I have always loved and appreciated travelling, regardless if it is the nearest country or a place two continents away. This appreciation is one that I started acquiring when growing up with an uncle (Indonesian-born). My father died in a tragic accident when I was just three years old, and my mother was working on a crisis-center that demanded her time and attention all the time. From my uncle, I learned Bahasa and some notable aspects of Indonesian culture.
The first chance to travel was when I was in college, in a Study Abroad initiative. In the beginning, the tasks were just administrative in nature. I absorbed a deep interest in helping multitudes of students choose foreign places for both work and study. I taught them on the nitty-gritty in the application of visas.
I spent three semesters in Ireland, and quickly realized how deeply imbibed cultural ways really are. Going to a European nation where English is a major language, gave me assimilation difficulties. From the simplest matters (like foods) up to bigger things like etiquette, it was both confusing and a bit frightening- the feeling of being from the “outside”. I will not be a hypocrite and say that I never experienced forms of discrimination…I did. However, I must say that those painful experiences were the exceptions, and not the rule.
I worked for about 6 months under a renowned Irish lawyer, and from him, I learned more about the law. Looking at both the American and Irish government structures, it was both enlightening and fun for me to compare and contrast the two. I learned of issues bearing on Irish culture, but more than that- I discovered that making observations in a country very different from mine brings crucial bits of knowledge. Knowledge that in one way or another, would affect my worldview.
When I returned home, I went to my Study Abroad program with more zest. I was promoted to one of the supervisory positions, and then, the tragic Sept 11 happened. So many countries altered their immigration laws. Cooperating with consulates all over the globe, we crammed to learn of the new mandates, while at the same time realizing that moving across nations’ lines would never be the same again.
At present, I still coordinate internships. I also took a contributing job for a student travel publication. Due to all the work experiences and learnings I’ve acquired over the years, I can now say without hesitation that I have this passion to learn. Learn about laws that link the different systems. My intention is to take up a specialization in Immigration law or International law. It is my vision to assist people in closing the cultural and bureaucratic gaps among global demarcation lines. I believe that this vision would serve as my greatest “motivator” when the time arrives for me to start my own law practice.
I am looking forward to all the challenges, as well as the fruits of hard work and commitment.
Thank you for your time. Here is wishing your School more success in all things.
Photo Credit : tomsaint11
We tend to seek all the easy answers to the world’s pain and suffering. We always complain in the
papers, raise our points in the board room, trade points of view over the dinner table. What we don’t do enough, in my opinion, is act. Although we may have the best interests in mind when we talk about problems and find or propose theoretical solutions to them, people who take the necessary initiative in coming up with concrete solutions to even the smallest societal problems are very few.
People tend to place so much weight on individual success that those who truly need attention—the poor and underprivileged—are left out of the picture. I grew up amidst much racism and poverty, and in my 24 years, I have learned the only sustainable way to help them is to get rid of old misconceptions. Social problems are not a given. They can be reversed, and if a single person starts to act, I believe that a few more well-intentioned persons will follow. It is with this belief that I intend to study at the _____ School of Law.
My parents moved from China to Atlanta when I was less than a year old, hoping to find the proverbial greener pastures. As luck would have it, we ended up in a shady town with a high crime rate and few employment opportunities for immigrants like my parents. My parents, armed with hard-earned college degrees back in their homeland, settled for blue-collar jobs after being turned down by local employers. Still, they worked long hours to send me to kindergarten and eventually to a small private school.
A turning point in my life was the death of my father when I was still in college because of a vehicular accident. I remember all the legal processes that we have to go through with the company that owned the vehicle that was responsible for my father’s early demise. In the two years it took to settle the dispute, I realized how discrimination, coupled with a fear of the legal system, can keep people from getting the justice they deserve. More than ever, I was determined to finish my education and use it to make a difference.
I now have a Criminal Justice degree and a handful of respectable job experiences under my belt, but
it is my work as a legal consultant for a small legal aid firm that gives me the biggest sense of accomplishment. I work with a group of lawyers that provide free legal service to immigrants in the city where I live. Most of the time, these immigrants have no where to go to when they need legal assistance and most of them are not even aware of their rights or are too afraid to assert them. Working with these lawyers has allowed me to see the satisfaction they get from working with these people. To my mind, these are the people who “act.” These are the people who are doing something concrete, and I want to be part of their team. I know that I am already doing my share in helping these people while working for this firm, but I know that I can do more for them and perhaps for other under-represented groups too.
I believe that an education in law will help me become even more instrumental in improving
these people’s lives. I intend to specialize in immigration policies and family law, and
eventually provide legal assistance to the underprivileged. I specifically chose the _____
School of Law because of its diverse community and its focus on community issues, which I
believe will help me achieve my goals.
