#harvardlawschool

[unfoldingmoments]

How to Survive the Fall

Step One: “Stay Loose”

THE TRICK TO FALLING in a choreographed fight sequence is to “stay loose.” Tense up, and injury is much more likely on impact. The same is true in life. When falling, she said, “The safest thing one can do is remain calm, even curious about the shifting world around you.”

“My journey from Malaysia to the Academy Award stage began with my first stop, which was not acting.” From a young age, Yeoh was determined to become a professional ballet dancer, finding “freedom in discipline and focus” and training her “mind to be still, to silence whispers of self-doubt.” However, while training in England, she suffered a spinal cord injury: “Just like that, I lost everything, vanished into thin air.” Her school principal encouraged her to “stay loose” and open to what life might bring. “With this awareness came the freedom to make choices I might not have otherwise been able to.” An unexpected door opened and she took an acting opportunity in a commercial which then led to a career in films in Hong Kong.

Step Two: “Know Your Limits”

WHILE ACTING IN HONG KONG, Yeoh discovered, “Understanding what you can do is essential, understanding what you can’t do is pretty important too.” This understanding must be internally and externally focused. “Internally, knowing your limits keeps you humble, motivated, and focused on a goal to point your finger toward. Externally, knowing the limits that are set to you by others gives you a place to point a different finger,” she said. “And yes, I am talking about the middle one.”

Those external limitations are boundaries to break through, she told the soon-to-be graduates. At the beginning of her career, Yeoh was offered one stereotypical demure Asian female role after another. However, she knew her dance training would allow her to ace the fight choreography she saw her male costars handing off to stunt doubles. “When the chance finally came, I knew it was make or break. I had one shot to prove my bankability as an action star, and if I failed, I would not get that opportunity again.” Fortunately, it turned out audiences were more than ready to see a female star in action comedies and her starring role in Yes, Madam was a box office success. “I knew I had made it when soon after, I joined Jet Li and Jackie Chan as the three people who Hong Kong insurance refused to cover.”

“Before I knew it, I was regularly running on rooftops, riding motorcycles onto moving trains, and rolling vans into oncoming traffic,” she said. “With every nick and scratch and bruise and fractured vertebrae, I came back better.” And to law graduates (who she advised not to try those stunts at home), she added, “Learning how to fall teaches you how to land. And learning how to land gives you the courage to jump high.”

For her, that next jump came when she starred in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Comes as fierce Chinese agent Wai Lin. That role is now regarded as instrumental in modernizing the Bond franchise and its portrayals of women, but afterward, Yeoh found herself again fielding pitches for stereotypical roles. “I knew I would not be happy unless I continued to seek out roles that allowed me and like-minded creatives to dig deeper and reflect three-dimensional humanity on stage.” Finally, she found her next major role in the celebrated Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

“These examples illustrate the importance of limitations because our limitations become our challenges. There is nothing like a challenge to keep you working, striving, and pushing,” she said. “For every demeaning role I was offered, every rejection I was handed, every time someone underestimated me, I found energy and renewed motivation.”

Step Three: “Find Your People”

“FOR EVERY WINNER, there doesn’t have to be a loser,” she reminded the soon-to-be graduates. “In fact, most success stories are less about competition and more about collaboration.” Yeoh pointed out that she and everyone else in the audience stands on the shoulders of those who came before them and should be energized and inspired by those who come after them. For her, this sense of community requires representation, particularly in entertainment: “When we shine a light on the rich and varied world around us, we empower the whole of our humanity. I can see no better reason to wake up in the morning and get to work.”

Beyond her film career, Yeoh is known as a fierce advocate for human rights and environmental causes, both as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme and as the vice-president of the board of the Suu Foundation (which promotes education and health in Myanmar). She’s been recognized as a humanitarian as much as an actress: she was named a Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (carrying the title Tan Sri) and in 2017, was awarded France’s Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honor (the highest honor given to non-citizens) by former French president François Hollande. In her humanitarian roles, Yeoh said, “I have witnessed the deep inequalities that continue to plague societies around the world, and I have seen up close how women and girls are often the last to get essential services.” Guided by her focus on community, she said, “I have committed myself to walking in lockstep with destiny with them.”

“The prerequisite to change is empathy,” she said. Empathy “activates our compassion, which becomes the driving force for real-world demonstrable action.” To truly fall beautifully, to truly stay loose, Yeoh said, everyone needs a safety net. And that net is reciprocal: “When you are leaping without a safety net, people become your safety net. And you become theirs.” Yeoh’s final words of advice for graduates: “Stay loose, be smart, and go with love… and then leap. And then leap again. And then leap again.” Ref: How to Survive the Fall in 3 Easy Steps by Michelle Yeoh, Harvard Law School Speech 2023 https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2023/05/commencement-harvard-law-school-michelle-yeoh https://hls.harvard.edu/today/michelle-yeoh-addresses-the-harvard-law-school-class-of-2023/

[harvardfineartslib]

Film Screening of the award-winning documentary:

The Destruction of Memory February 20, 2019 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Where: WCC 1100, Wasserstein Hall (Harvard Law School) 1585 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA

Co-sponsored by the Human Rights Program, the Armed Conflict & Civilian Protection Initiative and Islamic Legal Studies: Law and Social Change.  Dinner will be served.

