Final draft. Looking for last edits.
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 8:41 pm
Sitting in the secluded office, I feverishly go through documents, editing them to match proper formats, sending them to the probation office and judges before court begins. I take no time noticing the stacks of transmittals and messages that need to be answered and completed. It is 9:00 AM and my week long adventure without my supervisor is just beginning. The judges, attorneys, and all of the pending cases in the county are counting on me. Making a mistake is not an option. The lives of innocent people are at stake, homes could be lost, and victims could be devastated once more. Two hours in, the phone rings. With anticipation of who could be on the other side, I answer.
I began volunteering at the Monongalia County Victim Assistance Program during my junior year of college. It was a challenging experience. I was able to interact with people from all types of socioeconomic backgrounds and gained valuable insight into the daily proceedings of the criminal justice system. When I answered the phone that day, I spoke with a former sexual assault victim. I did not believe this conversation could lead me to change my plans of pursuing a PhD in psychology post-graduation. However, it did just that. The man told me his life story, how he was sexually assaulted for a period of five years, a childhood where he was constantly called a liar and shunned by his family. This led him on a thirty year journey struggling with flashbacks, drug abuse, and homelessness. Though it was not my job to help, he was from out of our jurisdiction; I felt a moral and personal inclination to assist. I tracked down the prosecutor, summarized our conversation, made sure the defendant could be charged, and followed up several times with the prosecutor to ensure the victim’s case was being investigated. My decision to assist enabled the man to pursue justice and hopefully obtain closure.
Upon reflection of my conversation with the sexual assault victim, I realized why I decided to help. I identified with him. As a child, I was the target of verbal, physical and emotional abuse. Those who were supposed to protect and nurture me, instead chose to yell and belittle. I was constantly told I was a disappointment and an outcast. They did not know for some time I had ADHD and only needed extra time to play and express myself. I was regularly told I was a bad child. Once I was thrown across a room and put out into the freezing cold without clothes. help with the awkwardness of this paragraph
My brother later supplanted my role as the outcast. He started using drugs and strayed from his core values. During my sophomore year of college he and his “friends” were on the way back from a party. While driving home intoxicated, my brother crashed his vehicle. He was moving at a speed in excess of 80 MPH when he fell asleep and rolled his vehicle seven times. As a result of this accident he was comatose for a week. The crushing pain my family and I experienced was debilitating. I felt like a failure, I could not make him realize his mistakes before his life changed forever. I did not want anyone to feel this pain. The accident inspired me to make a positive difference in the world. From being abused, to my brother’s accident and transgressions, I was naturally inclined to assist.
After my experience at this organization I no longer felt like a failure. I found a field where I felt like I belonged. When I sought out the prosecutor and summarized my conversation with the victim, I gave someone a voice. When I assisted in bringing a person guilty of a heinous crime to justice, I made a positive difference in the world. The feeling of belonging I gained from giving a person voice and making a change, allowed me to accomplish my goal. Making one change is not enough, however. I want to pursue a career where I can consistently be a catalyst for change.
Throughout my placement I spoke with many different people. During my conversation with the prosecutor of my victim’s case I received an unsolicited piece of advice. The prosecutor cited my ability to organize details efficiently, ability to write succinctly, and passion for the letter of the law as reasons to investigate the legal profession. The psychology major’s training can be very beneficial to attorneys by requiring proficiency in public speaking, succinct writing, and research. I believe I already possess many other qualities of attorneys such as: perseverance, determination, and self-confidence. My experience with this organization as well as subsequent conversations with judges, attorneys, and victims has solidified my desire to pursue a Juris Doctor with a focus in public interests.
I began volunteering at the Monongalia County Victim Assistance Program during my junior year of college. It was a challenging experience. I was able to interact with people from all types of socioeconomic backgrounds and gained valuable insight into the daily proceedings of the criminal justice system. When I answered the phone that day, I spoke with a former sexual assault victim. I did not believe this conversation could lead me to change my plans of pursuing a PhD in psychology post-graduation. However, it did just that. The man told me his life story, how he was sexually assaulted for a period of five years, a childhood where he was constantly called a liar and shunned by his family. This led him on a thirty year journey struggling with flashbacks, drug abuse, and homelessness. Though it was not my job to help, he was from out of our jurisdiction; I felt a moral and personal inclination to assist. I tracked down the prosecutor, summarized our conversation, made sure the defendant could be charged, and followed up several times with the prosecutor to ensure the victim’s case was being investigated. My decision to assist enabled the man to pursue justice and hopefully obtain closure.
Upon reflection of my conversation with the sexual assault victim, I realized why I decided to help. I identified with him. As a child, I was the target of verbal, physical and emotional abuse. Those who were supposed to protect and nurture me, instead chose to yell and belittle. I was constantly told I was a disappointment and an outcast. They did not know for some time I had ADHD and only needed extra time to play and express myself. I was regularly told I was a bad child. Once I was thrown across a room and put out into the freezing cold without clothes. help with the awkwardness of this paragraph
My brother later supplanted my role as the outcast. He started using drugs and strayed from his core values. During my sophomore year of college he and his “friends” were on the way back from a party. While driving home intoxicated, my brother crashed his vehicle. He was moving at a speed in excess of 80 MPH when he fell asleep and rolled his vehicle seven times. As a result of this accident he was comatose for a week. The crushing pain my family and I experienced was debilitating. I felt like a failure, I could not make him realize his mistakes before his life changed forever. I did not want anyone to feel this pain. The accident inspired me to make a positive difference in the world. From being abused, to my brother’s accident and transgressions, I was naturally inclined to assist.
After my experience at this organization I no longer felt like a failure. I found a field where I felt like I belonged. When I sought out the prosecutor and summarized my conversation with the victim, I gave someone a voice. When I assisted in bringing a person guilty of a heinous crime to justice, I made a positive difference in the world. The feeling of belonging I gained from giving a person voice and making a change, allowed me to accomplish my goal. Making one change is not enough, however. I want to pursue a career where I can consistently be a catalyst for change.
Throughout my placement I spoke with many different people. During my conversation with the prosecutor of my victim’s case I received an unsolicited piece of advice. The prosecutor cited my ability to organize details efficiently, ability to write succinctly, and passion for the letter of the law as reasons to investigate the legal profession. The psychology major’s training can be very beneficial to attorneys by requiring proficiency in public speaking, succinct writing, and research. I believe I already possess many other qualities of attorneys such as: perseverance, determination, and self-confidence. My experience with this organization as well as subsequent conversations with judges, attorneys, and victims has solidified my desire to pursue a Juris Doctor with a focus in public interests.