Thoughts on my Personal Statement?
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 5:43 pm
Personal Statement
I was three years old when my father handed me my first golf club. I stood barefooted in the front yard, doing my best to stretch infant hands around the worn rubber grip. It was a moment that seemed innocuous enough at the time, but one that ultimately shaped the course of my life—beyond just determining the clothes I wore or what I hoped Santa Claus would leave under the tree.
Every summer growing up, the country club for which my father was the Grounds Superintendent hosted the [XYZ] Open, a stop on the PGA Tour for 51 years. I was mesmerized watching the seemingly divine talents of the game’s greatest professionals. Even the less-well-known players were impressive: their techniques efficient, their strategies infallible, their successes rooted in a steely drive for excellence. I became a regular caddy at the club, often waking up early to hitch a ride with my father. I learned from him the subtleties not only of the course he maintained, but especially of the game itself: why the cup was placed in a certain portion of the green; the nuances of how wind, temperature, and humidity affect the golf ball’s spin and flight; even how different species of turf impact the behavior of a ball as it rolls across the green.
My time spent as a caddy helped to foster my desire to become a competitive golfer. Around the age of ten, I modified a golf ‘pull cart’ so that I could tow my clubs behind my bicycle. Thereafter liberated to make it to the local public course even if my parents were unable, I played nearly every day of the week. I distinctly recall a particular moment in which our neighbor (who was also an avid golfer), taken aback by what must have seemed a peculiar sight, commented that I had “caught the bug.” It was then that golf taught me its most valuable lesson: what it means to have passion. I realized that the countless hours I had spent immersed in the game were all in pursuit of my life’s first passion.
I fell in love with every aspect of the game, especially its quirks. To be great at golf requires both the artist’s imagination and the engineer’s exacting precision. It’s a game governed by a lengthy code of hard-and-fast rules, but lacks umpires or referees. A great golfer continually pursues nothing short of perfection, but also quietly accepts her most recent failure. My love for all aspects of this game drove me to want to compete at the highest levels; I prepared incessantly to gain an edge on my competition.
Despite my best efforts, I was a relatively unremarkable competitor throughout high school. I won a few tournaments and set some personal records, but fell short of the success I desired. That said, my performance was good enough to warrant a golf scholarship, which led me to the college I attended. Competing at an entirely new level, my performance as a collegiate rookie was even less impressive than it was in high school. I seriously considered giving up golf altogether and transferring to another university; after all, I chose [COLLEGE] University over the other colleges to which I had been admitted in large part to satisfy my drive to compete.
I didn’t transfer though; I kept playing in pursuit of that elusive passion. One can learn the value of perseverance in a multitude of ways, but I learned it from golf. Had I chosen to abandon golf, I likely would not have learned certain lessons that have been fundamental in determining the course of my life. Namely, that the concerted pursuit of a passion inevitably results in unforeseen benefits. I didn’t necessarily remain at [COLLEGE] to grow in my faith, but that was one immensely beneficial result of my decision to stay and play golf. I certainly didn’t remain at [COLLEGE] to learn lessons in humility, but those too will pay lifelong dividends. This game has shaped my life for the better—and all because, at every crossroad I encountered at which I could have forged a new path, I instead decided to follow my passion for competitive golf.
Ultimately, this is what drives me to pursue a career in law: passion.
Even from a fairly early age, I felt destined for law school. My long-held interests in politics, and an insistent longing to influence public discourse and policy, made a quality legal education seem like the next logical step after college. Now, that is not to say I haven’t had my doubts; throughout my undergraduate years and beyond, I began to question my attraction to law school. Similar to my golfing career, I struggled through feelings of doubt, inadequacy, and most importantly, whether I would even enjoy a legal career.
But my time since college has ultimately solidified my desire to pursue law school. My professional experiences have helped affirm my passion for public policy. I’ve learned the challenges that come with navigating the complex issues of higher education and with tactfully refuting opposing rhetoric. Most importantly, these past two-and-a-half years have provided the opportunity to take an entirely introspective outlook, enabling me to become fully aware of my career interests. I’ve realized that while golf was my life’s first passion, my passion for influencing politics and public policy transcends mere leisure. Indeed, I am now able to fully commit myself to this passion, and establish a career trajectory to last the rest of my life.
after law school, I hope to return to (or remain in) my home state of Michigan—ideally, to attain a public policy or legal advisory role in Lansing. I feel a genuine sense of indebtedness to the state in which I was raised; I have a duty to return and help make Michigan an even better place than it was for me growing up. A degree from the University of Michigan Law School will no doubt provide the foundation I need to build a lasting and rewarding career.
Looking back on my life so far, it has clearly been an era defined by golf. This game influenced who my closest friends have been, the college I attended, and consequently where I’m working and living as I write this. I will always have a passion for this great game, but the next chapter of my life will be defined by the pursuit of a much different passion—that of meaningfully influencing politics and public policy. Although I’m surely not the only applicant who shares this passion, I am confident that my perspective and unique experiences will allow me to make valuable contributions within my law school class and beyond.