András Riedlmayer, UN war crimes tribunal expert witness and Bibliographer in in Islamic Art and Architecture at Harvard’s Fine Arts Library, will be talking to Tim Slade, the film director and producer of The Destruction of Memory after the film screening on February 20th.

This film chronicles the destruction of culture in Syria, Mali, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and elsewhere from World War II to the present day. It also relates the heroic efforts to save landmarks and libraries from the ravages of war. Through interviews and documentary footage, the film shows how individuals have used law and policy and sometimes risked their lives to save world heritage. The post-screening conversation will be moderated by Bonnie Docherty from Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic.

András’ research interests include Ottoman history, Islamic art and culture in the Balkans, and the protection of cultural heritage under national and international law. He prepared many expert reports on the destruction of cultural heritage in Bosnia and Kosovo, and testified as an expert witness in nine trials at the ICTY and before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the genocide case Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro.

Please join us for the film screening and the conversations after the film.

Human Rights @ Harvard Law  

[4evahaka]

Matthew Washington Bullock  (September 11, 1881 – December 17, 1972) an American #FootballPlayer & #FootballCoach, #CollegeProfessor, #Administrator, & #Lawyer. #HighSchoolFootball at Everett HighSchool in #EverettMassachusetts and was captain-coach in 1899, becoming the FIRST #BlackCoach at a "predominantly white high school". 1904, He served as the head football coach at #MassachusettsAgriculturalCollege(#UniversityOfMassachusettsAmherst. Coach at #MorehouseCollege & #Alabama )AgriculturalAndMechanicalUniversity  Son to two "former #Slaves", Bullock enrolled at #DartmouthCollege in #1900. At #Dartmouth he played on the varsity football team for 3Yrs and ran track 4Yrs. After graduating from Dartmouth in 1904, Bullock attended #HarvardLawSchool, from which he graduated in 1907. He taught #Economics & #Sociology at #Morehouse & was a #Dean at #AlabamaAandM. Bullock practiced law in #Atlanta and #Boston. #OmegaPsiPhiFraternityInc #OmegaPsiPhi #Ques #Omegas {💕#ThisIsAREPOSTBy: #4evahaka2 #FAMU1908💚} #CreditToOwner https://www.instagram.com/p/ByyzFPkngn9/?igshid=9b22jqbv738n

[theficklemermaid]

What, like it’s hard? 👩🏼‍🎓👸🏼 • • #harvarduniversity #instatravel #scubadivinggirls #boston #usa #harvard #harvardlawschool #travel #travelblogger #traveling #cuteandsmart #nerd #happy #2019 #topshop #fashion #instagram #instafashion #library #booksmart #legallyblonde #legallyblondequotes #ellewoods #ellewoodsismyspiritanimal (at Harvard University) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsZrsh1hR9O/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=sr8lxgjmq43q

[spectatorfilmpodcast]

Episode 16. Legally Blonde (2001) . . . . (https://spectatorfilmpodcast.com/2018/11/26/legally-blonde-2001-commentary/) #legallyblonde #ellewoods #reesewitherspoon #selmablair #bendandsnap #alilarter #lukewilson #harvardlawschool #courtroom #bruiserwoods #deltanu #2001 #lindacardellini #cinephile #cinephilecommunity #ozperkins #legallyblondethemusical #legallyblonde3 #college #lawschoollife #2000s #pinkaesthetic #comingofage #jennifercoolidge #brucecampbell #annabiller #raquelwelch (at Harvard Law School) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqqSOfOlMRJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dsynasl6wt9u

[slickcatbooks]

“An Intimate Portrait” of the Supreme Court Justice. A must-have for the lover of the law! #slickcatbooks #greatbooksgreatmemories #felixfrankfurter #supremecourt #supremecourtjustice #judge #harvard #harvardlaw #harvardlawschool #theodoreroosevelt #bullmoose https://www.instagram.com/p/CVeIPd7M56f/?utm_medium=tumblr

[malcolmrei]