Photo Credit : umjanedoan
Unlike most of my peers, I knew what I wanted long before I stepped into college. I was going to study a degree in Accounting or Finance and work toward having an MBA, perhaps with a few professional stints in between. But halfway through my program—in what seemed like my hundredth class in Accounting—I realized that an education in money wasn’t going to get me far. If I was going to succeed in business, I had to learn about the people and the legal aspects of different business environments.
I earned my degree nevertheless, something I take a lot of pride in considering a college education is largely optional in my family. For my family, having a high school diploma was all the education that is necessary; my parents felt that one has to earn his or her living after that. I come from a working class background, and I grew up watching my brothers take blue-collar jobs right after high school. Perhaps that is what spurred me to seek better opportunities. One day, I told my parents of my plans to go to college, which they supported much to my surprise. Looking back, I think that my parents saw my potential and supported all my extracurricular activities, from the high school math club to the college newspaper and debate society.
I worked part-time at various shops to finance my education. I knew there was more out there for me than minimum-wage employment, but I never regretted taking those jobs because, at that time, they were the only options available to me. These jobs nevertheless got me through college, but more than that, they also made me realize that money did not make or break one’s fate. I was working with people in the same boat as I was—young, hopeful, and struggling to carve out an uncertain future. What spurred us on was not our need for money, but our want of a better life.
After getting my degree in Business Administration and Accountancy, I worked as a finance manager for a large manufacturing firm while preparing for the LSAT and other law school requirements. Fortunately, I was working directly under the supervision of the department head, who was also a lawyer by profession. The job helped sharpen my logical and analytical skills, which made me realize certain parallels between numbers and the law. My job also made me realize that a degree in accounting is a good springboard for a legal career. One of the things I realized during my job was that both lawyers and financial advisers need to be careful with the details, as many decisions are made by looking at the details they provide. I have met many lawyers who were once involved in the world of finance and they all tell me that having a degree in finance is really advantageous in becoming a lawyer. I want to be part of this select group.
That is why I chose to pursue legal studies at the _____ School of Law. I believe that this school has the right environment to foster my interest in business while helping me become socially aware—a skill that can set me apart from the chokingly corporate world of entrepreneurs. With this degree, I plan on becoming a self-made entrepreneur who not only makes money, but also helps my community. I know I did not choose an easy path, but I am ready to take on the challenge.
Photo Credit : guspim
Like many young adults, I went into college with much of my life already planned out for me. A lot of us follow goals and expectations that are not our own, make choices forced upon us by other people’s ambitions, and realize we are going nowhere and inevitably lose our drive. It certainly was the case with me: a young girl who knew she was meant for great things, but had to follow a tailored path graciously laid out for me by well-meaning parents.
My parents are both well-respected in the medical field, my father as a surgeon and my mother a pediatric specialist. As the child of such brilliant individuals, I was naturally expected to be an overachiever in all aspects – academics, student groups, and sports. These expectations spurred me to make the most of my early education, actively joining the debate team, the school newspaper, and the basketball team throughout my four years of high school. My parents taught me to think competitively, and with that mindset I graduated on top of my class and got special honors for representing my city in the state athletic meets.
When it came time to go to university, I had the fortunate experience of being accepted in all of the schools I’ve applied to, and most of these were known for their medical courses. In between sports, the pre-med students’ association, and the biology classes my parents had carefully chosen for me, I lost the ability to keep up the juggling act. When my second semester grades turned out less than satisfactory, I knew that my parents, for the first time, had made the wrong choice for me.
After my first year in college, I returned home for the summer vacation and planned to tell my parents that I will be switching majors – from Biochemistry to Government or Public Administration, which will hopefully serve as my pre-law course. It meant defying the rules that have gotten me so far. But I reminded myself that those same rules came close to pulling me down and ruining any hopes I had of a good future. I joined relevant school organizations, including the Pre-Law Society, and became active in various community programs. Before I knew it, I had gotten my drive back and was hitting the books with fervor, although with a different field of study this time. I even got back into sports and coached a local youth basketball team.
I graduated with honors and immediately found employment at a regional trial court as a court clerk. But while it may help my application, it is my experience with local communities that make me confident I can make it in law school. Working with kids less privileged than I am has inspired me to make the most of what I was given. My parents may have gone overboard by choosing my major, but they genuinely want the best for me, and I still want to make them proud. More importantly, I want to be instrumental in promoting good education to children in small communities. I believe that an education at the _____ School of Law can put me in a better position to achieve that.
Photo credits: MGSpiller
