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As a native of Los Angeles' inner city, where gang violence and drugs are key aspects of the landscape, I was one of the lucky few to survive childhood with spirit and ambitions intact. The poverty and despair that were all around me crushed the hopes and dreams of many of my peers; few finished high school, and even fewer went on to college. Most are now unemployed, in jail, or dead. This sad circumstance is something that is never far from my consciousness even now, as I face the exhilarating prospect of entering law school and begin to prepare myself for the legal career that has long been a cherished goal.
I am the only member of my family ever to go to college, but at one time it seemed that this might not happen. I started my undergraduate career on a football scholarship, but a midseason gridiron injury hospitalized me and temporarily derailed my academic pursuits. Discouraged by my month-long incapacitation, I decided to defer college and instead go to work. For two years I worked as an assistant buyer for a stereo store; for two additional years, I served as an inventory analyst for a major national toy maker. This latter job gave me the opportunity to interact regularly with both accountants and business executives, an experience which helped refuel my ambition to prepare myself for a professional career. Reentering college, I earned virtually all A's while studying economics. My success in this endeavor bolstered my confidence and helped me to cope with the challenges I faced later upon transferring to a top-rated West Coast university.
Like many law applicants, I kept an active extracurricular agenda while an undergraduate. Among many diverse activities, I served as student liaison for my university's Black Alumni Association and as placement director for the Washington, D.C., Government Internship Program, and I also founded the Minority Business Association and tutored inner-city children in math and English.
I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to do a summer internship in the nation's capital with the Legal Aid Society. Working with this group gave me a chance to sit in on depositions, accompany attorneys to court, and draft interrogatories. Moreover, I was able to play at least a small role in helping an indigent population that was unable to articulate their problems for themselves in court or afford legal counsel. I was struck by the dedication of the lawyers who staff the Legal Aid Society and by their altruistic use of their training and skills.
For the past two years I have worked (25 to 30 hours per week during school, full-time in the summers) for a ten-attorney Los Angeles law firm. This experience has provided me with insights into the demands a lawyer faces and a realistic perspective on what the profession involves. I know that the effective attorney must bring many skills and talents to bear in meeting his responsibilities and that stamina, persistence, and patience can never be in short supply.
As a man who is 27 years old, I believe I would bring a maturity and seriousness of purpose to my legal studies that perhaps many younger applicants cannot offer. I have had experience in the world, I am aware of my capabilities, and I know with certainty what I want to do with the rest of my life. I have survived the mean streets of the inner city, and I have made my way in executive suites. I have a 19-year-old cousin who is an incarcerated gang member and an older cousin who has his own law firm. I know how to relate to and communicate with many different types of people, and I am interested not only in the possibility of pro bono work in my old neighborhood but also in legally serving a full spectrum of clients. I have the intellectual prowess, commitment, and enthusiasm to be an excellent lawyer, and I hope you will allow me to take the vital first step toward this goal at your School of Law.
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I have
spent the last eight years working around the globe—26 countries, 73 cities,
and 460 hotel rooms—in pursuit of knowledge and direction. People often ask me
what I intend to do with all my experiences, and my answer is always the same:
“I want to be an expert.” My journey toward expertise began in high school
and has continued to this day, as I write from
During my
undergraduate years, I cultivated my passion for writing and research through
summer internships and study-abroad programs. In the summer of 1996, I worked
for Valent USA Corporation, where I researched genetically engineered plants and
analyzed their ecological impact upon various environments. The following
summer, I traveled to
One year
later, while still pursuing my degree, I left for beautiful
Upon my
return to the University, I enrolled in classes that would further my
understanding of the industries and issues with which I had worked in my time at
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. In order to enter 300-level electrical engineering
courses, I had to demonstrate both my capacity to comprehend the material and my
ability to remain competitive with students who had had three years of
preparatory instruction—challenges that I managed to meet with aplomb. I
graduated at the expected date with a degree in Finance and Banking;
furthermore, as my transcript reflects, my education reaches far beyond the
fundamentals of accounting and corporate finance.
For me,
graduation did not signify an end, but merely a transition to another chapter of
research. I knew that I wanted to acquire expertise in some field, but, not
knowing what field of study fit me perfectly, I decided to postpone graduate
school and allow myself two years to save funds and explore the working world. I
wanted a challenge, but I did not want to limit myself to one office in one
industry—I have always felt that travel facilitates personal progress and
betters one’s holistic understanding of the world. Naturally, the travel
industry fit my occupational desires perfectly, so I decided to look into
options at Maritz Travel Company, with which I had had a recruitment meeting
during my senior year. Unfortunately, Maritz’s hiring cycle had recently
finished. I would have to find temporary employment until my interview,
scheduled for six months from then.
