About Myself, Application Essay Example

My parents and I immigrated to America when I was two years old  I do not remember the move itself; the stories of this time my parents told me, however, have stayed with me throughout my life. Moving to America was not easy to accomplish, and becoming legal in this country took time. Yet I was most impressed, always, by the gratitude my parents felt for the lawyer who helped us. It meant a great deal to them that he understood the many difficulties they were undergoing, and stood by them at this especially vulnerable time.

America was not only an unfamiliar place for my family, but one that demanded the learning of a foreign language as well. It is perhaps difficult for a citizen born here to comprehend how intimidating such a scenario is. I was of course too young to really share in my parents’ anxieties, but I know the ordeal was both lengthy and frustrating. In time, and with their lawyer’s unvarying support, they made it. From this experience and what they conveyed to me of it, something was infused within me. As a child, I did not know exactly what a lawyer did.    Nonetheless, inspiration took hold.  I had seen that a lawyer could make a difference in someone’s life. I wanted to do the same.

My mother was working at a law firm and she decided that it would be a good idea to take me to “Take Your Child to Work Day”. I was then in the sixth grade, and my curiosity about a lawyer’s life still very much simmering in me. On our commute to the firm’s offices, my mother began to explain the basic job description of an attorney. I was, in a word, fascinated and extremely eager to see this world in action. Once there, I joined the other children in a conference room, and an  event planner promised us a tour of the entire building. I recall now how stunned I was to discover the layers within a multidimensional law firm. This one occupied five floors, employing what to me were hundreds of lawyers and paralegals.

After the tour, a lawyer took the time to speak to us, explaining the different areas of law and how his own job affected other people’s lives. He discussed how a lawyer helps everyday citizens navigate through the complexities of the legal system, and how this very system is in place to ensure justice and fair treatment for everyone. I was enthralled. His enthusiasm for his work and his dedication to the job fascinated me. I admired him, as I wanted to emulate him.

My ambition or focus never varied. In my junior year of high school, I enrolled in an elective course on contemporary history, and I will always be grateful I made that choice. Here I learned to voice my opinion and present clear, precise, logical and relevant arguments. This single class provided me with the conceptual skills required to analyze problems, evaluate source material, and interpret and use it critically as historical evidence. It sharpened my mind in regard to abilities I knew a good lawyer needed, and it gave me a deep appreciation for the intellectual value of objectivity, along with the skills to research, and convincingly argue, any issue.

Keeping my grades high was a priority always, and I studied hard. I took all honor classes at school, also volunteering for JRA (Jewish Relief Agency), providing help in packing and distributing food boxes to less fortunate families. A good lawyer is involved in the world in more ways than one, I believe, so I also served as assistant manager of the boys basketball team, as well as science lab assistant during these school years. All of these activities helped me appreciate my own uniqueness, hone social and organizational skills, and realize my potential to do well in my future academic plans and career.

I am now  interested in pursuing a degree in global legal studies because I strongly feel that a solid, general foundation in law is essential. A truly effective lawyer has a clear and  comprehensive understanding of the basics. Global legal studies would help me achieve this, and get me that much nearer to realizing the aspiration I first had as a child: to be a fine lawyer.