My interest in public interest law, nonprofit advocacy, and social justice began at a very young age. My passion was influenced by my upbringing, as well as my journey down a path different from what my family and culture envisioned. It is this same divergent path that has led me to me to pursue the legal profession today. I come from a Muslim household influenced by my mother 's traditional, rural Pakistani roots. Each of my sisters entered arranged marriages at the age of 18. While my mother values education for women, she also raised me to appreciate the traditions from which I come; she held to strict standards reinforced by deep-rooted propriety. I struggled to fight for my own education in a community that constantly encouraged me to …show more content…
In my family, it was not an option for an unmarried woman to live outside of her parents’ household so I applied to schools within a commutable distance from my mother 's home. After two months of commuting to Salem College, a Muslim woman from our Pakistani community asked my mother, "Why should we limit our children because of our own traditions? If she wants to get an education, let her get one. Trust her. You 're only hampering her goals by requiring her to drive to and from school in this weather." It was a monumental development. My mother allowed me to move on campus with the condition that I come home every weekend. For the first time, I experienced the freedom I sought to engage in social change organizations and leadership positions. I took full advantage of my opportunities. I worked to uplift the roots of my resilient ancestors as well as to carve a path for myself to live to my fullest …show more content…
I also realize that everyone has different skill sets that can contribute, whether that is transformative leadership and community organizing skills or technical skills that contribute to alleviating day-to-day needs and struggles of individuals facing hardship. I see law school as a path to contribute to the latter, whether it is representing individuals, participating in high-level impact litigation, or ensuring communities receive the legal services they need in order to have the capacity to be a part of larger conversations. There remains a void of lawyers with this lens, especially lawyers from similar backgrounds. Additionally, the field of law has not adapted to the changing demographics of this country and thus the changing needs. Not only do I want to change this, but I also want to raise the glass ceiling that exists for women in my community. What I have also heard from women of color in the field is that a law degree has opened professional doors for them, that the credibility of a law degree allowed them to sit at tables they would not have previously. Pursuing law school is a very personal yet professional goal for me, but I also want it to be a vehicle by which I make this world a better place. Recently, I saw Ta-Nehisi Coates
Attending the University of Houston Law Center would afford me the opportunity to gain an education I know only they could offer. The University of Houston is a first-tier institution that constantly produces superior talent that continuously excels in all fields of law. Earning my degree of jurisprudence would be the crowning achievement in my life, but knowing that I couldn’t be able to use it effectively would be as equally disappointing. Coming full circle, I’d use my degree to make a difference for those privileged and those who aren’t alike. The realm of law is where I feel I belong and I’m eager to prove myself.
I was fortunate to have a mother who was invested in my academic success and knew that education afforded a variety of opportunities especially for people who come from where I come from and look the way I do. Having to commute over an hour to receive quality education that was in the backyards of some of my classmates is a morbid analogy for what being a South Side Chicago student looks like and illuminates the realities of injustice and the possibilities for change on a global scale. Giving back is the most rewarding investment, I am dedicated to pursuing education as a means to better understand myself and the world so that I can pour what I have acquired into to my community. Through social outreach, I know I can restore hope in place of defeat and help foster many prospects for those living in the
My commitment and motivation to pursue master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy is based on the extensive experiences that I have gained in human services in the past 2 years. Since long I have always held the belief that the application of psychological principles has the power to positively impact society. And I especially believe in its power to help children cope with the stresses and events of everyday life. My own life is a testament to this belief.
I realized I wanted to attend law school in the fall of my Junior year at the University of Rhode Island. Going into college, I had chosen to major in business. I learned quickly, however, that business was not something I was passionate about. I could not see myself spending the rest of my future in this field, and I quickly realized I needed to find my true passion. Thinking about the current political climate, I wanted to find a way that I could contribute and help. After reflecting on my own life and immigration, I remembered how hard it was on me and how difficult it was for my family. In thinking about how I could help the thousands of families like ours, I finally realized my passion: immigration law.
