Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Personal statement of 500 words
'As pertaining to the custody of the children,' the judge continued, 'the court
has decided that it would be in the children's best interests if full custody
were henceforth awarded to the mother.'
My mother then uttered a long sigh of relief. Although I was only eight
years old, I knew that I had just witnessed a life-changing decision. My
parents
had officially obtained a divorce. I had undergone a month of attorneys'
interviews, courtroom drama, and private dissertations in the judge's chambers,
so I then knew why my mother had sighed. My father's lawyer (or, as I referred
to him, the angry, loud man) had by far overshadowed my mother's more mellow
attorney, and this fact was reflected in the divorce decree. Aside from a
minimal child support payment and a division of the mutual assets, my mother
received next to nothing for ten loyal years of marriage. As our broken family
relocated to a small, two-bedroom apartment, I searched for someone to blame.
Although I was too young to understand the complicated legal proceedings, I
observed how 'the big, important guy' (the judge) seemed to listen more
attentively to 'the angry loud man.' When I asked my mother the reason for this
inequality, she said something about not having the same resources that my
father
had. So I was convinced that 'the loud, angry man' who wanted a lot of
resources
was the cause of my unhappy situation. For the next year, I repeatedly asked
questions about lawyers. While my peers were still insisting that they were
going to be ninja fighters or ballerinas, I proclaimed my future as a very loud
lawyer that did not require a lot of resources to do a good job.
As I grew and matured, I realized that my childish declaration would
require dedication. To adjust to my new school and family situation, I eased
the
transition with extracurricular activities. I especially became interested in
public-speaking, which was reflected in my growing confidence at school and my
outspoken personality at home. The jump from middle school to high school
shifted my attentions from 4-H debates and school elections to more in-depth
experiences. Sophomore year I discovered a rare opportunity in the Boy Scouts
Law Exploring Post. This group provided first-hand insights into modern law
careers and enabled me to directly experience numerous aspects of legal
medicine.
Enticing lectures from the district attorney, personal interviews with private
lawyers, and observational trips to local courthouses not only furthered my
interest in more popular, romanticized courtroom action, but also expanded my
interests to include the more practical applications of the law.
I have found within myself a passion for understanding and upholding the
institutions by which man attempts to govern himself. One day I hope to be a
productive part of the American justice system without losing touch of how
deeply
my efforts can affect a person's life. So now that I have established a clear
path to my goal, I must gather my resources.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
General personal statement
As I stepped off the plane and the sun glared in my eyes, I immediately realized that my jeans and college sweatshirt were not appropriate attire for Mexico's steamy July heat. While the sweat began to cover my brow, I became acutely aware that I was thousands of miles away from my safe existence in small town Indiana. Understanding the foreign language being spoken around me was a difficult task, but despite my apprehension I knew that this was the first step towards my quest for independence. Moving to Mexico required me to leave the comfort zone that my parents provided. Prior to this experience, the thought of actively partaking in the lives of those less fortunate had not crossed my mind. My limited perspective was the result of not being exposed to culturally diverse environments. From my experience in Mexico I have come to realize that I have gained a new perspective, developed a stronger sense of responsibility, and strengthened my desire to practice law, all of which will enhance my potential as a law student. Before visiting Mexico, I had the misconception of arriving into a city where donkeys roamed the streets that were filled with poverty stricken individuals. Upon my arrival in Monterrey on the campus of Tec de Monterrey, to my surprise I observed what appeared to be a typical college campus. It was not until traveling further south outside of the city limits that I truly witnessed the existence of a poverty-stricken Mexico. While in that environment, I observed a disparity of wealth that appeared to be impossible by American standards. There has always been the saying: 'The rich get richer, while the poor get poorer,' but even this old adage did not seem to capture the severity of the situation. In one area there were college students living comfortably with air conditioning, running water, and various other amenities, while two streets away there were families of seven living in a one room shack with an outhouse and no electricity. It was very common to see several generations of one family begging in the streets. Filthy children would lie on the street corners starving while their mothers begged pedestrians for pesos, and the grandmothers would sit still with a cloth over their faces in order to protect themselves from the scorching heat radiating from the midday sun. The problem, as I view it, arises when the growing sentiment of the upper class is under the impression that impoverished individuals lack in success because they are lazy and choose to live the way that they do. The fact remains that it is very difficult to advance up the socioeconomic ladder in many foreign countries. In most cases an individual is either born rich or poor, and despite socioeconomic membership it is plausible that the circumstances afforded to future generations may remain the same. In Mexico there is a noticeable lack of social programs that adequately assist and educate the people, and the quality of education is wholly dependent upon one's social class. Average citizens do not