Urgent, I need your help!
Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 4:05 pm
Hello guys/gals. I'm brand new to this site. I'm having trouble with my personal statement... could anyone help out a fellow prospective law student and give me some guidance? (this is a first draft, and not completed yet). TIA.
As I packed my belonging to attend college, my grandmother Mami gave me a kiss and wished me the best. I was excited to leave home, and experience a life on my own. At the same time, I was fortunate to know exactly what I wanted do with my life; to become an attorney. As a young child the law impacted my life in numerous ways. Unfortunately, my parents went through a divorce, my mother lost her house, and my grandmother Mami struggled to gain her American citizenship. These tumultuous incidents, though difficult, inspired me to pursue a career in the field of law.
When I was six years old I saw my grandmother doing something I had never seen her do before; she was crying. I wondered why the person who meant the world to me was so sad. This was my second mother, and she was the woman who raised me while my mother worked late into the evenings. Nonetheless, I asked my grandmother what was wrong. My mother shushed me, but then reluctantly whispered to me, “Mami’s citizenship was denied”. My mom explained the consequences of Mami’s failed test as best she could to a six year old. I lost a little bit of my childhood innocence that day. If Mami went back to Costa Rica my entire world would have been in disarray.
Fortunately, through hard work and perseverance Mami was able to overcome her language barrier, and pass her citizenship test. When I grew a bit older I was able to conceptualize what Mami accomplished, and I was inspired by Mami’s tenacity. Consequently, I began to develop an appreciation for the roles that government, justice, and the law had in affecting the societal mores in the United States. I became fascinated in the legislative process. I wanted to know the reasoning behind the immigration laws in the United States, and how the laws affected certain societal demographics more so than others. These newfound interests of mine led me to pursue my undergraduate studies in Political Science.
As I completed my undergraduate courses I learned about many different laws, the legislative processes, and how such attributes of the American system affect the citizens in this country. When I learned about America’s public policy, and the legislative process, I began to think retrospectively about my life; for example, my parents’ divorce, and my mother and I losing the house in which we lived. I thought about how the law entered my family’s lives, and how it could act as a blessing, and a curse. I learned that life is not always easy, and typically lawyers meet people when they are experiencing some of the worst times of their lives. I have confidence that my past experiences have afforded me empathy and compassion for others. As an attorney, I will have a unique perspective in the court room when assisting non-native Americans, because I understand how difficult it is to survive when one is out of their element.
My passion in life resides in international, and immigration law. The political parties of the United States appear divided on immigration policies. I would like nothing more than to the ensure immigrants who possess the American dream be afforded an ample opportunity to achieve their goal of citizenship. As a fluent Spanish speaking attorney, I know that I could make an important impact in the lives of the many disadvantaged Latin/Hispanic persons whom struggle to find their niche in America. As I reflect back on my own family’s struggle with obtaining citizenship I cannot help but to hold the utopian ideal that I could help countless families with similar plights as mine.
As I packed my belonging to attend college, my grandmother Mami gave me a kiss and wished me the best. I was excited to leave home, and experience a life on my own. At the same time, I was fortunate to know exactly what I wanted do with my life; to become an attorney. As a young child the law impacted my life in numerous ways. Unfortunately, my parents went through a divorce, my mother lost her house, and my grandmother Mami struggled to gain her American citizenship. These tumultuous incidents, though difficult, inspired me to pursue a career in the field of law.
When I was six years old I saw my grandmother doing something I had never seen her do before; she was crying. I wondered why the person who meant the world to me was so sad. This was my second mother, and she was the woman who raised me while my mother worked late into the evenings. Nonetheless, I asked my grandmother what was wrong. My mother shushed me, but then reluctantly whispered to me, “Mami’s citizenship was denied”. My mom explained the consequences of Mami’s failed test as best she could to a six year old. I lost a little bit of my childhood innocence that day. If Mami went back to Costa Rica my entire world would have been in disarray.
Fortunately, through hard work and perseverance Mami was able to overcome her language barrier, and pass her citizenship test. When I grew a bit older I was able to conceptualize what Mami accomplished, and I was inspired by Mami’s tenacity. Consequently, I began to develop an appreciation for the roles that government, justice, and the law had in affecting the societal mores in the United States. I became fascinated in the legislative process. I wanted to know the reasoning behind the immigration laws in the United States, and how the laws affected certain societal demographics more so than others. These newfound interests of mine led me to pursue my undergraduate studies in Political Science.
As I completed my undergraduate courses I learned about many different laws, the legislative processes, and how such attributes of the American system affect the citizens in this country. When I learned about America’s public policy, and the legislative process, I began to think retrospectively about my life; for example, my parents’ divorce, and my mother and I losing the house in which we lived. I thought about how the law entered my family’s lives, and how it could act as a blessing, and a curse. I learned that life is not always easy, and typically lawyers meet people when they are experiencing some of the worst times of their lives. I have confidence that my past experiences have afforded me empathy and compassion for others. As an attorney, I will have a unique perspective in the court room when assisting non-native Americans, because I understand how difficult it is to survive when one is out of their element.
My passion in life resides in international, and immigration law. The political parties of the United States appear divided on immigration policies. I would like nothing more than to the ensure immigrants who possess the American dream be afforded an ample opportunity to achieve their goal of citizenship. As a fluent Spanish speaking attorney, I know that I could make an important impact in the lives of the many disadvantaged Latin/Hispanic persons whom struggle to find their niche in America. As I reflect back on my own family’s struggle with obtaining citizenship I cannot help but to hold the utopian ideal that I could help countless families with similar plights as mine.