DESTROY IT! Constructively though...please.
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:09 am
Hi everyone, please have at it. This is only a second draft. Any help you can give is greatly appreciated and I am willing to reciprocate. I'm at 655 words, but have a 700 word limit to work with.
Nothing could have prepared me for the shock and range of emotions that I felt on that cold and overcast on the outskirts of Berlin. As I passed through the main gate of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp and its hopeful, yet cruel slogan, Arbeit Macht Frei – work shall set you free, I was transported sixty-five years back in time. It was not hard to imagine thousands of emaciated faces staring back waiting for their horrific end or jubilant liberation. Entering the premises, several contradictory thoughts and emotions struck me. I was repulsed yet drawn in. Depressed but mentally stimulated. Beaten but defiant.
The experience was very significant for me. My studies of World War II and the Holocaust instantly became more than history lessons and words on paper. In a single moment, I felt an instant connection with Hitler’s victims and wished I could have done something to protect them, while being immensely proud of my grandfathers’ roles in freeing Europe from Nazi tyranny. While wishing I could have done something to help the past victims, I realized that there are countless victims at home today that need representation. The legal profession draws upon my interest in justice and offers me the chance to represent the victims, in either an investigative or a prosecutorial manner, and seek justice on their behalf. The theme of my trip to Sachsenhausen is summarized best by Edmund Burke’s observation that “all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” I simply refuse to stand idly by as criminal elements terrorize the innocent at home.
In addition to having a strong moral compass and desire to protect others, I have always been very inquisitive and interested in the pursuit of knowledge, and am willing to step out of my comfort zone in that pursuit. As an undergraduate in California State University, Northridge's economics department, I chose to complete an independent study in econometrics because I wanted the unique challenge offered by an unstructured class in a difficult subject. As I thrive in complex and overwhelming situations, I believe that I have the character and cognitive capability to excel in such work. I chose to conduct my analysis on the relationship of different socioeconomic factors to reported crimes. After examining decades of data compiled by the FBI and the San Diego Police Department, and repeatedly checking my own calculations, I discovered that not one single factor had a higher correlation to reported crime than any other did. I privately concluded that if the roots of crime were not statistically identifiable for isolated prevention, then enforcement and prosecution would be my path to protecting the innocent.
I have gained exposure to the law through my work at XXXXX Federal Credit Union as a Fraud Investigator. In my role as an investigator, I am responsible for processing members' claims quickly and ensuring the credit union recovers its losses. This often involves legal research on my part due to the complex and ever-changing legal issues surrounding financial transactions. I have worked closely with our internal legal department regarding transaction, collection, and banking law. Additionally, I have had countless opportunities to work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to further my cases, and their own. I have seen the law in action and its complexity and variety intrigues me.
My extensive world travel will continue to influence my study of the law, as it has already piqued my interest in applying it toward criminal justice. My travels have taken me from the horrors of Sachsenhausen to the open and pristine beaches of Australia and brought me into contact with a diverse group of people. My varied experiences will give me greater insight to the nature of my work, while improving my capability to relate with classmates, coworkers, and clients. As a law student, I look forward to sharing my experiences with my classmates and learning from theirs.