receive a quality education and are not provided with many opportunities to improve their well-being. Witnessing the inequalities in Mexico allowed me reflect on my native country. Although I live in a country that has a strong economic system, there are still individuals, such as those in Mexico, who are uneducated and underprivileged. I found myself having a strong desire to advocate for persons who were thousands of miles away from my home, and even more so for those persons at home who at one time I failed to consider. I began to see how limited my perspective on cross-cultural environments had truly had been. As I gazed out of the airplane window while returning to Indiana, all of the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that were inspired by the past year of my life raced through my mind. The desire for me to carry my new found passion and use it to assist others has become unwavering. Since returning from Mexico, I have been working as a tutor for Hispanic children who have just arrived in the United States from Mexico. Their lack of a strong educational background is evident as they not only have to learn English grammar and reading skills, but they have to review their Spanish grammar and spelling as well. Although I enjoy tutoring my students, my dedication to making a lasting impact on the lives of many directs me to the study of the law. I believe that it is a country's responsibility to ensure that all of its citizens have access to a proper education. A career in law is an essential tool that will assist me in achieving my goal of working to build a more egalitarian society. I am determined to stand up for the rights of various races and cultures that may not necessarily obtain a 'fair chance' in our society. Not only do I now believe that it is my duty to assist the less fortunate, but I feel a strong obligation to do everything I can to ensure that they are given the same opportunities that everyone deserves.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
This was a personal statement. The topic was left open-- the applicants were to write about anything they felt was telling of themselves.
'If you are unhappy it is because you are afraid to change.' This is what Alicia Washington, an attorney I worked with this past summer, casually said to me. That day I thought of the truth in her wordsexemplified by my mother. She saw herself with a dead-end secretarial job and an abusive ex-husband in a country rapidly heading towards turmoil and civil warfare; she then realized this would never bring her or her children happiness or opportunity for growth. So she changed everything; she moved all alone from Colombia to the United States with an eight and a twelve year old. She worked as housekeeper, bartender, waitress, all jobs that demeaned her upbringing and education. Today she is a resident of the United States and a successful loan officer with a comfortable income and two thriving young adult children. My mother is living proof of the American dream, which has resulted in great happiness and many opened doors for her and myself. My life changed along with hers, and my transition to the U.S. taught me more than any book, class, or teacher I have ever come across. As a twelve year old wholly removed from the environment in which I was raised I had to learn a new language, make new friends, and change from being surrounded by numerous family members to having only my mother and brother. At that age, I had the perfect amount of innocence and maturity to form my own opinions, and my mothers example empowered me to seek knowledge. Luckily, the schools that I attended never discouraged me from learning; my teachers all showed an admirable passion for their subjects; which in turn began to create in me a yearning to learn. This desire to learn has been intermingled with my uniquely bicultural experience. Unlike many students in the U.S., I have been given the invaluable opportunity to compare the U.S. first-hand with another country. When I first arrived to the U.S. these comparisons were childish, focused on video games and toys, but as my education developed my interests grew. In high school I first learned of our government infrastructure and legal system. This engendered curiosity in me because the U.S. system is organized and democratic, especially in direct contrast with the Colombian system. My curiosity in high school about the U.S. government and its legal system led me to want to study further; so in college I chose to focus my studies on law through political science. During my time in Junior College one of the classes I attended was entitled, 'The Judicial Process,' I learned great insight into how the process works, how to write a case brief, participated in a mock trial, and had a private meeting with a judge. In admiration, I have learned of a legal system that works. Mistakes are made, sometimes innocents are convicted and rights are violated, but the most attractive part about our legal system is its ability to change, to be improved. Each new experience affirms my desire to be an active part of our legal system. My summer in Washington, D.C. as an intern at the Corporation Council particularly stands out. The civil litigation division where I worked had a policy of case settlement. They called it 'Risk Management;' because ensuring quality and believing in the law had gone out of style when the budget problems began. Initially I was sadly disappointed by this policy, it signaled distrust in the same system I had so firmly come to believe in. Through my work during those months, a new perspective of hope emerged in me. I realized that case settlement is a large, valid part of our legal system. But I also realized each individual that takes part of this process has a responsibility to uphold the law. This sometimes means standing up against frivolous law suits, even if it is dangerous for the budget. After learning many lessons inside and outside the classroom I am fully prepared to live up to the challenge and take advantage of participating in a framework that brings about change. I believe USC Law School has a mission that is decidedly aligned with my own. USC has a commitment to innovation; the school understands that despite a 100-year tradition it must change along with society in order to provide the best legal education. This is important for me. It shows that USC has the same beliefs as I dothat the law must be trusted and can change, indeed, that change must occur in order for the law to fulfill its purpose of bettering our society.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Personal statement
