Possible final draft of PS
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 7:52 pm
Please critique.
It was the end of my freshman year in college. I had gained a significant amount of weight after already being considerably out of shape for most of my life. Constantly feeling beat, sluggish, and lacking confidence in myself, I decided to take the first step in changing my life. That summer, I stepped into the gym for the first time. I purchased a membership and told myself I would stick to my plan of working out every day. My schedule consisted of waking up at 3AM for work unloading a merchandise truck at Target, then going to the gym at 10 immediately after. Despite being mentally and psychically exhausted, I pushed myself to go to the gym and weight train, and then go for a run in the neighborhood next to the gym. That summer marked a paradigm shift in how I approached not just challenges, but life in general.
The work it took to get rid of the 50 pounds I eventually lost was not just a physical battle, but was just as equally a mental challenge. Before that in life, I never had worked that hard to achieve anything—I lacked the willpower to take on big tasks. The physical determination to add weight to my lifts and get those last few repetitions instilled the mindset of not quitting when things get tough. This mirrors the way I started approaching school and relationships, along with life’s everyday tasks. While I would previously give up on studying to go do something fun, or procrastinate on that paper due at the end of the semester, I am now proactive in my schoolwork. This would not have been the case without the lessons I learned from the gym.
As I fostered this new change in my life, I sought to help others that shared the same struggles I once did. Many of my family and friends took notice of the progress I had made in the gym and asked what I did to achieve and maintain it. I started by giving small tips, and eventually started taking many of them to the gym and helping them develop diet plans for themselves. I thoroughly enjoy playing a role in helping someone to achieve a goal they before thought was impossible. In the practice of law, I intend to achieve a similar satisfaction. It is my hope that my knowledge of the law can help improve not just other people, but society as a whole.
After taking up this lifestyle, my mind felt clearer and I had more energy than I ever had before. This gave me the motivation to succeed as a transfer student at the University of Wisconsin—Madison, the state’s flagship institution. The work ethic and perseverance I acquired from going to the gym and training six days a week instilled a work ethic that I have never previously had. During my first semester at UW, I was able to balance a difficult course load with my first internship, while still finding time to train in the gym everyday. This past semester, I was able to successfully complete an 18-credit semester while holding an internship, studying for the LSAT, and dealing with a sick parent.
My initial thoughts about going to law school—which have lingered since high school—were solidified throughout my college years. By overcoming my own weight struggles and aiding others with theirs, my desire to help others emerged, and is a large reason why being a lawyer is right for me. Through my academic, internship, and life experiences, I realize that I am ready to take on the challenge that law school brings. It is fitting that law school is the next chapter in my life, and I am ready to take on the responsibility of learning the law and the unexpected obstacles that will inevitably arise.
It was the end of my freshman year in college. I had gained a significant amount of weight after already being considerably out of shape for most of my life. Constantly feeling beat, sluggish, and lacking confidence in myself, I decided to take the first step in changing my life. That summer, I stepped into the gym for the first time. I purchased a membership and told myself I would stick to my plan of working out every day. My schedule consisted of waking up at 3AM for work unloading a merchandise truck at Target, then going to the gym at 10 immediately after. Despite being mentally and psychically exhausted, I pushed myself to go to the gym and weight train, and then go for a run in the neighborhood next to the gym. That summer marked a paradigm shift in how I approached not just challenges, but life in general.
The work it took to get rid of the 50 pounds I eventually lost was not just a physical battle, but was just as equally a mental challenge. Before that in life, I never had worked that hard to achieve anything—I lacked the willpower to take on big tasks. The physical determination to add weight to my lifts and get those last few repetitions instilled the mindset of not quitting when things get tough. This mirrors the way I started approaching school and relationships, along with life’s everyday tasks. While I would previously give up on studying to go do something fun, or procrastinate on that paper due at the end of the semester, I am now proactive in my schoolwork. This would not have been the case without the lessons I learned from the gym.
As I fostered this new change in my life, I sought to help others that shared the same struggles I once did. Many of my family and friends took notice of the progress I had made in the gym and asked what I did to achieve and maintain it. I started by giving small tips, and eventually started taking many of them to the gym and helping them develop diet plans for themselves. I thoroughly enjoy playing a role in helping someone to achieve a goal they before thought was impossible. In the practice of law, I intend to achieve a similar satisfaction. It is my hope that my knowledge of the law can help improve not just other people, but society as a whole.
After taking up this lifestyle, my mind felt clearer and I had more energy than I ever had before. This gave me the motivation to succeed as a transfer student at the University of Wisconsin—Madison, the state’s flagship institution. The work ethic and perseverance I acquired from going to the gym and training six days a week instilled a work ethic that I have never previously had. During my first semester at UW, I was able to balance a difficult course load with my first internship, while still finding time to train in the gym everyday. This past semester, I was able to successfully complete an 18-credit semester while holding an internship, studying for the LSAT, and dealing with a sick parent.
My initial thoughts about going to law school—which have lingered since high school—were solidified throughout my college years. By overcoming my own weight struggles and aiding others with theirs, my desire to help others emerged, and is a large reason why being a lawyer is right for me. Through my academic, internship, and life experiences, I realize that I am ready to take on the challenge that law school brings. It is fitting that law school is the next chapter in my life, and I am ready to take on the responsibility of learning the law and the unexpected obstacles that will inevitably arise.