Within
weeks, I had moved to Boulder, Colorado, and had taken a part-time position with
Interactive Knowledge, Inc. I worked as a systems administrator, building and
maintaining the network needed to support their web site, NetLibrary.com. The
network’s capacity exceeded our goal, with over 10,000 reference titles made
available online.
By this
time, I had begun to envision my future plans for furthering my education: I was
set on attending law school after my work with Maritz Travel Company. As the
largest provider of corporate travel incentives in the world, Maritz employs
over 6,000 people; however, a mere one hundred employees act as direct
representatives to the client—I being among the one hundred. Public speaking
opportunities, logistical problem solving, and overall independence were the
rewards for occupying such a challenging position. I began to travel the globe
25 days per month, constantly presenting to corporate executives.
Fourteen
months into the madness of my Maritz job, at a café in Paris, I experienced a
sudden impetus to take the LSAT and apply to a law school for the fall term. I
had formed some idea of what special area of concentration I wanted to achieve
my expertise in—probably either intellectual property or information systems.
The thrill of my travels, however, prevented me from immediately enrolling in
law school, as I desired a few more months at my job.
Upon
learning of the midyear admissions program at Golden Gate University, I knew
that I had finally found what I had been looking for. Midyear enrollment would
give me sufficient time to wrap up my affairs with Maritz, and would provide a
few additional months of income. Only two obstacles remain: gaining admission to
Golden Gate’s program and finding an affordable apartment in the Bay Area (the
latter somewhat of an oxymoron). I hope to bring a world of experience and
enthusiasm to Golden Gate as I embark upon my next adventure in life’s journey.
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[This successful law-school applicant opened with an intriguing and captivating introductory paragraph, then continued by relating an experience that tells the reader that this person has something unique to contribute to the student body.]
I entered boot camp on June 18, 1989. That day, the Indian child who had chased cows and the American youth who had philosophized about physics died. It is written in the Bhagavad-Gita that in death, the body's attachment to materialism falls away from the soul like a worn garment. So did my delusions of grandeur slip from me.
After graduating from high school, I enlisted in the Army Reserves to help pay for college. I was promptly sent off to Basic Training. Receiving multiple kicks of the drill sergeant's boot while doing push-ups that first day in the hot sun of Fort Dix, New Jersey, I realized why it's called boot camp. For the next ten weeks, my fellow recruits and I would be rudely awakened every morning at 4:30. The day began with nonstop backbreaking exercises, euphemistically called conditioning activities. It would continue with marching, rifle firing, indoctrination, and more conditioning activities interrupted only by meals. Tired from yelling all day, at 10:00 p.m. the drill sergeant would permit us to clean our barracks and sleep. . . . Basic Training was tough, but Officer Candidate School was tougher and six times longer. For the next sixteen months, I crammed for classes, crawled through mud-pits, studied military strategy, and led training exercises. I realized I hated soldiering. . . .
Coming from an intense and diverse background, I am well prepared for law school. My military life has nurtured a high code of ethics and a heightened sense of civic duty. My study of science has forced the development of acute analytical skills and a habit of diligence. Finally, having been in the Army and at a university, I can communicate well with a wide range of people on many levels.
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This
personal statement has been looming over me throughout this application process.
I find myself unable to overcome the seeming impossibility of this exercise. How
can I convey enough of myself in two pages? I act. I sing in the shower. I
occasionally reread the collection of comic books I amassed during high school.
I enjoy helping people, but I do it for myself. Lately I’ve been dressing a
little sharper. I play hockey whenever I can. And I question everything, often
in the hopes of effecting a change.
Which
is why the law interests me. Not to work within the system, but to change the
system. But to change it, you must first understand it. To understand it, you
must first get accepted to
Trapped
by this inelegant thought process, I decided to take a walk and hope for
inspiration. While I walked, I did what I often find myself doing. I imagined
that my hands suddenly had energy, and that I could throw globs of fire or light
from them. Whoosh. Whoosh. “Strange,” you must be thinking, as you consider
forwarding my application to the nearest psychiatric unit. I do this a lot while
walking around—I’m still waiting for my latent superpowers to kick in.
Sometimes walking to class, I break into a run for no reason, excepting that I
feel like I would be there already if I were flying. I wait to be lifted in the
air. I have spent entire class periods trying to push a pen across a paper with
my mind. I assume this is not normal. But these thoughts kept coming back, the
more I tried to answer the question: “Who am I?”
I
took it a step further. I have been surrounded by extraordinary people all my
life. From a family of brilliant type-A personalities, I came out a type B: more
relaxed and easygoing. Moreover, I was inclined to question the process of
achievement first, rather than simply reaching the next level. My family would
patiently explain to me why they thought it was important to excel in education,
to play hockey, to keep writing. When I eventually understood, I would excel.