The story of Corrie ten Boom, a woman who risked her life to work in the Dutch Underground during World War II, has been a long-time inspiration of mine. Her dedication to her work, ability to tailor her resources and personal talents to the situation at hand, and unending desire to serve and love became a measure by which I set my goals. Ever since I was a young girl, a challenge has been my favorite adversary. The more difficult an undertaking was, the more I was determined to overcome it, be it mastering the English language after moving to the United States, majoring in engineering when my counselors and teachers encouraged and expected me to succeed in a liberal arts career, or deciding to pursue a career in law even though it was not perceived by my Asian family as the safe and correct career choice, like engineering was. Like ten Boom, the obstacles that inevitably arose only served to strengthen my determination to come out on top and learn something from them. One area in which my choices have given me strength lies in not living up to others' negative expectations. I became involved in student organizations my freshman year and was determined to hold certain leadership positions that were usually occupied by juniors and seniors. Often, my age and not my abilities was questioned, but this only motivated me to persevere and perform my best. This same motivation, coupled with a desire to do something else with my degree other than designing new software, is what compelled me to choose a job in law after graduation instead of following the technical path that had been well paved for me already. During an internship at IBM, my mentor mentioned the patent application process that he was going through and at the time, I was intrigued by the details of the patenting process. I soon realized that the process of obtaining and protecting intellectual property interested me far more than the creation of intellectual property itself did. For me, the combination of my technical background and interest in the law was an ideal mix, even though many of my peers have never considered the leap from engineering to law as a possibility. I have always been interested in the law and the application of engineering to the marketplace, especially how the intellectual property of a company is accounted for during merger and acquisition negotiations. However, most of the engineering curriculum is geared more towards engineering design and development of new ideas rather than what to do with those ideas once they have been realized. Through my job, I have discovered that law appeals to me in many ways that engineering did not. Because the law and its interpretation are ever changing, I am constantly learning and applying new knowledge in my work. A career in law also gives me more avenues to interact with people outside of my immediate work area and allows me to be able to see a project come to fruition more often than in the tech industry. Having participated in some areas of litigation, I have been able to see some of the quickly changing dynamics possible in a case, and working with those dynamics is a challenge that excites me. One of the main rewards I have gained from my experiences is the influence of several excellent mentors. After benefiting from their hard-earned wisdom, I was determined to provide that aid to others. While a student, the most rewarding opportunity came from recruiting students for the College of Engineering. As a Student Ambassador, I was able to actively recruit top-notch students for the College of Engineering. I could not only highlight the best that the college has to offer, but could also point out things to think about when making that final decision - information that I wish I had possessed when I was in their shoes. Now that I am in the work force, I have been able to take the advice and training that I have received from mentors at work and share them with current students through programs put on by the college of engineering and online mentoring programs. While I still have quite a ways to go to match the record of Corrie ten Boom, like her, I am determined to make a difference in my area of the world. With a hopeful future in patent law, I hope to stay attached to my technical undergraduate area of study in a way that better utilizes my abilities.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Personal Statement
Imperial Sugar It was only 99 cents at Kroger: Imperial Pure Cane Sugar. At home in America's Kitchens Since 1843. Net wt 1 lb. (16 oz) 453 g. 126 Sugar Cubes. Little did I know how much this 2 x 4 < x 3 > inch cardboard box would come to symbolize. This thin, light-yellow box with slender white lines and such seemingly simple instructions, 'pull and tear at perforation,' serves as a reminder of life's lessons. As I enter my fourth and final year as coordinator of Wharton and Rice Mentorship (WARM), I will forever treasure those little encounters the most. Wharton Elementary has become my haven, my home, and a place where I have found solace during my college career. This elementary serves a predominately Hispanic population in the Fourth Ward and Montrose area of Houston, Texas. Perusing the school profile on paper, one could think twice about the prospects of success for these children: 100% are Title 1 (low-income students), 87% are on free/reduced lunch, 61% have Limited English, and 79% are considered at-risk. Yet, their attendance numbers are phenomenal, their promotion rate is high, and their hearts are so overpowering that one cannot help but stand in awe at this exemplary school and its families. Through WARM, we alternate between Wharton Elementary and Rice University campuses. One memorable afternoon from last Spring stands out in my mind. By 3:15, the mentors and mentees gathered to eat the strawberry cupcakes with vanilla frosting and sprinkles that I had baked the prior evening. Our focus for the day was twofold: to bring closure to the year and to unify the group. I initiated an activity in which participants could capitalize on their strengths and disintegrate their weaknesses. We sat in a circle with the famous cardboard box. The sugar activity was one that I had developed as a cabin leader at a summer camp for children with special needs. 