Education is a Gift

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When my dad left China in 1949, the year that Mao Zedong defeated China’s national government, he did so as a member of the Kuomintang, leaving behind everything and making a life for himself, first in Taiwan and then eventually in the United States.

As immigrants, my parents raised me to believe that I should earn what I need in life and be responsible for myself. They also understood that education is absolutely indispensable to achieving those goals. That’s why I consider education to be the most important gift that one can give another.

I know this from experience: Without financial aid, Boston College wouldn’t have been affordable for me.

My BC education—both as an undergrad and at the Law School—has been incredibly impactful throughout my life. It has helped me discern who and what I want to be. It has taught me not only the skills I need to be a successful lawyer but also the value of paying it forward to future generations.

Boston College has blessed me with so many opportunities to enrich my life and the lives of others. It’s been an honor to serve BC on Reunion committees, with my local alumni chapter, on the Council for Women of Boston College, as president of the Law School Alumni Board, as a member of the Boston College Alumni Association Board of Directors, and in my newest role on the Soaring Higher Campaign Executive Committee, to name but a few.

Naturally, as an attorney, I have thought a lot about my legacy and what I want to leave behind. I believe we humans become our best selves when we place the needs of others first—not just our family and friends, but also those who follow in our footsteps. That’s one of the main reasons why—even at a young age—I made a commitment to support BC through my estate.

I hope that my legacy matches my own story of access leading to opportunity. Giving the greatest gift of all is the least I can do to say thanks.

Esther Chang of Chicago, Illinois, received a bachelor of arts from the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences and a juris doctor from BC Law School. A prolific volunteer, Ms. Chang is a member of several University and Law School committees focused on alumni engagement, fundraising, academic initiatives, and more. She is a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.