I
attended an east-coast “prep” school—amongst the brighter members of the
Rockefeller and Pillsbury clans. Then to an Ivy League college, where I found a
far more diverse spectrum of brilliance. Once again I found that I allowed
myself to lose sight of the goals and question the process itself. Why was there
an English major? Why the rigid professionalism? Why were whole periods of
literature only dealt with from a feminist viewpoint, or a conservative
canonical viewpoint. My senior thesis became a debate on the origins of literary
study. My peers in the English department were shocked. Not (horrors) Relevance!
Finally,
I find myself here, amongst the best and brightest—the law school applicant
pool. I don’t find it humbling or scary; I’ve dealt with you all my life.
But I yearn to somehow be exceptional, in a way that would even impress myself.
And
so I finally came up with a symbol, one that makes a personal statement. I stand
before you, with palms facing up. And flames sprout from my hands in an elegant
plume. And slowly the flames take a shape, twisting, curling and licking each
other until they form a rose of red, green, and white flames, the stem just
barely touching my fingertips. And this is my totem: the flames would be my
passion, and my desire to effect a change—the rose would be a symbol of my
romantic life vision. Maybe. Mostly I’d just like to do it.
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All applicants must submit a personal statement with the application form. This is your opportunity to present yourself, your background, your experiences, and your ideas to the Admissions Committee. You may want to write about your intellectual interests, your career goals, your achievements, your family background, or your involvement in your community.
"The Transition"
Once in a while I am approached by past research associates who heard that I "got out," as several of them put it, and who want to know how I handled the switch. Some of them have no idea that people with science backgrounds have options other than research and teaching, and many are discouraged by the thought that they would have to leave their beloved science in other to engage in those activities. Several of them have called me from home to ask these questions, for fear of being overheard at the laboratory.
The first thing I tell them is that there is far more to science than the "bench." I myself entered the science field as an undergraduate, when I chose to study veterinary microbial genetics. I worked in the laboratory of Dr. William Sischo, an epidemiologist who specialized in number-crunching but who needed technical assistance with field sampling and laboratory work to generate the data. Dr. Sischo instilled in me a strong desire to learn about and experiment in genetics. I was fascinated by the many ways genetics can be used to help understand how or why certain biological functions occur, and I wondered how I could use my knowledge of genetics to benefit society.
After I obtained my bachelor of science degree, I went on to graduate school earning a master of science degree part-time while working full-time jobs in a couple of well-establish research institutions. I enjoyed both graduate school and working in the laboratory. I also learned the "correct" career path-an academic position at a respectable research university-was what we were supposed to want out of life. More specifically, academic laboratories were acceptable, but working in industry, even to do research, was generally looked upon as "selling out." I believe this attitude has relaxed somewhat since then, since grants and jobs have become harder to secure and tenured positions lack the security they once possessed.
It was during my graduate studies that I began to question my goals and the assumptions they were based on. I was becoming increasingly unhappy with the direction my career was heading, and I began to question my abilities and motivation. Finally, when I heard myself mutter out loud "I don't want to do bench work forever," I sat up and took notice. I decided that in spite of my training, and even though I still loved science, research was not right for me.
I wanted a career, or at least a job for starters, that valued my graduate degree and training, and that was a better fit for my skills and future ambitions. I decided I would do best with a job that was externally driven either by deadlines or by the needs of others; in addition, I wanted to talk, write, and/or evaluate science as a whole rather than focus on one particular aspect of a research project.
As a molecular geneticist, I had occasionally interacted with the patent department at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals in support of my supervisor's patent applications. They worked on a variety of intellectual property issues in a number of scientific disciplines that were of interest to the company. I realized then that I could make very good use of my science background as a patent attorney.
Earlier this year, I accepted an offer to work as a patent agent in the Corporate Intellectual Properties Department at SmithKline Beecham. The job involves writing and prosecuting patent applications, which in turn requires broad knowledge of both science and law. I soon realized that, in order to become an effective patent practitioner, I must become intimately acquainted with U.S. patent law. Because SmithKline Beecham is an international corporation, I have also learned a great deal about international patent law so that I can assist in foreign prosecution of SmithKline Beecham's patents. When I first started the job, it occurred to me that my learning curve was a cliff with an overhang, and I was at the bottom looking up.
I was extremely lucky to find a job almost immediately following graduation last January. However, this opportunity was not trouble-free; there were additional risks to consider at the time I made the decision to change. Our company was in the middle of negotiations to merge with another international pharmaceutical company, GlaxoWellcome Pharmaceuticals. As details of the merger were released, we were informed that the majority of the money saved in the merger was going to be invested back into research and discovery. In other words, because of the patent applications that I draft and prosecute, my job as a patent agent will play an essential role in the inventive process in the new company. Daily interaction with inventors keeps me up-to-date with cutting-edge technology in the biotechnology field. As my work progressed, I knew I had made the right decision, and I have never looked back.
