Evelyn Uba, a determined mother of four from California, has fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer after an arduous nine-year journey.
Originally from Nigeria, Uba arrived in the U.S. in 1983 with hopes of attending law school, but financial setbacks and family responsibilities led her to put her aspirations on hold.
Uba’s path to legal success was marked by significant obstacles. After pausing her studies due to her father’s stroke and starting a family, she resumed her education in 2005 at California Southern Law School.
Despite graduating in 2011, passing the California bar exam proved elusive. Uba took the exam over ten times, facing setbacks each time.
“My dedication meant long nights studying after work and missing out on family events,” Uba told Good Morning America. “I never stopped wanting to go to law school. Giving up wasn’t an option.”
Her perseverance paid off on January 8, 2021, when she received the news she had been waiting for: she had passed the bar exam.
The moment was captured in a now-viral video shared by her daughter Naeche, which has garnered nearly 400,000 views on Twitter.
The celebration was an emotional tribute to her late father and included a joyful FaceTime call with her daughter in New York City.
Uba plans to use her legal skills to work in criminal defense, focusing on aiding low-income individuals in marginalized communities. Her story serves as a powerful testament to resilience and the impact of unwavering dedication.
“Eventually, it’s going to happen when God says it’ll happen,” Uba said. “It might not be easy, but you just have to keep going and never feel sorry for yourself.”
