New Philadelphia, OH (April 11, 2025) – Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy visited Buckeye Career Center on Friday, April 11, 2025, to present about the topic of appreciation as part of the school’s “Bring Your A Game” series. She delivered a message of gratitude, resilience, and self-empowerment to students while speaking about her life journey.
Kennedy, who began her career as a police officer, encouraged students to appreciate the military, first responders, and the trailblazers who have come before us. She also encouraged students to lean on their mentors and shared a conversation she had with one of her high school teachers, who pushed her to consider a career beyond policework.
“All I could see were the things that I didn't think I could have because of where I was socioeconomically, where my parents were,” she said. “I believed that lawyers and judges were so much different than me... But he planted a seed when he said, ‘Law enforcement is just a floor to walk across and stairs to climb. You can be a lawyer and a judge.'”
Kennedy asked the students to value the people who support them daily and to reject self-imposed limitations as they strive for greatness.
“There are no barriers in life other than the ones you choose to put in there for yourself,” Kennedy said. “I chose the barrier of economics. I chose the barrier of looking at my parents and saying I cannot elevate.”
Kennedy told students to treat everyone “from the top of the deck,” reminding them that the people they meet today may return in their lives later on. She emphasized that appreciation for others—and for one’s own journey—is key to success.
“Go forth and be the best you that you can be. Strive to achieve every dream that you want and ignore anyone who says you can’t, because they, they’re a liar.”
Kennedy was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio in November 2022. She is the eleventh Chief Justice and the second woman to serve in the role.
The “Bring Your A Game” series at Buckeye Career Center is held monthly and features local leaders and professionals who share real-world insights with students on topics including attitude, attendance, appearance, ambition, acceptance, appreciation, and accountability.