In October, I took the complex patent bar examination. My determination to take the examination straight away was derived from my desire to become a registered patent agent before entering law school, so that my academic studies will not suffer while I attempt to balance a career and my education. I am now hoping to complete the career transition over the next four years by attending law school at Villanova University and becoming a patent attorney. A few weeks ago, I was offered the opportunity to move to our new research facility in North Carolina, but declined the offer in hopes of attending Villanova's law program, which is well respected among the various pharmaceutical companies on the East Coast for its intellectual property education.
Intellectual property is a crucial asset to our company, and I take generating and protecting these assets very seriously. A considerable part of my job involves "translating" science for attorneys and patent law for scientists. I also have to be able to understand a new result quickly enough to grasp what the specific invention is and ask further questions which allow me to distill the invention down to its bare essence. Organization is also key-this is something I learned as a matter of self-preservation, since this is a deadline-driven, and sometimes crisis-driven, job.
I now believe that my job as a patent agent is not a break with the past; rather, it is an exciting, alternative continuation of my career as a scientist. The patent applications that I draft and prosecute make me a critical part of the inventive process at SmithKline Beecham. Furthermore, my interactions with inventors on a daily basis keep me up to date with the latest technology. Not so long ago, when I began research as an undergraduate, I wondered what impact I would have on the development of new scientific knowledge. Through my work as a patent agent, I know that I am a key participant in the promotion of scientific progress.
I still run into acquaintances from my research days who ask me why I "left science." I am quick to set them straight. I may not get my hands wet, but I use far more of my education and training than I ever did at the bench, and I am very much still in science. I firmly believe my experiences in science and patent prosecution will allow me to be a creative and contributing member of Villanova University, both as a student and as a future attorney representing achievement.
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[This applicant's lively and unique approach to the "why I want to be a lawyer" essay captures the reader's interest. Notice that the applicant discusses her religious beliefs sensitively, without proselytizing or preaching.]
My interest in the law began with donuts. As a child, I developed early persuasive skills during family disagreements on how to divide boxes of the treats. My parents belonged to the "biggest people deserve the most donuts" school of thought; while as the youngest family member, I was a devout believer in the "one person, one donut" principle. The debates were often cutthroat, but when it came to donut distribution, I sought justice at any cost.
As my family grew older and more health-conscious, we stopped eating donuts, and for many years I forgot our childhood debates. However, some recent life decisions have brought to mind those early explorations of justice. When I first arrived at the American International School of Rotterdam, I quickly learned that my colleagues were a diverse and talented group of people. Unsure of how to establish my own place among them, I tried phrases that had always worked to impress college friends. "When I work for the UN . . . ," I told the second-grade teacher, and she answered with an erudite discussion of the problems she faced as a consultant for that organization. I told the kindergarten teacher, "When I'm in law school . . . ," only to hear about his own experiences in law school. By the time I discovered that even many grade-school students were better travelled than I, I learned to keep my mouth shut!
Living alone in a new country, removed from familiar personal and cultural clues to my identity and faced with these extraordinary co-workers, I started to feel meaningless. How, I wondered, could I possibly make a difference in a place as vast as our planet? To my own surprise, I found that answer at church. Although I was raised in the Bahá'í Faith, I have only recently understood the essential place that religion plays in my identity. Bahá'í social beliefs include the need to work against extreme poverty, nationalism, and prejudice; and I now realize that I cannot hold those beliefs without doing something about them. My identity rests on these convictions; I cannot see the need for help and just move on. I have to help; it's who I am.
The lessons I've learned from my international colleagues have channeled my desire for service into the field of international development. I still wish to fight the "'Biggest Get the Most' Theory of Donut Distribution," but now on an international scale.
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Two years ago I filed an EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) suit in response to repeated episodes of apparent racial discrimination. Although the outcome was not entirely satisfactory-the offending party resigned before the case could be processed-my involvement in this action proved to be a pivotal event in my life. As an industrial hygienist with a branch of the military, I was already involved on a regular basis with the resolution of environmental problems on an advisory basis. The EEO suit heightened my awareness of the law and the extent to which legal training could enhance my effectiveness in the ongoing battle against environmental dangers. Environmental concerns have long been one of my principal passions. This is what prompted me to secure a master's degree in public health, and this is why I have worked for nearly five years in a branch of occupational health. There it is my responsibility to recognize, evaluate, and control environmental hazards in this community of 5,000 to 8,500 employees. I interact on a daily basis with everyone from physicians, admirals, and other officers to engineers, blue-collar workers, and enlisted men. I have to keep myself updated on a wide array of complex codes and regulations that are in a constant state of flux. My background in science, decision-making skills, judgment, ability to interpret data, and capacity for communicating with others-all of these assets are brought into play as I perform my job.
