The Importance of Connecting to Our “Why”: Edith’s Core Insights from Her Speaking Engagement at the 38th AILA California Chapters Conference

This past Saturday, I was invited to speak at the 38th Annual AILA California Chapters Conference in Long Beach, California. The panel was entitled, “I Want to Practice Immigration Law! Self-Care for Challenging Times,” and it explored how we as immigration attorneys can build resilience, practice self-care, and sustain a meaningful and impactful career.

During my panel, I spoke about the importance of reconnecting with your “Why” and how that impacts the purpose behind the work that we do. Reconnecting with your “Why,” especially during challenging times, helps to motivate yourself, recharge your resilience, and reignite your passion in the work that you do. I shared that my “Why” is focused on helping others by showing up to do the hard work and by making a positive difference in the lives of others in an immediate and impactful way.

I also highlighted how important it is to know what your core values are and ensure that the work that you do and the people that you work with align with those core values. I shared that my firm’s core values include prioritizing human-centric values such as offering a client-care and client-centered approach to the way we work with our clients, delivering exceptional work product that strives for results and justice, and maintaining a balanced approach to life and work. As I have built a team, clients, and environment that reflect these values, I have realized how crucial this type of focus is and how it cements the foundation for meaningful, impactful, and fulfilling work for everyone involved.

I truly believe that to care for others, we need to care for ourselves. This is why it is extremely important to integrate these principles into our everyday practice—from prioritizing self-care and acknowledging the emotional weight of the work to creating a supportive environment for both my firm and my clients to help drive case results and client satisfaction. By taking intentional steps to align daily actions with our purpose and values, we have established a way to sustain a long, fulfilling career while continuing to serve others with care and excellence.

I hope that sharing my thoughts on purpose, resilience, and values helps inspire others in our community to explore their own “Why” and how it shapes their environment by creating meaning and fulfillment to themselves and everyone around them.