I obtained mediation skills at an early age. My mother was constantly fighting a vicious enemy; alcohol. I constantly worked to resolve her addiction. She was analogous to a ghost, constantly staggering around the house at all hours of the night, moaning and stuttering phrases that were so incoherent that her inebriation introduced a new dialect. When I enrolled in school, my mother would often be so intoxicated that she could not drive, resulting in multiple unexcused absences. These absences would often put me at risk for falling behind as well as having to repeat a grade. This was especially difficult, because it occurred during my developmental years as an adolescent. She was the alcoholic, but the disease of alcoholism was shared in both of us.
When writing this personal statement, I was given advice to write about my identity, being a child of an addict has become intrinsic to my identity. I would be fearful of what disposition my mother would be in. I became a servant to her alcoholism, I would cook, clean, and pay bills. I learned the cure for a hangover before I learned how to read. My evolution from infant to adult is characterized upon milestones that occurred while my parent was a dipsomaniac. I would attempt to consume myself in activities, whether it be reading, debate team, and/or working. My mother’s alcoholism is what gave me the idea to become an attorney.
I discovered my talent for reading and public speaking when I joined my high school debate team. I would often postpone going home by consuming myself in briefs and cases for upcoming debate meets. My mother’s alcoholism gave me the dedication and work ethic that allowed me to become a debate state finalist every year of high school. The day I turned sixteen, I started working at Payless, I would work 30-hour weeks while attending high school. My mother’s alcoholism allowed me to have a strong attention to detail as well as interpersonal skills. These skills enabled me to lead the entire chain of Payless in sales.
I entered my senior year of high school with the idea of leaving my hometown and never returning. I applied to universities all over the United States, until my mother pleaded with me to stay at home and take care of her. I entered college with baggage, referring to a 30-minute commute and my mother’s alcoholism. My first three years of college were difficult, my mother was in and out of hospitals and treatment facilities, refusing to acknowledge that she needed help until she was on the brink of her own demise. She was unresponsive during my first semester of finals week, resulting in a severe hospitalization and an unfocused test-taker.
I received my first taste of law when I started working for a civil litigation law firm in early 2016. I started as an entry level file clerk, moving up to a legal assistant, this is where I discovered my true passion. I was often tasked with drafting discovery and correspondence, this allowed me to create and form new arguments. I also became specialized in legal research, helping the attorneys locate laws and statutes that pertained to our cases. My mother’s alcoholism trained me to investigate and not accept things at face-value which allowed me to excel at my job.
I have been constantly fighting my mother’s addiction for over 20 years. I have had to mediate with the most difficult type of person; a drunk. Being an attorney would allow me to dedicate my time and work ethic to something that truly matters to me, helping people resolve their conflicts and grow to become a better person, just as I have done.
My mother finally became clean in March of 2018, ironically on my 21st birthday. I am proud to be the daughter of an alcoholic mother. Alcoholism has allowed me to discover my true self. I have uncovered passions for service and knowledge. Without my mom and her addiction, I would not be who I am today. This sentiment equates to my mother receiving the highest measure of gratitude.
