Monica McCoy Purdy is an associate judge for State District Civil Court in Dallas County, Texas. Recently, the esteemed jurist spoke with rolling out about her road to success.
What was your first job?
My first job was as a medical scribe at a hospital in the eighth grade. It is a long story, briefly my mother worked as a hospital administrator at a hospital and one of the doctors that worked there had poor penmanship. The hospital required the doctor to correct his “penmanship issue” by hiring a scribe so that the nursing staff could clearly read his medical orders. My mother came home and mentioned it over dinner to my older sister but she wasn’t interested since it required you to wake up very early in order to accompany the doctor while he did his rounds, I piped up “I’ll do it mom” so I woke up each morning at 4:30 a.m., completed rounds with the doctor, wrote his orders neatly in each patient’s medical file and returned home just in time to get ready for school each morning.
Can you share a few keys to your success?
I think this question depends upon your definition of success, but mostly I would want to share that a person should always be prepared because you never know when an opportunity may present itself.
you are your brand, learn from your mistakes and don’t be afraid to fail. I don’t believe in coincidences, everything happens for a reason. Truly know who you are, and know that you are more than your occupation.
What is the greatest challenge that you have faced on your road to success?
Balancing family, work and home.
What advice would you give aspiring young women who are interested in a career in your field?
My field is law and I know so many lawyers that discourage others from becoming lawyers because they believe there are too many lawyers out in the world today, however I subscribe to just the opposite, I encourage women that want to become lawyers to do just that, pursue their dreams because there is always room for other good lawyers out there as well. I would also advise young women to be competent in their craft.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate, enough said!
–celia walker