... education alone. The stark reality leaves much desired, success determined through unfavorable components, which my cousin never had, where you live, money, and education. Limits stop individuals from growth and career aspirations which contributed to my cousin becoming an at risk youth. Throughout my experiences, I learned that second chances could bring individuals thought lost back to the fold and be successful. My hope is that law school will contribute in my drive towards social activism. Law school will help me in my continued efforts for children’s success. Furthermore, my guidance, of course extends to people who face similar circumstances such as my cousin. Society stigmatized the indigent, cycles formed, and members of the family remains entrenched with their future remaining uncertain. I want to serve communities in overcoming the limits set by society.
Nevertheless, I know that if I keep working hard I can accomplish anything that I put my mind to like my father once told me. I’m not God, so I cannot change the world, but I know that I can make a difference with my determination and dedication to this issue. My dream is to one day open a center in a low-income county and offer services to the immigrant community. I don’t want to go to law school because I cannot stand the unfairness or because my family expects me to do so. This is something that I’ve been wanting for myself because I know that I can excel no matter what obstacle gets in my way. I’m not perfect, but I’ve gone long ways and I will keep working my way up. My legal education will not be based on theories in which I’ll be confused in applying to life. I know exactly what I want and how to use my law school education and I’m ready to begin.
Throughout my life, my dad and I have had a very business-like relationship. As an entrepreneur and business owner, he insisted that my elementary vocabulary consisted of words including: income, credit, loans, and interest. Even little everyday acts such as a phone call with my dad would end with him telling me how he could defer interest or how he needed to establish a new line of credit. These small conversations have helped me become more knowledgeable of money management, as well as more enterprise savvy. These little acts also helped me to develop my interests in life: business and leadership.
I am a Yellowquill First Nations aboriginal, with a strong interest in my people. With my aboriginal status comes hardships, but I have learned to embrace them and they have made me the person I am today. I am also a very ambitious, intuitive man who strives for success in everything I do. It is because of my ambition that I decided to pursue a post-secondary education. My family has had many obstacles to overcome due to their troubling backgrounds. My father is from Iraq, a war torn country and my mother is an aboriginal who experienced the tortures of residential schools. Both my parents went through many unjust events throughout their lives, and that is one of the many reasons I decided to study the field of law, to bring justice to those who are in need of it. As for my community, it is very damaged and troubled.
Please discuss the following items in the order given. Briefly respond to all areas listed.
I have long been committed to diversity, and recognize the barriers faced by women and other minorities in engaging in everyday life and graduate studies. I born in country of challenges: the challenge to born as a second female while your families wait for a male to complete their happiness; challenge to be born in patriarchal society when gender remained a barrier to power for women; as gendered stereotypes undermined and devalued women’s leadership abilities; the challenge to be born in country that codifies the law of equality and justice, but still value man more than woman; the challenge of learning when I dreamt of being a lawyer; however, my family rejected the idea of studying somewhere far away from them. I just studied any major offered at the nearest university. Despite all these challenges, I am proud to have preserved and strived to be the best, and to have my grandfather Ezzeddin, who taught me how to be a man in a society where a woman is considered as minor and needed a man to protect and take care of her.
As I watched my mother rush to get the pot to boil some water with tears in
“Sally, we need you over here.” Marisa, a nurse at City of Hope calls over for me. I grab a pair of
school, I began to become interested in the law and how it impacts the disadvantaged. With a
For a long time I have been interested in the subject of psychology. The ways people behave and why they do certain things has always fascinated me and makes me question myself a lot. To answer these questions, I started to read many books that related to psychology to gain as much knowledge as I can. I now have a better overview of psychology so I would like to continue to further my knowledge at a higher level in Berea College.
Junior high drama is everywhere, just like oxygen to breath, you can never get away from it no matter what. Stumbling back into the junior high was the last thing I wanted to do, but I had my parents on my back. All I thought about was high school, and how I wanted to be there instead of this prison. I would move on to bigger and better things in high school. Thankfully, this was my last semester then I would be set free, leaving it all in the past. I was hoping to get through this hell with out any setbacks, but I must have jinxed myself. Some of the mistakes I make I can just blow off, but this critical mistake could cost me my future. Until this day I can still remember every thing that happened. I have always asked myself, “Why did I forward that message?”