PS FINAL DRAFT - FEEDBACK APPRECIATED
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:29 am
It was my junior year in college, and by the time I arrived to the scene, the fire trucks were already there. The flames that had engulfed our small family business were nearly extinguished. It took less than an hour for a decade of my parents hard work and dedication to be reduced to nothing but a pile of embers. I remember finding my father, normally a proud and strong willed man, broken and defeated standing in front of the smoldering rubble. Unexpectedly, their insurance would not provide compensation for the repairs, and it has since taken my parents years to rebuild just a portion of what was lost. The fire may have taken my family’s livelihood but it couldn’t take our spirit, and it was this unfortunate experience that accelerated my decision to pursue my interest in law.
Although my parents never attended college, they always associated my future with law school. My parents told me that my love for education and my compassion to help people were aspects attorneys possess. However, I was still undecided. Truly, education had been the most important and fulfilling part of my life. Sometimes, my passion for learning made me an outcast in school, but academically, I flourished in my classes and extracurricular activities. Growing up, I enjoyed attending classes and lectures, and occupying the remainder of my personal time helping people. During high school, I was an active member in my school’s Teen Advisory Council (TAC) and Teen Court. Both clubs allowed students to counsel troubled juveniles. Students in Teen Court worked closely under local attorneys’ supervision; students would act the roles of defense, prosecutor, and jurors. This work created a foundation for my desire to advise individuals and to participate as an advocate for justice.
During college, my parents’ aspirations about law school settled into the back of my mind. Saint Petersburg offered new opportunities as well as familiar ones. I continued serving the community by volunteering at facilities like children’s preschools and centers for battered women. I deemed my major as political science, because I found myself inspired by the refreshing, yet comprehensive research. Eckerd College’s programs were rewarding, because the students and the community were dedicated to both cultural and creative learning. For example, during my winter term in Manhattan, I was able to attend lectures presented by the Human Rights Council and members of UNICEF at the United Nations. Still, in that same instance, I was also involved in many programs in the theatre department. Some of the projects included building sets, constructing costumes, and creating props for plays. The professors at Eckerd College were innovative and encouraging, because they instilled obstacles and challenges I never thought I could reach. A combination of my experiences with college and my family’s misfortune left a bitter taste in my mouth; I finally agreed with my parents’ ruling about law school, but I couldn’t pursue it just yet.
After graduation, I decided it would be more beneficial to help my family and expand my work experience. My main concern was to alleviate some of the stress surrounding my parents’ lives. They supported me financially my entire college career, so getting a job would eliminate my financial dependency. Each position I obtained taught me new, important characteristics that would be relevant to my future; I gained communication and customer service skills, reviewed and drafted detailed documents, and confronted unexpected challenges. After resigning from my position at the law firm, I found myself relentlessly daydreaming about my newfound knowledge about the legal system and the manner in which I assisted less fortunate individuals. In retrospect, these experiences reassured me that I wanted to pursue law school. My work experience and my maturity blossomed over these past few years, and now, I am determined more than ever to start what my parents had always knew I would accomplish.
Although my parents never attended college, they always associated my future with law school. My parents told me that my love for education and my compassion to help people were aspects attorneys possess. However, I was still undecided. Truly, education had been the most important and fulfilling part of my life. Sometimes, my passion for learning made me an outcast in school, but academically, I flourished in my classes and extracurricular activities. Growing up, I enjoyed attending classes and lectures, and occupying the remainder of my personal time helping people. During high school, I was an active member in my school’s Teen Advisory Council (TAC) and Teen Court. Both clubs allowed students to counsel troubled juveniles. Students in Teen Court worked closely under local attorneys’ supervision; students would act the roles of defense, prosecutor, and jurors. This work created a foundation for my desire to advise individuals and to participate as an advocate for justice.
During college, my parents’ aspirations about law school settled into the back of my mind. Saint Petersburg offered new opportunities as well as familiar ones. I continued serving the community by volunteering at facilities like children’s preschools and centers for battered women. I deemed my major as political science, because I found myself inspired by the refreshing, yet comprehensive research. Eckerd College’s programs were rewarding, because the students and the community were dedicated to both cultural and creative learning. For example, during my winter term in Manhattan, I was able to attend lectures presented by the Human Rights Council and members of UNICEF at the United Nations. Still, in that same instance, I was also involved in many programs in the theatre department. Some of the projects included building sets, constructing costumes, and creating props for plays. The professors at Eckerd College were innovative and encouraging, because they instilled obstacles and challenges I never thought I could reach. A combination of my experiences with college and my family’s misfortune left a bitter taste in my mouth; I finally agreed with my parents’ ruling about law school, but I couldn’t pursue it just yet.
After graduation, I decided it would be more beneficial to help my family and expand my work experience. My main concern was to alleviate some of the stress surrounding my parents’ lives. They supported me financially my entire college career, so getting a job would eliminate my financial dependency. Each position I obtained taught me new, important characteristics that would be relevant to my future; I gained communication and customer service skills, reviewed and drafted detailed documents, and confronted unexpected challenges. After resigning from my position at the law firm, I found myself relentlessly daydreaming about my newfound knowledge about the legal system and the manner in which I assisted less fortunate individuals. In retrospect, these experiences reassured me that I wanted to pursue law school. My work experience and my maturity blossomed over these past few years, and now, I am determined more than ever to start what my parents had always knew I would accomplish.
