So, with 'All Rise,' I'm able to be the lead of a show, on a

Simone Missick, in speaking of her role on the show All Rise, proclaimed: “So, with All Rise, I'm able to be the lead of a show, on a network that is really committed to seeing these stories being told, and that is interested in seeing it told in a really different way, where it's not your typical legal drama. The fact that they signed up for this ride, I'm so thankful.” These words, though grounded in the world of television, resound with ancient truth: to lead, to be given a platform, and to tell stories in new ways is not a mere profession, but a calling. It is the chance to shape the vision of a people, to stir the heart, and to redefine what has long been taken for granted.

The origin of this quote lies in Missick’s historic casting as the first Black woman to lead a legal drama on network television. For decades, the world of courtroom dramas had followed a well-worn path, presenting law through a narrow lens. With All Rise, Missick stepped into a role that was not only groundbreaking but also deeply symbolic: she became the face of a narrative that opened doors for voices long silenced. Her gratitude is not just for personal achievement, but for the opportunity to carry a greater story — one that reflects justice, diversity, and truth in a different way.

History has seen similar moments where individuals became vessels for change through their art. Consider the poet Homer, whose telling of the Iliad and the Odyssey did not merely recount battles and voyages but gave voice to honor, loyalty, and the frailty of man before fate. Or think of Harriet Beecher Stowe, whose novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin reshaped the conscience of a nation. In every age, when stories are told differently, the course of the people shifts. Missick’s role in All Rise belongs to this ancient lineage of storytellers who do not merely entertain, but awaken.

Her words also carry the weight of gratitude. She does not claim this moment by her own power alone, but acknowledges the network that “signed up for this ride.” Gratitude is itself a noble strength, for it reminds us that all victories are woven by many hands. In this way, Missick shows the humility of a true leader: she stands at the center, but she honors those who walked with her into the unknown.

The lesson for us all is that when given the chance to lead, we must not be content to repeat what has always been done. We must seek the “different way.” Whether in art, in work, or in daily life, innovation is the mark of courage. It takes boldness to defy the “typical” path, but those who dare to tell their stories differently carve new roads for generations to follow.

To those who hear this teaching: if you are given a platform, large or small, use it with courage. Do not only echo what has already been spoken. Instead, lift up the voices of the unseen, and tell stories that bring light into forgotten places. Be thankful for those who stand with you, but also be fearless in walking into uncharted ground. In this, you not only honor yourself, but you become a servant of the greater story of humanity.

The wisdom of Simone Missick’s words, then, is eternal: to lead is to serve, to tell new stories, and to walk with gratitude into unknown lands. In doing so, you break the boundaries of the old, and you hand to the future a vision brighter than the past. And when history looks back, it will not remember only the show or the stage, but the courage of the soul who dared to speak in a different voice.