JCBA PRESIDENT’S PAGE Hon. Jenifer Ashford, 2023 JCBA President


rectors, and all of you. Your positivity and kindness over the last year brought happy tears to my eyes and fi lled my bucket on a regular basis. T ank you! As I look around at board meetings, so- cials, breakfasts, luncheons, and cleanup days at the amazing, talented, intelligent, compassionate lawyers, I can’t help but be humbled by your confi dence in me. But on the inside, I am thinking to myself, “what if they all fi nd out that I have no idea what I am doing?” It’s those negative thoughts that oſt en lead to avoidance behavior, de- featism or giving up without trying. T e National Institutes of Health labels this as the Imposter Phenomenon (IP). “A behavioral health phenomenon described as self-doubt of intellect, skills, or accom- plishments among high-achieving indi- viduals”. Suzanne Imes, Ph.D., and Pauline Rose Clance, Ph.D. originally identifi ed the phenomenon in 1978 noting it was most prevalent among successful women and other marginalized groups. Another phrase comes to mind when I think about the Imposter Phenomenon. Fake it until you make it. Aristotle is con- sidered the originator of this concept when he said “we become virtuous by doing vir- tuous actions”. Author Marta Jimenez says this of Aristotle: “Aristotle’s great discovery about moral development is that we learn to be good through practice.” Last December, I encouraged each of


A 4 the barletter November/December 2023


s I write this fi nal article, I fi rst want to express my appreciation for Dana and Rachel, the Board of Di-


you at our luncheon to get involved in your Bar Association and in your community. I asked those currently engaged in pro bono work, volunteer work, or serving on the board of a not for profi t to stand. Many of you did, but not enough. I challenged you at the luncheon. I told you that I would ask that question again in December of 2023 and it was my hope that every person in the room would stand. A few weeks ago, several members of our DEI commit ee at ended the NAACP Freedom Fund dinner. One of the speak- ers off ered inspiration to the audience by reminding them that great leaders oſt en fail prior to achieving meaningful success. His example, President Lincoln. Did you know that President Lincoln


lost seven elections between 1832 and his ultimate election as President of the Unit- ed States in 1860? T e speaker asked us to imagine how our world would be diff erent today if Abraham Lincoln threw in the tow- el in 1832 when he lost his bid for state leg- islature? Or in 1838 when he was defeated for Speaker of the Illinois House? Or in 1843 when he failed to secure the nomi- nation for Congress? Or in 1848 when he lost his renomination for Congress? Or in 1854 when he was defeated for U.S. Sen- ate? Or in 1856 when he failed to secure the nomination for Vice President? Or in 1856 when he lost his bid for the U.S. Sen- ate? Can you imagine the courage it took to turn around two years later to try again? T at’s not to say that President Lincoln did not also achieve success during that same time. T e most noteworthy being his elec- tion in 1860 to become the 16th President of the United States of America. Honest Abe was loser. A serial loser at


Memorial in the District of Columbia these words appear above his statue “In this temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memo- ry of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forev- er.” Pret y good for a loser. Maybe President Lincoln didn’t suff er


from Imposter Phenomenon and nev- er had to fake it until he made it. He lost some. He won some. He never gave up. He learned from each of those failures. He did not allow those failures to defi ne him, dissuade him or diminish his objectives. On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued a challenge as part of his Get ysburg address stating “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfi nished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us…” Going back to that original question,


how would our world be diff erent today if Abraham Lincoln gave up aſt er his fi rst, second, or third loss? And then consider, how can you change the world by saying yes, when you might feel more comfort- able saying no? Trying again, in the face of defeat? Get ing back up when you have been knocked down?


tle voice telling you that you aren’t good enough or it’s not your time. I will close with one last Ted Lasso


quote: “Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it?


able while doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.” Don’t get comfortable. Be ded- icated to the great task remaining before us. Ad Astra Per Aspera.


that. But a loser who ultimately became one of our most revered Presidents. A los- er who changed the world by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. A loser who won re-election in 1864. A loser whose likeness sits proudly staring down the Mall at the Capitol Building in Wash- ington D.C. and is visited by almost eight million people each year. At the Lincoln


If you’re comfort- Ignoring that lit-


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