I realize that a 29-year-old woman with a background in public health perhaps does not fit the profile of the usual law school applicant. However, I have every reason to believe that I am a strong candidate for your first-year class. My 3.93 GPA in my MPH program is a clear indicator of my ability to succeed on the graduate level. Further, my success in my work has demonstrated my resourcefulness, determination, energy, and ability to manage stress and do extensive research. My interest in law is a very logical outgrowth of my commitment to the environment. Up to now I have worked to protect the health and safety of workers solely through recommendations made on an advisory basis. As an attorney I will be able to accomplish much more, to have a greater impact across the board. Very few attorneys have my background (degrees in biology, chemistry, and public health, as well as significant hands-on experience), so I will be in a unique position to do truly meaningful work and make an important contribution.
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Lawyers have played an important role during three pivotal moments in my family's life and thus impressed upon me the significance of what they do. Before I describe those events, though, I must provide you with the context of the unusual circumstances under which I grew up.
Except for the fact that my parents had married and divorced each other three times, I had led a fairly normal life up until the age of ten. My father worked in a General Motors factory and provided his family with a middle-class existence that included a house and two cars. When I was ten, however, my world collapsed. My parents divorced for the fourth and final time, setting off a nasty custody battle, depleting our financial resources, and forcing my mother, brother, two younger sisters, and me to go on welfare. (My mother had just given birth to my youngest sister and so was not able to work yet.) It was a demeaning situation that I will never forget. Our food and clothes were in limited supply. We would eat the same type of meal for two or three days in a row. Everything was a struggle, and worst of all, depending on others was humiliating.
After four years of this predicament, my mother was able to get a job cleaning houses. She often had to work nights, so it fell to me as the oldest child to care for my siblings. I became, in effect, a surrogate parent. In fact, my youngest sister was calling me "Dad" by the time she was three years old.
When I was 15, our family suffered another blow. A careless physician's faulty conclusion that my youngest sister had been molested prompted authorities to remove both my sisters from our home for several months.
Upon my sisters' return, my mother took a second, nighttime job, which placed even more responsibility on my shoulders. I had no time for a carefree teenage existence because I was too busy looking after my sisters and brother. I had concerns totally outside of the thinking of my classmates at school. This turned me into someone who was somewhat more serious and mature than many of my peers.
Somehow I still managed to do well in high school, graduating in the top five percent of my class and winding up as one of only two (of 400) seniors being accepted at my top-tiered university. Because of my family's dire financial situation, I had never dreamed that I might enjoy such an opportunity, but a generous scholarship made it all possible. My undergraduate years have been exhilarating and rewarding, and I have compiled a respectable academic record even while commuting two-and-a-half hours each day.
Law has emerged as my career choice for a number of reasons. As I indicated earlier, attorneys have been present at three key moments in my family's history. A lawyer was there during the custody battle that my mother won, a lawyer provided the counsel that led to my sisters' being returned to us (he recommended that a second doctor examine them, thus negating the molestation charge), and a lawyer helped my mother through a critical period when she had gone deeply into debt (not surprising for a woman raising four children on $8,000 a year).
As I move toward the completion of my undergraduate days, I feel very grateful for the blessing of the education I have received. My parents, both Peruvian immigrants, never went beyond high school. While I enjoyed all the benefits of my university experience, my mother was still cleaning other people's toilets in order to try to make ends meet. As a lawyer, I will be in a position to achieve some measure of financial stability and help out my mother. I will also be able to give something back to others. (I speak Spanish, which should be an asset to me in Southern California.) Majoring in history has refined my research skills and prompted me to recognize that I will likely enjoy studying precedents and other aspects of the legal process. I enjoy writing, relate well to others, and, not surprisingly, feel a special compassion for those who are disadvantaged. Last year, in fact, I spent six months doing volunteer work at the Interfaith Hunger Coalition, which provides leads to individuals who are seeking food.
Considering my background, I believe I have already come a long way in my life and have demonstrated that I am both a survivor and a hard worker.
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My multicultural and international perspective defines who I am. As a Chinese-American, I consider my multicultural background to be one of my greatest personal assets. Having spent my childhood and primary education in Taiwan, I gained a solid foundation in Mandarin Chinese, as well as two other dialects, which I maintain through regular reading and daily use. Moreover, I reached a valuable understanding of my heritage that would not have been possible otherwise. Although I have lived in the United States for over a decade, I have managed to stay close to my Chinese roots through the use of language and travel to various Asian countries. Such a background has not only enriched my personal life, but is also proving to be more and more important in today's global environment.
As Asia becomes increasingly industrialized, the driving force behind business and social progress will be the unstoppable wave of globalization. My education, work and life experiences have prepared me to ride this wave by bridging the gap between the two worlds through my legal and business expertise. I am anxious to transfer to Columbia Law School and join the J.D. program because I feel that it will provide me with the legal education I need to expand my vision and sharpen my skills. More importantly, the combination of Columbia's unique International Business Concentration program (not available at Loyola) and its international recognition will help me to open many otherwise inaccessible doors, and allow me to achieve my goals.
