About to Send Personal Statement. Help? Forum

[nathaned]

Hello everyone! I'm hoping some of you can read over my statement and give me some pointers.

Thank you.

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The Great Recession of 2008 affected millions of families throughout the United States. My family was one of those families. In August 2008, my father was laid off from his job. As the economy declined and unemployment rose, he was unable to find work for two years. Our family took a significant financial hit, going from the bank’s foreclosure on our homes to teetering on the verge of homelessness. In the midst of financial hardship and uncertainty, I went to college.

This series of events slowly unfolded over my first couple of years of undergrad and became the catalyst for my interest in economics. I wanted to understand the powerful global factors that had impacted me and my family. As I learned about various economic factors, I became increasingly interested in the complexities of this mechanism that had a life of its own: the economy. In the first semester of my third year, I became so proficient in my economics classes that I tutored several classmates in person and through online boards.

However, as my financial circumstance was a catalyst for my intellectual curiosity, it was also the cause of some distress. Growing up as half-Japanese, I found myself to be an outsider by both American circles and Japanese circles. I was not eager to be seen as an outsider again. This insecurity was compounded by the fact that I grew up with the notion that being poor was equivalent to being morally deficient. In an attempt to hide my believed moral deficiency, I cut off all possible forms of support. Anxious over financial troubles, I became withdrawn socially.
Eager to distance myself from my family’s financial troubles and to start my own life, I was impatient to begin working. I took a job as a retirement specialist. I saw it as an opportunity to learn and build upon certain skills I did not explore during my time at [university]: my financial discipline and communication skills. However, what I learned from working at [company] far surpassed what I anticipated.

Working with public school teachers in Detroit, I came face-to-face with others affected by the financial crisis. Many of the teachers I encountered had their savings swept away during the 2008 crisis. One teacher in particular revealed her financial statement dating back to 2007 showing she had over two hundred thousand dollars saved in her retirement account. In 2008, that statement reflected a balance of zero dollars. It took roughly thirteen years to accumulate that money and only one night to lose it, having nothing to show for it now but an outdated piece of paper. Five years passed since she lost everything, and she had not started saving since. By the time I met her in 2013, retirement was coming closer and she realized she needed to face the situation. Working with her, it was amazing how creative one can get in finding ways to save money with just a little outside guidance. I witnessed how seemingly small steps, such as addressing the problem and seeking help instead of becoming withdrawn, had profound results. Additionally, I was able to come to terms with the belief that being poor was equivalent to being morally deficient. These teachers who lost all their money weren’t deviants. They were hard working people who had their lives negatively affected through no fault of their own.
Inevitably, we will all face circumstances outside of our control. Instead of being consumed by guilt, frustration, and anxiety, I’ve learned that seeking guidance and taking action is a more constructive way to handle these types of situations. I now provide assistance for my mother in managing her finances. Additionally, I provide financial support for my younger brother who is attending college. I am able to provide for my family what I wished was provided for me during college. Seeing the tangible and progressive effects of my actions on those around me helped me realize how significant an impact I can make on my family and, on a larger scale, my community.

Attending Law School will equip me to better assist my community. (Specific explanation of how). It will undoubtedly be one of the most rigorous challenges I will face. However, I believe that my journey so far has readily prepared me for the challenge. Though the act of practicing law is of a much higher caliber than anything I have done in school or work, the resilience, self-determination and personal discipline that I gained throughout my years between undergrad and now, I believe, are qualities essential for a practicing lawyer.