MyShawndria Ward on civil mindedness and fowl play

My nickname is … MyMy or Ladybug (only if you’re my grandma).

I can’t go a day without … music. I either need it to pump me up in the morning or help me wind down at night.

If you were in my office, you’d … feel really calm (hopefully). I usually have peppermint oil in my diffuser. I keep my office nice and tidy and I am always cold so it’s usually warm.

My colleagues would be surprised to know that … I love all dance fitness classes—Zumba, 305 Fitness, etc.

When I was a newbie lawyer I … spent way too much time crafting emails. I’m still a little guilty of this. 

The quality I most like in a lawyer is … civility and empathy. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish when people are kind to each other.

When I started, I wish I knew … how to better manage my workload. I think the stress of performing well and not saying no to work led to more late nights in my junior years of practice.

My career high point (so far) has been … serving as a director of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association. It’s such a rewarding experience and has helped me make connections with attorneys and law students. 

If I weren’t a lawyer, I’d be … a therapist. I always enjoyed creating a safe space for people to vent and feel comfortable. 

I can’t believe more people haven’t read … Atomic Habits by James Clear.

I can do a pretty good impersonation of … a chicken. I’m not a fan of birds but I’m strangely good at that.

My fictional hero is … Captain Marvel. I recently watched Avengers: Endgame and Captain Marvel was amazing.

On weekends I … love to spend time with my wife, son and dog. During the summer, you can find us at the dog park or a local park enjoying the sun.

The talent I wish I had is … a photographic memory.

I get angry when … I have to wait in long lines.

My earliest memory is … holding my little brother in the hospital after he was born. 

My favorite song lyric is … “It’s not always rainbows and butterflies, it’s compromise that moves us along” [from “She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5].

My favorite podcast is … Crime Junkies.

The last TV show I binge-watched was … Alone.

Nothing cheers me up like … a good bowl of ramen.

My guilty pleasure is … Korean dramas.

If I won the lottery, I’d … give some money to my family, set aside a portion for a culinary tour of the world, and invest the rest.