first draft of personal statement Forum

[northwood]

Thunder clapped off in the near distance as I looked up at the sky, wondering when the rains will start. The humidity, once so oppressing, had suddenly gone away, and the wind became stronger. “Time to pack up for the day, we’re done. We’ll finish it up tomorrow.” I tell to the members of my landscaping crew. The customer comes out, and reaffirms what I have been observing. “ Storm’s coming, I’ll see you all tomorrow.” I helped clean up the jobsite and tie down all of the machinery and tools and returned back to the shop.

At the shop, I took a look around, as other employees went home for the day. “ We really made it, I said to myself. Look at how far we have come. It then hits me; my dad’s dream of owning a successful landscape business had ceased being a dream, and became a reality. Years of hard work, long hours, constant creation and modification of schedules and procedures have helped solidify the business’s core customers and create its own niche in the local economy. I listened to the storm outside and reflected on my own personal growth over the past 12 years, and realize that while I feel content with how things had progressed in my life so far, I was still in search of fulfillment. I have set aside my dream of becoming a lawyer to help fulfill the dreams of my father. It is time to start focusing on my dream, incorporating the tools that I have acquired and utilized in the family business to attend and succeed in law school.

I have learned a lot of lessons from working in the landscape industry. Besides learning how to maintain and install landscape and the day to day operation of a business (scheduling, creating estimates for potential clients, responding to customer feedback, supervising a small crew of workers) I have learned the value of hard work, the importance of a good reputation, the necessity of proper time and resource management. I also learned that in order to become and remain successful, I have to constantly self- reflect and make necessary changes to my goals and plans.

At my father’s business I was part of numerous projects that evolved from simple drawings to a living mini ecosystem consisting of numerous types of plants and ground cover. I had the satisfaction of delivering to the customers a service that not only enhanced their property, but created a tranquil outdoor room where they could unwind from their day. Coping with unforeseen factors such as the elements helped me to develop time management practices which can be utilized in many settings. Quitting on a job once begun was never an option. To do so would place a black mark on the company’s reputation, as well as taint my reputation and integrity. If it took longer to complete a job the right way, then it would be done, regardless if the extra time was not factored in the estimate. The only thing that matters is getting the job done right the first time. A reputation is very powerful. It can open doors, or lock them shut without offering you a rebuttal. I learned that it is difficult to enhance a reputation, but easy to ruin it. To take on a job that was beyond my capabilities and not deliver a high quality, error free finished project would be detrimental to the company and my own reputation than to simply turn down the offer to bid.

Throughout my {UG SCHOOL} years, I came home and worked during breaks. I began to use the time at work to increase my management techniques, as well as to develop an understanding of implied notions that customers said, without actually speaking the exact words. I began to look forward to the days working under the hot sun, for I knew that I learned invaluable lessons each and every day at work. Our customer base is a decent sampling of the local population, with clients ranging from office workers to members of the local government. Every customer and every project presented their own unique challenges and personalities. Specifically responding to the individual challenges within the overall project was a key component that had to be addressed in the project’s plan. I learned to plan objectives and benchmarks for the project that reflected the personality of the individual customer. Every objective and benchmark had to fit within an overall working plan to ensure that the project would be completed properly and on time. If a customer emphasized a particular area of their yard, I made sure that part emphasized was done first. This way I could compare my belief to their tastes and likes/dislikes to the customers response, and make necessary changes to the plan. I preferred to tackle the most difficult parts of the project first when possible, so that there would be more room for adjustments and modifications. With elements such as weather conditions and unforeseen obstacles beyond my control, excuses are never available. I had to learn how to problem solve effectively, and thrive under the pressure to get the job done right on the first attempt. Accomplishing these goals helped me to solidify the belief that anything is possible as long as you are willing to put in necessary hard work and were able to effectively plan and break down the work into manageable pieces.

My primary motivation for becoming a lawyer is that I want to assist the elderly. Many times at work, an elderly customer will ask me for advice for many different things ( from people to call for repair work, purchasing a car, etc). It seems as though many of our elderly citizens are being taken advantage of and are not aware of the rights and privileges that they are entitled to. I want to make sure that the elderly are fully aware of and understand what they are agreeing to so they can make the best informed decision.

I believe that my experiences from working with my father has given me a solid foundation of skills and management techniques that will allow me to excel in both law school and as a lawyer.

[northwood]

this is my rough draft... i know i need to tie it all together, and work onthe conclusion( the last 2 paragraphs need work- should i even have the second last one in??) Your thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated. thanks!

[philosoraptor]

Um ... http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 8&t=120667