Rough Draft- 1
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:13 pm
I was at work, repairing an ancient pair of glasses belonging to a lady who attended my university almost seven decades ago when it was still a state college. We connected as fellow alumni and had a lengthy conversation about the past and present of our school, our lives and our plans for the near future. As I handed back her glasses, she thanked me for the repair and she gave me a compliment that stuck with me. She told me that I would make a great lawyer. This was a meaningful compliment because it wasn’t the usual “you’re good at arguing” that isn’t truly applicable to the study of law. Rather, she said that it is because I listen.
I have always been a good listener, albeit for different reasons over time. I’m a first-generation American with a father and mother who emigrated from Iran during the Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War, respectively. They never spoke English to me so that I wouldn’t develop their accent. As a result, I was an ESL student in my first two years in school, making communication and assimilation a little more difficult for me. I also struggled with my weight as I was growing up. I was an emotional eater and in my 23 years I have not found a single food item that I dislike. The combination of being from a different culture and the fat kid in class brought about a crippling shyness that kept me quiet until very late in high school. Listening was all I did. My journey of finding myself and becoming more disciplined taught me two lessons; I have value and everyone has a story.
People no longer believe me when I speak about my weight problems. I take that as a compliment, but the mentality behind that type of eating is something that I still battle daily. When I first received my driver’s license, I had access to any restaurant that I wanted to go to. I would often stop by multiple drive-thrus in a row before heading home for dinner because I couldn’t stop eating until my cravings were satisfied. I was ashamed and felt weak mentally and physically. Then, I found weightlifting. Naturally, my first motivation to begin lifting was to increase my ability to eat more without gaining unwanted weight. Over time, that motivation evolved into a lifestyle change. I’m a very competitive and results-oriented person, so it was incredibly motivating for me to witness a noticeable improvement in my performance every week. The energy and strength that I built through my new hobby inspired me to work on improving my diet and become better every single day. I remember how powerful that feeling was, so I wanted to help others take that step in their lives. I quickly earned my personal training certificate while working at the recreation center at my university. I built my own book of clients from various demographics. My clients ranged in age from 18-67 and came from all across the country. I enjoyed the opportunity to use my knowledge and experiences to help them bring a change in their lives. Not only was I excited about the improvements they were making, but I was also genuinely interested in hearing about their lives. Without getting too detailed, the stories I heard ranged from battling cancer to anxiety about asking a girl out to a fraternity event. My experience personal training further reinforced my belief in the value of listening.
I listen because every single person that you encounter can teach you something that will help in your growth. When I begin to be frustrated with someone, I think about all that I have experienced in two decades and I understand that each person has also had their own journey that has brought them to this point and has an effect on the actions that they take. Listening helps you to understand these motivations. When you begin to think, “I wonder what caused this person to behave this way,” instead of becoming angry, you are able to look at events more objectively over time.
I know that the skills I have developed will aid me in the study and practice of law.
I have always been a good listener, albeit for different reasons over time. I’m a first-generation American with a father and mother who emigrated from Iran during the Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War, respectively. They never spoke English to me so that I wouldn’t develop their accent. As a result, I was an ESL student in my first two years in school, making communication and assimilation a little more difficult for me. I also struggled with my weight as I was growing up. I was an emotional eater and in my 23 years I have not found a single food item that I dislike. The combination of being from a different culture and the fat kid in class brought about a crippling shyness that kept me quiet until very late in high school. Listening was all I did. My journey of finding myself and becoming more disciplined taught me two lessons; I have value and everyone has a story.
People no longer believe me when I speak about my weight problems. I take that as a compliment, but the mentality behind that type of eating is something that I still battle daily. When I first received my driver’s license, I had access to any restaurant that I wanted to go to. I would often stop by multiple drive-thrus in a row before heading home for dinner because I couldn’t stop eating until my cravings were satisfied. I was ashamed and felt weak mentally and physically. Then, I found weightlifting. Naturally, my first motivation to begin lifting was to increase my ability to eat more without gaining unwanted weight. Over time, that motivation evolved into a lifestyle change. I’m a very competitive and results-oriented person, so it was incredibly motivating for me to witness a noticeable improvement in my performance every week. The energy and strength that I built through my new hobby inspired me to work on improving my diet and become better every single day. I remember how powerful that feeling was, so I wanted to help others take that step in their lives. I quickly earned my personal training certificate while working at the recreation center at my university. I built my own book of clients from various demographics. My clients ranged in age from 18-67 and came from all across the country. I enjoyed the opportunity to use my knowledge and experiences to help them bring a change in their lives. Not only was I excited about the improvements they were making, but I was also genuinely interested in hearing about their lives. Without getting too detailed, the stories I heard ranged from battling cancer to anxiety about asking a girl out to a fraternity event. My experience personal training further reinforced my belief in the value of listening.
I listen because every single person that you encounter can teach you something that will help in your growth. When I begin to be frustrated with someone, I think about all that I have experienced in two decades and I understand that each person has also had their own journey that has brought them to this point and has an effect on the actions that they take. Listening helps you to understand these motivations. When you begin to think, “I wonder what caused this person to behave this way,” instead of becoming angry, you are able to look at events more objectively over time.
I know that the skills I have developed will aid me in the study and practice of law.