The alliance between law and global business encompasses a broad spectrum of situations, which I have witnessed firsthand while working for an international trading company. As a first-year law student at Loyola Law School of Los Angeles, I worked part-time at Turtle King Corporation (TKC). TKC is in the business of importing and exporting collectible gifts and home accent products. After graduating from UCLA, I accepted a full-time position in marketing and product development, a job that tested both my analytical skills and learning abilities. Just as every legal case is different, every company conducts business and solves problems differently. The first few months were hectic as I attempted to fulfill my responsibilities and understand the operating procedures of the company. In the process of managing my own duties, I also had to interact with various areas of the company, such as designing, purchasing, customs, warehousing, sales, marketing, and shipping.
Some of my most memorable accomplishments at TKC involved the development of a global presence via the Internet, the implementation of a company-wide operation and management manual, and the creation of an entirely new product line after months of research. These projects allowed me to work closely with top-level management in the purchasing, sales, and international trading departments. In five short months, I was chosen to join the marketing team on business trips to some of the biggest gift market and trade exhibitions in the United States, including Atlanta, Dallas and Las Vegas. I also accompanied the director of the International Department to Mexico City, and met with the purchasers from major department stores such as Wal-Mart and Soriana. Currently, I am a member of the team responsible for product design and development of a line of collectible figurines.
My maturity and confidence level increased as a result of these accomplishments. Prior to working for TKC, I worked for WMA Securities, Inc., as a licensed insurance and securities sales agent, and later as a supervisor. I ran a branch of the Student Works painting company for one year and was an investigator intern for the Riverside County Public Defender's Office.
My involvement in the non-profit sector enhances the unique perspective I will bring to the Columbia Law School. I firmly believe that everyone has a responsibility to contribute to his community. In addition to the rigorous academics at Loyola, I am actively involved with the Phi Alpha Delta international law fraternity and the American Bar Association. Outside of school, I am a zealous practitioner of Kendo (way of the sword), a Japanese weapon martial art, and a volunteer for the community festivals organized by the Southern California Kendo Organization. These community and non-profit activities reinforce my belief that success is not just about fame and money, but also requires giving something back to one's community and making a positive impact on society. Work and school may have provided me with invaluable skills, but my traditional Chinese upbringing (heavily influenced by Buddhism) taught me the importance of compassion and respect for life. I understand that while my life may be privileged now, it was not always so, and there is always someone else who needs a hand.
My educational preparations combined with the diversity of my experience and multicultural background put me in an exceptional position to enter a profession that can bring Asia and America together in law and business. My unique perspective will be a valuable asset to the classrooms of Columbia. A transfer will not only be a step up, but a welcome challenge as well, one which I am prepared to face with my arsenal of experience, commitment, passion, and discipline.
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Two days before taking my LSAT exam in October, I received devastating news that turned my world upside down: My mother, who was living a continent away from me in New York, had AIDS.
Like so many other 19-year-olds, I had never given much thought to the concept of death, or to the possibility of what it might mean to lose someone so close to me. Suddenly, though, I was confronted with the very real prospect of watching helplessly as my mother battled a frightening fatal illness.
Now, 15 months later, my mother is still alive but struggling, having survived a series of extremely close brushes with death. The prognosis remains bleak, and she is not expected to live until summer. At one time, she weighed only 80 pounds, down from her normal 120. I visit New York as frequently as possible in order to be near her, and find our roles seem reversed: Now I am the mother; she is the daughter. I recount this story because my mother's circumstance has had such a profound influence on my recent life. I have done a lot of growing up very quickly. I believe I have become unusually serious and mature for someone my age. I look at many things differently. I have become very aware of life's fragility and of the importance of treating one's time and ability as the precious commodities they are. I have also been grateful to have a professional goal-to become a lawyer-that excites me and gives additional purpose to my life, especially during this difficult period when I need a focus apart from my family situation.
I am one of those fortunate people who have had a firm idea of their objectives since first starting college. I have known all along that I want to go to law school, practice law, and eventually get into politics. To pursue my interest in a legal career, I have worked since my freshman year as an undergraduate in a series of legal jobs, normally 30 to 35 hours a week. I have worked for the Los Angeles city attorney (as an intern) as well as four private law firms. In these positions, I have not only been exposed to public service law but also to the workings of small, four-attorney law firms and a firm among the nation's ten largest. As a paralegal/legal secretary I have gained a solid understanding of the legal process, from the summons and complaint through the discovery phase and to settlement or trial. I have done research and court filings, interviewed clients, sat in on depositions, and had the opportunity to become familiar with a wide range of legal documents and procedures. It is work that I love, even on the frequent occasions when it is tedious, frustrating, and anything but glamorous. I like trying to fit together pieces of a puzzle, doing the necessary analysis, facing the challenge that any case poses. I thrive on feeling productive. I find great pleasure in arguing a point, whether verbally or in writing, and am quite adept at doing this.
