships is what makes the experience so rewarding. But aside from my own feeling of accomplishment, it feels even more empowering when others underestimate me or who I am. When I argue in front of a judge, when I cross-examine a witness, when I speak up and give my opinions to a client, I feel powerful and respected. For some reason, I feel all the more powerful if they mistook me for a secretary or expected me to have a timid presence before realizing, "oh shit, she's a badass."
I also rock climb, mostly around men. When I climb a difficult route or do numerous pull-ups as a warm-up, I feel incredibly strong and proud of my physical abilities. Seeing other people's shock at my strength and climbing skill is just the cherry on top.”
— Linda Qiu, Chicago, USA, 2025, by Brian Ho