Personal Statement - Too Short? Forum

[caliguy000]

I always envied those of my peers who knew exactly what they wanted to dedicate their life to. I started UCLA as a pre-medical student, and the thought of attending law school was far from my mind. I chose the most difficult and research-intensive life science major I knew, Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, not knowing where it would lead me. But after taking a research course with a graduate student, I decided that it wasn’t for me. I loved my major, but I had no idea how I would use it towards a career.
I remember distinctly how the seed of law school ambitions was planted in my head. I was taking a Genetics class and for one of the final lectures, we were discussing the issue of ethics. The professor mentioned that some research companies were looking to copyright certain segments of the human DNA, and that research institutions such as universities were looking to do the same. We then had a general discussion about how the relative newness of many biotechnological innovations meant that legal and political institutions were just beginning to adapt to them. That’s when I realized how much I would enjoy being at the forefront of that work.
Suddenly, I realized what a great career choice that would be for me. I could utilize my science background and research experience in the application of the law. The more I thought about it, the more I began to see the plethora of ways that biology and law intersect. Whether I studied patent law, health care law, or something else entirely, I could bring my unique background and skills in biology to the study of law. For the first time in my life, I had the same sense of purpose and personal fulfillment that I had seen in others. Here was something that could be not just a career for me, but also the best use of my available talents.
I thought again about that day as I was preparing my law school applications. I wondered whether I would still have chosen a career in law if I hadn’t taken that class, or if I would ever have doubts in the future. One thing I learned in my science classes was to always be suspicious of my opinions and estimations. In a way, this invites hesitation, which is essential for a good scientist, but can sometimes be nerve-wrecking if it turns into self-doubt. But one thing I have come to realize is that after that class, and the revelation I had in it, no amount of second guessing would shake my confidence. Law school is a perfect fit for me.