Undergraduate / "Helping others may be the greatest gift" law school personal statement [3]

Here is my personal statement for law school. It's general and isn't specific to any one school. With the holidays and a little time of leave from the Army I threw it together quick. I plan on sending it to an editing service, but thought I would post it on here first. Any responses are greatly appreciated. I would like to have all my applications sent out before the new year, being that is when I ship back.

Helping Others May Be The Greatest Gift

Raised as the oldest of two children, by a young single mother, an accelerated growth in maturity was mandated by means of my family's rugged economical situation. Being so, a decision making process developed through sheer determination to surpass the social class which traps-in and prevents a great many from succeeding in life, that I grew up in, coupled with a reinforced personality of integrity and selfless service, has sculpted the individual I am today: a first generation college graduate, distinguished with multiple honors, serving his country as a member of the Army National Guard, whom harbors a great drive to succeed and help others.

A feeling of necessity to place others needs' before my own is one which has set-in at a very young age. The first instance of such, which I can recall, would be that of my sixth birthday, January 30, 1994. Walking into my living room, I caught a glimpse from the corner of my eye of a box dressed in wrapping paper; attached was a card addressed to me. Without a single moment of hesitation I cut around the corner of the coffee table and sprung to the sofa. Grasping the box, with complete disregard for the card, I began tearing apart the thin layer of paper which separated myself from my reward for turning a year older. There it was, the very present I had so vigorously badgered my mother for weeks to buy -a Sega Genesis- and the very present which she ensured she couldn't afford. Without questioning her means of being able to purchase the counsel, I plugged the connection wires to the television, then faced the hardest decision of the day- which of several games I should play first. Words cannot describe the overwhelming joy brought to me by defeating each level thrown at me by Sonic the Hedgehog during the evening hours. It was official, I was the happiest young boy alive!

Several days following my birthday, I overheard a phone conversation held by my mother. She was discussing the fact that falling a few-hundred dollars shy on the bills that month was inevitable. Although she did not provide a reason as to why she was short on funds, I knew it was because of my birthday present. As a single mother making minimum wage at Burger King, there were quite a few sacrifices she had made in order to purchase my gift. Assuming the role as the man of the house, I immediately knew what course of action needed to be taken. Upon my mother ending the phone conversation, I approached her and insisted that the gift I so badly wished to receive, be returned for a refund in order to pay the bills that were creeping up. I was met with expected resistance. However, with stern persistence she finally agreed to honor my request. Without playing Sonic or any other game one last time, I packed the game counsel in the box exactly how it came and then handed it to my mother.

Giving back the very present I so badly wanted wasn't an easy feat. After all, this was the game system that every six year old boy raved about at school, and I had it, in my living room, at my disposal. Regardless, I felt it was my duty to place the needs of others (my mother and sister) above my own desires. Every time I do something which benefits others more than myself, I go back to the day that I handed my birthday present back to my mother and acknowledge the valuable lesson I learned. Sacrifices one makes in order to help others, regardless of their magnitude, may very well be the greatest gift of all.

I believe attorneys and other legal professionals hold, within their grasp, an extraordinary capability to utilize their knowledge, and oftentimes powerful positions, in a positive manner to help those in need of assistance. Not only would I be a highly dedicated and driven law school student, upon graduation and passage of the bar exam, I would serve as nothing less than a cherished asset to the legal community.