Brainstorming a Personal Statement Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am planning to apply this cycle given my Dec lsat score is high enough. I'm not sure how to go about writing my PS, other than the fact that I want to integrate a weight loss journey that started about 1.5 years ago. Do you think this is an acceptable topic to include in my PS?

-I have always been intrigued by the law and the legal system of this country. However, despite an interest in the career, I always associated being a lawyer with the extreme extrovert comfortable with perfect public speaking. Unfortunately, I was a very overweight + obese kid and as a result, never thought I would survive being a lawyer. This perspective began to change when I finally started losing weight. I was that 300 pound college kid with a low body image perception and remember being shy about my public image. After taking a business IP law class junior year of college, it rekindled my interest for the law and decided enough was enough and was determined to lose weight starting that summer. Long story short, a year and half later, I weighed in at 180 pounds, losing 120 pounds! (Don't worry, I picked up lifting and have muscles now) By the end, I felt like a completely different person with a new slate in life. This further motivates me to attend law school and ultimately an attorney.

Sorry if the above doesn't make sense. Sort of wrote this in a hurry.

TL;DR: Former obese kid and want to include 120 pound weight loss transformation into my PS. Possible?

[Bravo]

I don't know. It could work if done correctly but I almost find it a little sad. It's as if only now that you're at a lower weight do you feel like you're worthy of going to law school. It would almost be more compelling if you said despite being consistently overweight and knowing that people might judge me for it, I'm going to pursue my dream of a law career anyway because I believe in myself and I'd be great at it. Obviously, it sounds like you are healthier now and that's awesome just make sure it doesn't come off as you felt you had to conform to society's standard and that you wouldn't go to law school if you hadn't been able to lose the weight.

Congrats of the weight loss though! That is impressive and I'm not trying to say that it isn't. I'm just thinking about it in regards to coming across in a personal statement. Good luck!

[Gefuehlsecht]

I really don't think that you'll be able to pull this off. Congratulations on your weight loss, but it seems to me that it is extremely far-fetched to somehow link that achievement to a desire to practice law. Also, not every lawyer is the extroverted type, especially once you turn off the TV.