Undergraduate / "A Thinking Person" - Law School Personal Statement [7]

I would love some feedback. I would greatly appreciate it. This is my 4th draft over a few weeks. Basically the prompt is tell us about yourself, who you are, challenges,etc. It's very general.

A Thinking Person

Ok. This is my final draft. It has been through many revisions and I believe this is a winner! Feel free to let me know. I've consulted with friends and this is the result!

The most meaningful question we can ask ourselves; are we interconnected with one another? This interconnection determines whether we are an active participant or a nonchalant bystander watching from the sidelines. Each person is a vast cavern of knowledge; lessons learned that can enrich our lives. We are molded by our experiences; without them we are empty shells. We must interact within society and give of ourselves.

I volunteered as a mediator for Dispute Resolution Services on my campus. I chose to be a mediator in order to expand my horizons. I wanted to learn, to understand and test through application the various methods of conflict resolution. It proved to be an extremely enlightening experience. I gained valuable insight into the human experience and how different individuals view the same experience differently. That single tidbit of knowledge has made a significant difference in how I approach most things in my life and it is especially valuable when conflicts arise.

A particular case comes to mind involving a broken television. A student assumed one of his roommate's broke the TV over the summer. The other person stated he did not break it. The TV sat on a television stand. One of the legs had weakened. Hence the TV was a casualty. The owner wasn't there so he assumed his colleague contributed to its destruction. The TV owner had no proof the other guy did it; mediation was voluntary so maybe he felt some responsibility. The dispute was resolved on neutral ground by one party offering a monetary fee to partially cover the repair costs. The other mediator in the room was a lawyer. His "arm twisting" didn't hurt either. While no one gained all they sought, no one lost all they feared either. It may seem like a small accomplishment but I consider it a high point and a positive learning experience for all involved.

I entered the 8th Bernard C. Kissel Student Speaker Competition in March of two thousand, seven. I chose to speak on the importance of helping families in need. I had the opportunity to converse with other contestant's, we formed a bond; we shared suggestions, tips and ideas with one another. We interconnected and it enriched us all. One contestant told me she "loved my voice" and it "makes her want to believe." Any person working on something important to them would love that sentiment. When I revisit her words I realize, in some profound way, they were my reward. My job was to persuade my audience to become active participants, to accept the daunting task of helping families in need. If I was able to rally one person to action I consider that success glorious.

One of the most meaningful groups I participate in is the Student Conduct Board. Students who violate the rules must appear before a panel of students and teachers. I embrace working with students who learn from their mistake and I confess; I learn from their mistakes as well. It is an exercise in problem solving and I can't resist these challenges.

In one particular case a student cheated on an assignment for class. He decided to copy and paste information from Wikipedia without citing sources. He assumed since it was an online class that the teacher wouldn't check their work; the class had 150 students. He was not a college freshman; he was a junior. Citing sources is taught before secondary education. Rules are rules and we had to decide accordingly regardless of intention. He was suspended for a semester and then put on probation for a semester after that.

At the end of each hearing each individual board member has an opportunity to inject our own values, to impart our own personal words of wisdom if you will. , "We all know the story about George Washington and the cherry tree. It probably wasn't true. It was a story about his character. What story will people tell to portray your character?" Being on the Student Conduct Board gave me a chance to reach that person and maybe change his outlook on life.

You may notice a common theme woven into this narrative. I gravitate towards conflict. My inner desire is to solve problems. I want to help people but at the same time I understand wanting in not enough. Wanting doesn't qualify me to help those who need it. I must be more than simply some guy off the street who wants to help.

I need training, education and a lot of it. That's why I want to be an attorney. I don't understand the intricacies, the minute details of law. What I do understand how vital that knowledge is in order to be effective in the role of advocate. The learning that takes place within the doors of a law school excites me. I want to be a part of those discussions, I want to debate those ideas and concepts but most of all I want to learn.

In retrospect, virtually everything I've encountered and all the choices I've made are steering me toward a career in law. I care about people. To act on that caring is fundamental to my philosophy and it's essential for growth of my soul. Life may be a labyrinth or a cross word puzzle but I am certain lessons can be learned. I am equally certain my destiny is to spend the rest of life dealing with problems and finding real solutions. Our positive participation in society is vital. It is essential that humanity gain wisdom; that it moves forward, that it progresses. We must do all these things; not only for the sake of continuing our stable societal institutions, but to improve the very nature of man.