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Justice Melanie L. Cradle met with University of New Haven volleyball student-athletes to share lessons from her career, encourage them to pursue their passions, and offer advice on navigating challenges in their professional and personal lives.

Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Melanie L. Cradle recently met with student-athletes to share her professional journey, reflect on the lessons she has learned throughout her career, and offer advice to the next generation of leaders.

Drawing on her experience as a prosecutor, Superior Court judge, chief Judge of the Appellate Court and now a justice on the Connecticut Supreme Court, Judge Cradle encouraged the student-athletes to pursue careers that bring them purpose and fulfillment, to advocate for others, and to remain determined in the face of challenges.

Her visit offered the players an opportunity to learn from a woman who has built a distinguished career in the legal profession while reflecting on their own goals and aspirations.

"Our heartfelt thanks to Justice Cradle for speaking with our players and sharing her insights,” said . “Her wisdom and accomplishments as a strong woman in her field left a lasting impression, and her advice was truly invaluable.”

Below, two players share their reflection on the experience.

Hannah Adderly '28

Having the privilege of meeting with Justice Cradle allowed me to gain valuable advice that I can carry with me into my future career. As a woman who has found success in a predominantly male dominated field, Justice Cradle stood out to me and inspired both me and my volleyball teammates.

One piece of advice that stood out to me was the importance of loving what you do because money can only take you so far. She believes it is important to pursue a career that you are passionate about rather than focusing only on the financial benefits.

She also discussed how motherhood can be one of the biggest challenges women face when pursuing career success. This made me realize how difficult it can be for women to balance their professional goals with their personal and family lives.

Hearing her perspective showed me the importance of staying determined, believing in myself, and being prepared to overcome challenges throughout my career. Overall, meeting Justice Cradle was an inspiring experience that reminded me that success is not just about how far you go, but is also about finding purpose and fulfillment in what you do.

Zaira Kearns '28

Justice Cradle visited my team to talk about her journey from starting as a prosecuting attorney to becoming a Supreme Court justice in Connecticut. Although I am not interested in going into law, her speech made me understand how important it is to be able to advocate for people who may not have the voice or resources to be able to advocate for themselves.

Although many people in powerful jobs may say to pursue a career that makes you money, Justice Cradle said the opposite. She said, “if there is one thing I hope you take away from my speech, it is that you need to do something you enjoy and something that makes you happy long term.”

As much as all 21 of us love volleyball, there is a life after it, and this was a great reminder.

Justice Cradle shared stories and lessons she has learned along her journey and helped to inspire people on my team to pursue law school and a career in politics. Overall, I walked away from our team’s time with Justice Cradle feeling inspired and empowered, remembering that I am capable of doing hard things even if you are the first to do it.