I believe I am well qualified to study law, with the necessary enthusiasm, energy, temperament, and commitment. Working for the city attorney heightened my awareness of, and interest in, the problems of the underserved, so public service law is the area of litigation that currently holds greatest appeal for me.
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At the age of 23, I am fortunate to hold the most significant judicial role available to any student in my 25,000-member academic community. In my position, to which I was elected last spring, I enjoy the opportunity of having constant hands-on experience with the same judicial process within which every attorney works. I have studied penal law and the municipal code, researched cases, met with the parties involved in various disputes, and presided over fourteen trials involving complaints that have evolved into formal charges. . . . I serve as chairman of committees dealing with concerns as varied as community relations and the revision of the school's judicial constitution.
I began my college career on something less than a fully auspicious note. I naively chose a major not suited to my interests and wound up with my poorest grades ever. However, even as a freshman, I was showing my stripes as a leader, serving as captain of the varsity soccer team and president of my dormitory.
Since my sophomore year, there has been a significant and steady upward trend to my grades, and I have achieved about a 3.7 GPA to date. . . .
I originally became interested in the law during my sophomore year, when I realized that my skills as a writer, speaker, and leader-as well as my powers of logic-would probably serve me well in a legal career.
All that I have done and experienced in my judicial role in college has further stimulated and reinforced my interest in the law and my determination to pursue a legal career. I believe that I have much more of an awareness of the law than the average student and a realistic perspective on what the lawyer's life entails.
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As I write this statement, Governor Mario Cuomo makes preparations to vacate the Executive Mansion in Albany, New York, after New Yorkers rejected his appeal for another term. As for me, Mario Cuomo is still a hero. He has truly lived the "American Dream." Mario, the son of first-generation Italian immigrants, rose from the poor neighborhoods of Queens to become one of the most powerful men not only in New York but also in the United States. He is respected not only for his political savvy and great oratorical skills but also as one of the greatest legal minds in the country. He is the reason I trust my hard work, dedication, and perseverance will pay.
Public policy has always appealed to me. My proudest political achievement was the successful organization of the "Register to Vote" rally at SUNY-Buffalo, which was attended by actor William Baldwin and Robert Kennedy, Jr., in support of Governor Cuomo. Also, as part of my job with the College Democrats, I have written a number of letters and opinion editorials in several Western New York newspapers; some of my letters have also been printed in News India-Times, India Abroad, and in New York Magazine.
I promote my passion for writing and politics as the Cultural Affairs Editor of the largest student-run newspaper in New York state. In this position, I have taken on the many challenges that had long been avoided or pushed to the back-burner. Through my efforts, the paper presented a series of articles titled "The Diverse Spectrum," which brought out a number of race-related issues which had been previously avoided because of their controversial nature. As expected, a lot of healthy debate ensued. In addition to my responsibilities as a desk editor, I was granted a bi-weekly column to comment on American politics. This year, I have been hired to write weekly political columns under "Leaning Right." This is the first time in almost a decade that a student has had his own weekly political column. Two months ago, I expanded my journalistic portfolio by accepting the position of co-host on "Voices of the People," a political call-in radio show originating from the city of Niagara Falls.
Coming from a family where I am the oldest male member, I have been forced into early maturity. I realize the value of success. As a role-model to my younger siblings, it becomes imperative for me to be a positive example. My grandfather used to say, "Don't just do it; do it right." I have always tried to practice this sound advice.
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I have always been motivated toward achievement: my high school classmates voted me "Most likely to have a publishable resume." When I identify an emerging interest, my natural reaction is to pursue it actively. This instinctive drive has fueled my personal development. It has also led me to many inspiring destinations: the courtrooms of Los Angeles County, the University classrooms of Grenada, the underdeveloped economies of the third world, and ultimately, the multilingual halls of the United Nations.
I spent my first college summer as a trained representative of the L.A. District Attorney's Victim-Witness Advocate Program, working to see that the rights of victims were as zealously protected as the rights of the accused. I enjoyed assisting these under-represented citizens; however, my inability to adequately assist the numerous Spanish-speaking victims underscored the desirability, if not necessity, of being bilingual in today's world. Determined to transform my college-level Spanish into a proficient second language, I took a leave from my college and enrolled at the University of Grenada. By integrating myself into the local student community, I immersed myself in the Spanish language and lifestyle. This experience sparked my fascination with other cultures. When a Moroccan classmate invited me to visit his North African homeland, I enthusiastically accepted. Our travels through this impoverished nation left me with many disturbing images: an eight-member family fixing the leaks in their canvas-covered hut, desperate children tugging on tourists' pants legs while pleading for pennies, a malnourished infant being carried off to his grave. It was a sobering introduction to the problems of the third world.
