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