Undergraduate / Adult returning to school... review/critique this very ROUGH draft? [7]

For the last 15 years I have allowed life to be my tutor, mentor. I have had the opportunity and privilege to start, own and operate successful businesses and start a family. The need to work hard from an early age began at the age of 16, when my father, the sole provider for my family of four was seriously injured in an accident. His inability to provide for the family necessitated my full time employment so young.

My freshman and sophomore years in high schools were quite productive and I earned consistent "A" grades through all of my classes for both years with the exception of a lone "B". I was excited about graduating at an early age and entering college early. Unfortunately my new tutor, life, had other plans for me. I went to work some days as early as 5am, attended abbreviated courses and was allowed to leave school early so I could return to work. I held 2 full time jobs as well as assisted with the family owned business just to support my family. After graduation college wasn't a privilege that would be realized by me, my family's survival took first place.

Life taught me the value of working hard, the desire of success as well as the realization of it. I enjoyed a career in real estate and finance and had a successful family life of my own until a combination of factors including a costly divorce settlement and a dramatic economic downturn found me unemployed in a job market that was very competitive. I was no longer able to rely on the experiences that life had taught me in order to secure suitable employment. I needed that secondary education that I was unable to obtain earlier in life.

Since my graduation I have resided in the Midwest and have adopted its values of hard work, honesty and integrity. Living in Fargo has opened my eyes to NDSU and the value of its curriculum, in particular its pre-law emphasis *find better word*. I have had the chance to explore options of attending other schools but enjoy the fact that I can both continue residing in an area that has taught me so much, afforded me the opportunities I've enjoyed thus far in life and will enjoy in the future. NDSU offers me what I was looking for in my junior and sophomore years of high school: the chance to earn a degree and the chance to contribute my experiences back to our community. Although at this later stage in my life I have the advantage of wisdom of a few years to appreciate this opportunity, perhaps more than I would have if I entered college when I was younger.

General George S. Patton stated, "I don't measure a man's success by how high he climbs, but how high he bounces when he hits bottom". I climbed hard and fast. I reached every goal I set for myself. I have fallen. The opportunity to pursue a law degree beginning at NDSU is allowing me to "bounce". I can bounce far higher than I climbed on my own with the experiences I've had, the drive I possess and lastly but most importantly, the help of a quality education from NDSU will provide.