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Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 6:32 pm
by starry eyed
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Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 6:54 pm
by TheSpanishMain
How did you get out of the army after only a year? Is there a good story there?

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 6:55 pm
by starry eyed
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Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 6:56 pm
by starry eyed
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Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:01 pm
by 071816
alaird21 wrote:Dad dying resulted in my mom turning to drugs. She needed me at home. MY CO was able to negotiate an honorable discharge.
alaird21 wrote:Also, when my wife and i split, I had to go to court a lot. and i was able to witness a lot of emotional custody proceedings (from other familys) that left an effect on me, and sort of confirmed my decision to be a lawyer.
These both seem like personal statement gold. Most law school applicants have not been through this stuff.

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:07 pm
by starry eyed
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Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:11 pm
by 071816
alaird21 wrote:
chimp wrote:
alaird21 wrote:Dad dying resulted in my mom turning to drugs. She needed me at home. MY CO was able to negotiate an honorable discharge.
alaird21 wrote:Also, when my wife and i split, I had to go to court a lot. and i was able to witness a lot of emotional custody proceedings (from other familys) that left an effect on me, and sort of confirmed my decision to be a lawyer.
These both seem like personal statement gold. Most law school applicants have not been through this stuff.
Do you think it would be better to focus entirely on the custody proceedings or a combination of witnessing her birth and the anxiety that came along with it- a very brief paragraph proclaiming that we split up 2 months later, and how my life drastically changed- then briefly touch on the proceedings, and how they confirmed my desires to be a lawyer?
I would honestly focus on your father's death and your mother's drug usage (and how that shaped you). Play up the "overcoming adversity" angle. Then I would touch on the proceedings toward the end and discuss how that got you interested in pursuing a legal career.

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:21 pm
by starry eyed
Thanks for the advice.

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:22 pm
by 071816
alaird21 wrote:Thanks for the advice.
no prob

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:24 pm
by WhiskeyAndCupcakes
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Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:24 pm
by 071816
WhiskeyAndCupcakes wrote:Other people my disagree (please chime in if you do!), but I wouldn't focus on other people (e.g., your daughter) or court proceedings. I'd find a way to show who you are in the midst of difficulty, uncertainty, and chaos: that you were responsible, consistent, helpful, etc. You are clearly able to enter in to difficult circumstances and to navigate them carefully. I'd show your resilience and how you have positively affected these situations. Focus on one or two things in depth rather than giving your whole life story.
Generally speaking, I agree with this.

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:42 pm
by starry eyed
WhiskeyAndCupcakes wrote:Other people my disagree (please chime in if you do!), but I wouldn't focus on other people (e.g., your daughter) or court proceedings. I'd find a way to show who you are in the midst of difficulty, uncertainty, and chaos: that you were responsible, consistent, helpful, etc. You are clearly able to enter in to difficult circumstances and to navigate them carefully. I'd show your resilience and how you have positively affected these situations. Focus on one or two things in depth rather than giving your whole life story.

ETA: the subject of this thread is false. You definitely have things to write about.
Very good point, I am going to draft something up and have it on here by the end of the week and see what kind of feedback i get.

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:14 pm
by JustDuke
Nothing to write about? LOL. You need to write about yourself. Show you know, who you are. And the subject is not that relevant. All those set-ups - family issues, court, travel to africa or whatever, those are just a cheap decor in a theater of a lone actor.

So decide first what do you want them to know about you, and try not to reduce the whole exercise into incessant whining and display of self-pity.

The best PS I've ever read was about a playing football when he was 6 or 8 years old. Or some other sport don't remember.

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:15 pm
by 071816
JustDuke wrote:Nothing to write about? LOL. You need to write about yourself. Show you know, who you are. And the subject is not that relevant. All those set-ups - family issues, court, travel to africa or whatever, those are just a cheap decor in a theater of a lone actor.

So decide first what do you want them to know about you, and try not to reduce the whole exercise into incessant whining and display of self-pity.

The best PS I've ever read was about a playing football when he was 6 or 8 years old. Or some other sport don't remember.
wut

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:12 pm
by starry eyed
JustDuke wrote:Nothing to write about? LOL. You need to write about yourself. Show you know, who you are. And the subject is not that relevant. All those set-ups - family issues, court, travel to africa or whatever, those are just a cheap decor in a theater of a lone actor.

So decide first what do you want them to know about you, and try not to reduce the whole exercise into incessant whining and display of self-pity.

The best PS I've ever read was about a playing football when he was 6 or 8 years old. Or some other sport don't remember.
Are you a troll or just suffering from a stroke?

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 10:27 pm
by JustDuke
alaird21 wrote:Are you a troll or just suffering from a stroke?
I think its combination of both

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 6:49 pm
by cmac2210
In your court appearances were you an pro se litigant? If so you could open with how you found yourself thrust into the legal system and then transition into how you had to muddle your way through the law in a fight for your daughter. Then close it a by saying how that experience showed you how knowing the law can help People and how you want to be able to do that. Just my thoughts.

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 6:51 pm
by fats provolone
write about your experiences as a new poster on TLS

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 10:29 pm
by starry eyed
fats provolone wrote:write about your experiences as a new poster on TLS
Or I could write about how I gained the recognition of a mega poster. 0_0
Or how I suffered through 2 bans learning the true meaning of perseverance.

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 12:22 am
by fats provolone
I'd admit you

Re: Nothing to write about.

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 12:23 am
by ilikebaseball
chimp wrote:
JustDuke wrote:Nothing to write about? LOL. You need to write about yourself. Show you know, who you are. And the subject is not that relevant. All those set-ups - family issues, court, travel to africa or whatever, those are just a cheap decor in a theater of a lone actor.

So decide first what do you want them to know about you, and try not to reduce the whole exercise into incessant whining and display of self-pity.

The best PS I've ever read was about a playing football when he was 6 or 8 years old. Or some other sport don't remember.
wut