'I fear that I will be this size in two years,' remarked Julian, an obese nine-year old boy who recognizes the health risks inherent in his size. Josh, a second year mentor, revealed, 'I am scared that my ambition to become a doctor is only a quest to make my parents proud.' 'I am scared that I will not accomplish my God-given mission. I fear that I will succumb to the pressures of being the 'best' or doing the 'best' and that I will lose sight of my mission in life.' That was what I said. One by one, we disclosed our greatest fears by dropping sugar cubes into the water. The Tupperware bowl became a reservoir of renounced anxiety. We each began with about five sugar cubes, then by the end they were all gone. Recognizing each concern as noteworthy, the children offered mutual support and respect. What came to surface that Friday afternoon in April was the trust and love that had been built among our team. By dropping the sugar cubes in water, we watched the very things that were troubling us shed and disintegrate. Finally, when there were just a handful of pieces left, I had everyone put in one cube together. We made a pact for each other. In unison, each individual dropped his or her final cube, making a wish for WARM - that we may embrace trust, hope, and love. This activity taught us to relinquish the strong, tough, survivor-like exteriors we tend to wear, to acknowledge our vulnerabilities, and to embrace hope in one another. The next week, we used the same bowl for water, but we each had one stone to place into the bowl. The goal was for each of us to identify one quality for which we were most proud. We went around the circle and declared our greatest asset. We acknowledged that these stones could and would never dissolve. While the stones may become smoother with time, having been weathered by water, they would always be impenetrable and withstand hardship. After each of us placed our stone, we reflected on the unique contribution each person, in living, makes to the world. With the basin of water before us, we each took one stone to keep. I instructed everyone not to ask whose stone they had received, but to treasure the fact that they could be empowered by someone else's strength. Each of us now, both figuratively and quite literally, carries one another's strengths with us. That afternoon, I held that my strength was to serve as a voice for others. Outsiders might not see anything magical in that day, but the symbolism of our simple game became my declaration of independence. I am committed to not letting the voices of those children, or of any people I care about, fade away. This is what has been the guiding force for my devotion to my senior thesis project for Women and Gender Studies. Since my sophomore year, I have been invested in addressing the childcare needs of Rice University and instigating a dialogue surrounding this issue. My current fight is for the working mothers and fathers who face challenges in their dual roles as parents and employees. Utilizing my psychology based research skills, I am surveying the campus faculty, staff, and graduate students, to ascertain the desire for and feasibility of an onsite childcare facility. My efforts have re-ignited a discussion left silent since 1994, when the Commission on Women last addressed the issue. My senior thesis will be a comprehensive, ten year revisited report and recommendation to the administration regarding childcare needs. As I believe Rice should support both its educative mission and the notion of the family, I am working as an advocate to realize this goal. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan once said, 'All my growth and development led me to believe that if you really do the right thing, and if you play by the rules, and if you've got good enough, solid judgment and common sense, that you're going to be able to do whatever you want to do with your life.' As a Barbara Jordan Scholar, I have been able to attend Rice University because, coming out of high school I was recognized as a student who exhibited the qualities that were an integral part of her character - the ability to build bridges across racial, cultural, and religious divides - and the will to enhance the campus environment by embracing the diverse traditions that are part of our society. It is an honor to uphold her traditions and ideals through both academic and personal endeavors. Entering law school, I want to espouse her beliefs and empower others. I want to continue to embody her goals of building bridges. In a quest for public service, I hope to emulate her work. Whether through WARM, the childcare project, or my active role in campus and community service projects, my goal is to listen to the voices of others. I hope to be able to fight for those people, who are often too tired, overworked, young, or troubled to be able to fight for themselves. I want to stand up for them, their lives, ambitions, and dreams. I believe in 10 year-old Eddie, who wishes someday he could live in a three-story house. I will, someday, campaign for his friend Martin, who wants to be a world leader. It is funny how one hundred and twenty six sugar cubes could come to mean so much. After we all placed our final sugar cube in the water in unison, I was overcome with emotion and gave everyone a tearful, heartfelt thank you. I was moved by the bravery of the mentors and children. I have carried the rock in my backpack ever since. I do not know whose talent and strength I carry with me - I am lucky enough to carry all of them with me in my heart. WARM has been at home in my heart since 2000.
