Advocating for yourself in the context of friendship starts with choosing the right people to be part of your inner circle.

If I was applying for a legal position, I would highlight my experience working for the San Francisco-L.A. DA's office, and I would mention some of the high-profile cases I did, but if I was looking for another television job, I would gloss over that, and I'd mention the highlight reel of what I did in television.

Nobody was like, 'Kimberly, we're going to let you anchor general news or host a show or do any of that.' I at first started out doing legal analysis, but I had to make the case to my bosses... give me a shot, give me a chance, and I was able to do that: say, 'Let me fill in. Let me show you my range. Nothing to lose here - it's the holidays.'

Sure, our legal system has its flaws, but it is the best legal system in the world.

When my mom, Mercedes, and her younger sister, Juanita, first came from Puerto Rico, they were the youngest in the family. They had to jump into a new community and really learn English, assimilate, and adapt - and I saw that. I grew up in that community.

My mother, oddly enough, really wanted to pursue a career in law, but at the time, she had children and was working as a teacher.

No matter what stage of life you are graduating from or entering, learning how to build and state your case is something every person in the world should know how to do.

At a very young age, my beloved mother passed away from leukemia, forcing my father to become a single dad. Rather than coddle me, shelter me, or do things for me, he taught me to 'Make the Case' for everything in life - from my first job to a graduation trip I wanted.

Work hard. Through determination and self-focus and discipline, you can accomplish anything.