I was three years old when my father handed me my first golf club. I stood barefooted in the front yard, doing my best to stretch infant hands around the worn rubber grip. It was a moment that seemed innocuous enough at the time, but one that ultimately shaped the course of my life—beyond just determining the clothes I wore or what I hoped Santa Claus would leave under the tree.
Every summer growing up, the country club for which my father was the Grounds Superintendent hosted the [XYZ] Open, a stop on the PGA Tour for 51 years. I was mesmerized watching the seemingly divine talents of the game’s greatest professionals. Even the less-well-known players were impressive: their techniques efficient, their strategies infallible, their successes rooted in a steely drive for excellence. I became a regular caddy at the club, often waking up early to hitch a ride with my father. I learned from him the subtleties not only of the course he maintained, but especially of the game itself: why the cup was placed in a certain portion of the green; the nuances of how wind, temperature, and humidity affect the golf ball’s spin and flight; even how different species of turf impact the behavior of a ball as it rolls across the green.
My time spent as a caddy helped to foster my desire to become a competitive golfer. Around the age of ten, I modified a golf ‘pull cart’ so that I could tow my clubs behind my bicycle. Thereafter liberated to make it to the local public course even if my parents were unable, I played nearly every day of the week. I distinctly recall a particular moment in which our neighbor (who was also an avid golfer), taken aback by what must have seemed a peculiar sight, commented that I had “caught the bug.” It was then that golf taught me its most valuable lesson: what it means to have passion. I realized that the countless hours I had spent immersed in the game were all in pursuit of my life’s first passion.
I fell in love with every aspect of the game, especially its quirks. To be great at golf requires both the artist’s imagination and the engineer’s exacting precision. It’s a game governed by a lengthy code of hard-and-fast rules, but lacks umpires or referees. A great golfer continually pursues nothing short of perfection, but also quietly accepts her most recent failure. My love for all aspects of this game drove me to want to compete at the highest levels; I prepared incessantly to gain an edge on my competition.
Despite my best efforts, I was a relatively unremarkable competitor throughout high school. I won a few tournaments and set some personal records, but fell short of the success I desired. That said, my performance was good enough to warrant a golf scholarship, which led me to the college I attended. Competing at an entirely new level, my performance as a collegiate rookie was even less impressive than it was in high school. I seriously considered giving up golf altogether and transferring to another university; after all, I chose [COLLEGE] University over the other colleges to which I had been admitted in large part to satisfy my drive to compete.
I didn’t transfer though; I kept playing in pursuit of that elusive passion. One can learn the value of perseverance in a multitude of ways, but I learned it from golf. Had I chosen to abandon golf, I likely would not have learned certain lessons that have been fundamental in determining the course of my life. Namely, that the concerted pursuit of a passion inevitably results in unforeseen benefits. I didn’t necessarily remain at [COLLEGE] to grow in my faith, but that was one immensely beneficial result of my decision to stay and play golf. I certainly didn’t remain at [COLLEGE] to learn lessons in humility, but those too will pay lifelong dividends. This game has shaped my life for the better—and all because, at every crossroad I encountered at which I could have forged a new path, I instead decided to follow my passion for competitive golf.
Ultimately, this is what drives me to pursue a career in law: passion.
Even from a fairly early age, I felt destined for law school. My long-held interests in politics, and an insistent longing to influence public discourse and policy, made a quality legal education seem like the next logical step after college. Now, that is not to say I haven’t had my doubts; throughout my undergraduate years and beyond, I began to question my attraction to law school. Similar to my golfing career, I struggled through feelings of doubt, inadequacy, and most importantly, whether I would even enjoy a legal career.
But my time since college has ultimately solidified my desire to pursue law school. My professional experiences have helped affirm my passion for public policy. I’ve learned the challenges that come with navigating the complex issues of higher education and with tactfully refuting opposing rhetoric. Most importantly, these past two-and-a-half years have provided the opportunity to take an entirely introspective outlook, enabling me to become fully aware of my career interests. I’ve realized that while golf was my life’s first passion, my passion for influencing politics and public policy transcends mere leisure. Indeed, I am now able to fully commit myself to this passion, and establish a career trajectory to last the rest of my life.
after law school, I hope to return to (or remain in) my home state of Michigan—ideally, to attain a public policy or legal advisory role in Lansing. I feel a genuine sense of indebtedness to the state in which I was raised; I have a duty to return and help make Michigan an even better place than it was for me growing up. A degree from the University of Michigan Law School will no doubt provide the foundation I need to build a lasting and rewarding career.
Looking back on my life so far, it has clearly been an era defined by golf. This game influenced who my closest friends have been, the college I attended, and consequently where I’m working and living as I write this. I will always have a passion for this great game, but the next chapter of my life will be defined by the pursuit of a much different passion—that of meaningfully influencing politics and public policy. Although I’m surely not the only applicant who shares this passion, I am confident that my perspective and unique experiences will allow me to make valuable contributions within my law school class and beyond.