When I returned to college in the United States, I decided to combine my newly-piqued interest in underdeveloped economies with my intensified interest in the Spanish language. I entered the Honors Program in Latin American Studies, its interdisciplinary coursework complementing my political science major. Book learning, however, was not enough. I spent the following quarter at my college's Overseas Center in Santiago, Chile, examining issues of Latin American development in seminars with the field's leading scholars. I also supplemented my academic understanding of Latin America with a more grassroots approach: backpacking extensively through the Andean region. Purposely straying from the tourist trodden paths, I trekked through the Peruvian jungles and into the Ecuadorian countryside, from capital cities to indigenous villages. I no longer had to conceptualize abstractly a situation in which ninety percent of a nation's wealth is concentrated in the hands of ten percent of its people. I had been directly exposed to the realities of Latin America.
Further investigation of these social inequities included my honors research at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America, headquartered in Santiago, Chile. While working at the United Nations, I came to appreciate the importance of mutual respect within the context of multinational interaction; a country's dignity must not be overlooked. Keeping this in mind, I believe we must approach Latin American issues with a better understanding of Latin American perspectives. I hope to use my legal education in conjunction with my interest in third world development to enhance Latin America's position in the world economic structure. Whether my future includes negotiating international trade agreements, challenging immigration legislation, or providing legal assistance to the Hispanic community, I look forward to being an advocate for "el pueblo"--the people.
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During my first year of law school, I volunteered at the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC), a pro bono program coordinated by my law school and another neighboring school. Through the APALRC, I assisted members of the local Asian Pacific American community who either could not afford legal assistance or who had to overcome language and cultural barriers to gain access to legal resources. I also had the opportunity to help coordinate several outreach programs to mobilize the Asian-American community, including citizenship drives and voter registration drives.
In the course of my involvement with the community, I repeatedly heard individuals talk about facing prejudice and being ostracized. Listening to their accounts reinforced my own notions about the realities of prejudice in our society. I had already experienced racism and stereotypes firsthand while working as a delivery boy for my mother's Chinese restaurant. Riding my rickety bike around, I was often the object of cruel humor and pranks.
Many customers and passersby referred to me as "slanty-eyed" and "foreign," and as a result my self-confidence suffered. These experiences, combined with my involvement with the APALRC, have led me to wonder about what every individual can do, even on the microcosmic level, to overcome prejudice.
During the course of my studies, I became fascinated by the two perspectives on overcoming discrimination against African-Americans that emerged in the early twentieth century. One proponent, W.E.B. Du Bois, advocated civil rights with a strong political voice; another, Booker T. Washington, advocated earning respect through hard work and results. I firmly believe that Du Bois and Washington's ideas provide a good foundation for Asian-Americans in realizing our desire to overcome discrimination. Asian-Americans today face similar challenges of overcoming prejudice in our attempt to successfully integrate into society. However, before calling upon the government to implement specific remedies, we Asian-Americans must reflect on our own shortcomings and determine what role we should play in our desire to overcome prejudice.
Lack of initiative and apathy are chronic, pervasive problems in the Asian-American community and often hinder social and political assimilation. Much of the discrimination against Asian-Americans is the result of self-imposed isolation, leading to cultural misunderstanding and negative stereotypes. Many Asian-Americans form closed, isolated circles within their respective ethnic enclaves. Although building such niches might be comfortable, Asian-Americans risk social and political isolation when we refuse to integrate and participate in the community at large.
In order to remedy this situation, I believe that Asian-Americans should start exercising a political voice through community and civic participation. By failing to attend community meetings such as those of the local homeowners' association, we show the community at large that we are unwilling to integrate ourselves into society, thereby reinforcing prejudice. Asian-Americans should make greater efforts to fulfill even the most basic civic duties-for instance, filling out census forms. Instead of saying "I do not speak English" in an effort to evade serving in a jury-a bewilderingly common practice-Asian-Americans should make an even greater effort to participate in the democratic process that is the foundation of our country.
Thus far, a legal education has allowed me to both develop my knowledge of the issues and reinforce my motivation for contributing to the political and social integration of Asian-Americans. Through the APALRC, I helped to coordinate a citizenship drive with the Cambodian Network Council to provide citizenship advice for the Cambodian community. Later on, working with a general voter registration drive for Asian-Americans, I disseminated voter registration information to mobilize Asian-Americans in exercising our right to vote.
As a student at the University of Virginia Law School, I will continue to refine the knowledge and skills I need to work effectively on advancing social and political welfare issues on behalf of Asian-Americans and society at large. I realize that it takes perseverance, drive, and passion to face the numberless challenges that come with such an ambitious undertaking, but I feel confident that my ability to work towards a long-term goal will allow me to pursue my objectives. I believe that, by continuing my legal studies at the UVA Law School, I will further shape my vision and strategy for social change, and I am confident that my endeavor will strengthen the school's eclectic student body both within outside the classroom.