Today I finished my last NCA exam. What felt like a third year added to my law school journey, has finally come to an end. I reflected on the exhaustion, frustration, and sacrifices, but they existed alongside the awareness that they were made possible by extraordinary privilege. I worked relentlessly and paid a real cost, yet I was always insulated by safety, mobility, education, and choice.

But what a privilege.

To crash out on ChatGPT mid-study session because it was not summarizing case law accurately, while the world’s supply of drinkable water continues to disappear.

To complain about sleepless nights juggling part-time and full-time jobs, while schools turned to rubble and children in Gaza went hungry.

To complain about budgeting between educational expenses and vacations in Europe, while Ukraine was being invaded.

To complain about the miserable weather and broken air conditioning in London, while families were struggling through one of the worst energy crises, crushed by soaring prices.

To complain about missing milestone birthdays and holidays with family, while my cohort of international students navigated pressures I could scarcely imagine.

To stress over my Canadian passport needing a visa on arrival in Sri Lanka, when my father was once a refugee who fled that same country while being persecuted.

What a privilege it was, and still is.