#HappyBirthday 🤗🍰 @michelleobama #HBD #MichelleObama #Shero #AlwaysMyFirstLady #happybirthday 🥰♥️🇺🇸 Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (néeRobinson; born January 17, 1964) is an American lawyer, university administrator, and writer, who was the #firstlady of the #UnitedStates from 2009 to 2017. She is married to the 44th President of the United States, #BarackObama, and was the first #AfricanAmerican First Lady of the United States. 🇺🇸 Raised on the South Side of #Chicago, #Illinois, Obama is a graduate of #PrincetonUniversity and #HarvardLawSchool. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin, where she met Barack Obama. She subsequently worked in non-profits and as the associate dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago and the vice president for Community and External Affairs of the University of Chicago Medical Center. Michelle married Barack in 1992, and they have two daughters. 🇺🇸 #StillMissingYou #YesWeCan #MalcolmREi #Invictusgrouprei #Achievement #Century21MilestoneRealty #RealEstate #breuckelen #breuckelenrei #breuckelenborn #2020Vision #blackgirlmagic #FLOTUS @barackobama (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKJn6WwDfbx/?igshid=1cxn67z3tpw0l

[mythoughtfulpaperbouquetposts]

3,600 Downloads! Right behind Michelle Obama Please Vote! @apple_podcasts @pandora @podsoundschool #lizziebordenaudio #truecrimepodcast #victorian #harvardlawschool #forensics #history #saturdaymood #lgbtq🌈 #trials #spinsters #screenwriter https://www.instagram.com/p/CHBzKFKFMr6/?igshid=zhy91plwb4ve

[abogadiegofmh]

Cc pones tu serie favorita en la tarea 📚🦉🏛🇲🇽🇺🇸⚖️ #UNAM #FacultadDeDerecho #Derecho #Tarea #Abogado #DerechoPenal #Harvard #HarvardLawSchool #Law #Homework #Lawyer #Attorney #CriminalLaw #Suits #HarveySpecter #MikeRoss #Netflix #Love #Series #ProcedimientosDelFueroFederal

[sketch-with-katana]

"That's the difference between you and me. You wanna lose small. I wanna win big" Bringing this sketch after a long time, hope you all like it :) #suits #harveyspecter #specter #harvardlawschool #pearsonhardman #mikeross #gabrielmacht #fashion #darvey #meghanmarkle #rachelzane #donna https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Nqjm1n_Jw/?igshid=1vviaot7a0v8g

[emichaelharrington]

The Recording Artists Project at Harvard Law School gave me these gifts and more after I spoke there on March 27, 2019. It has been a great honor to get to know and work with some of the RAP students and faculty at HLS over the years. #harvarduniversity #harvardlaw #harvardlawschool #hls #recordingartistsproject #wassersteinhall #cambridge #cambridgemassachusetts #massachusetts #emichaelmusic 🎼🎹😍🚀🌎 (at Wasserstein Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwSDhyyhC_x/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wzdrgm9efsft

[provectus-aequitas]

This video brings highlights the recent book “Community as Rebellion: A Syllabus for Surviving Academia as a Woman of Color” by Lorgia García-Peña and how her describing the Harassment and Institutional Violence she experienced at Harvard is parallel with Ian Johnson's experience with Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation at Harvard Law School's IT Department.

Read Ian's story here.

[mharris357]

#Repost @diamondcutmedia ・・・ *Please Share This Video With As Many People As Possible* Reggie Lewis was the the first Black American to complete a Billion dollar buyout and one of the best businessmen/entrepreneurs of all time, regardless of ethnic background. He is the only person to be admitted to Harvard Law without even filling out a formal application. Reggie Lewis was also about to purchase Paramount Pictures... Shortly after he was diagnosed with a mysterious brain cancer and died 7 weeks later. Reggie Lewis is an American phenom and should be mentioned much more than he is. I will be highlighting him more on my platform. P.S. Reggie's core philosophy was to make sure you BUY a business instead of starting one from scratch. It is much easier to take a system and improve it than it is to build one up from complete scratch. Think about that.... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- #diamondcutmedia #billionaire #billionaires #blackbillionaire #reginaldlewis #reggielewis #howtobesuccessful #blackexcellence #blackwealth #blackexcellence #harvardlaw #harvardlawschool #blackhistory #blackhistory365 #privateequity #venturecapital #mastery #entrepreneursrock #entrepreneurshiptips #entrepreneurship101 #buildyourempire #entrepreneur #blackentrepreneur #business #businessman #blackbusiness #africanbusinessman #hustle  #buyout #leverage (at Chula Vista, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBCiS8YH_e6/?igshid=1r9ibs6fjmpyx

[michaelbrownusa]

Austrian State Issues Immigration Ten Commandments. Alan Dershowitz on Harvard’s McCarthyism. GOP Voter Issues. Brazil’s Gun Laws

[whitneydanzig]

Favoritos. #boston #bostonmassachusetts #norecuerdolosnombres #somewhereinthecity #downtown #centrodelaciudad #boats #ylawea #harvard #harvarduniversity #harvardlawschool #cimarronmicorazon #samething #love #lateAFpost #bye https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo-F6spnbGK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1vx3n4uou4iep