When Chami Rupasinghe was younger, she had ‘this whole success thing’ already figured out. Or so she thought she did.
“In my head, by 25, I was going to have a high-paying stable career, a loving partner with a big family, and not a worry in the world. Oh was I wrong,” says Rupasinghe.
In her early twenties, life threw her a “whirlwind of unfair situations” that she says no one should have to go through, including getting verbally abused by a group of men during university.
A few years later, a nasty dispute with her landlord left her anxious about finding a new place to live. On top of that, her mental health suffered during university. And when she finally entered the professional world, her employer took advantage of her by underpaying her for the hours she spent working, which ultimately led her to burn out.
“I remember thinking: How did I get here? How do I feel so powerless and like such a failure? I was nowhere near what I imagined,” says Rupasinghe.
“In our society, success is often painted as – a comfortable house, a high-paying job, a loving family, and a secure future. And our education system, in its current form, plays a crucial role in perpetuating this narrative.”
It was this brutal realisation that led Rupasinghe to found Law Wise Youth, a not-for-profit that aims to bridge the gap between what we learn in school and what we face in the real world. The organisation works to empower young people with the confidence, awareness, and practical skills they need to navigate legal and life matters like housing, employment, and respectful relationships and more.
As a lawyer, entrepreneur and speaker, Rupasinghe has seen firsthand how transformative it can be for individuals who learn to break free from their pre-existing narratives of what success should look like.
“Rewriting the narrative begins with acknowledging the problem and questioning the conventional definitions of success and failure,” she says. “It involves elevating diverse voices and experiences, fostering an environment of inclusivity, recognising intersectionality rather than exclusion.”
Rupasinghe encourages people to rewrite their own paths and definitions of success, noting it’s not a one-size-fits-all model; it is subjective and personal.”
“For some, it could be financial stability, for others, it could be doing what they love, and yet for others, it could be about giving back to the community.”
“It’s crucial to understand that your path to success may look different from others – and that’s okay.”
Rupasinghe shared this advice during her keynote session for Women’s Agenda’s new video app series, The Keynotes.
The Keynotes app shares “Mini Keynote” sessions and insights on leadership, equity, current affairs, climate and so much more. To watch Tasneem Chopra’s keynote as well as other sessions, sign up to the app here.