Personal Narrative: Why I Chose the Legal Studies Major

Selecting a major has been the most difficult challenge I have faced as a student at UC Merced. While many students select their major based upon statistics and ideals, I base my decision primary on my strong commitment and my passion. Furthermore, while maturing the last two years, I have learned that a major should encompass your love, talents, and desire for success in that subject.

As stated in my application, my first job was tending to young children in an after-camp day care environment held at my community camp during the summer time, which had led to my interest in psychology and human development. I have worked there on and off now for several years. It seemed that as each year progressed, I realized my love for working with kids and for adults had increased as well. I even pursued this into UC Merced where I joined the UCM Mentor Program supplied by the Police Department because I liked having the responsibility of helping the children with their studies and problems, giving advice and support to the parents and adults, and even interacting with students from my university. At first, I thought I was made for being a child psychologist but I realized my love was to improve the lives of the people, bring morality and peace to the environment around them. So I realized psychology wouldn't utilize all of my talents and complete my yearning for success, although it would fulfill a love in the subject of bettering others' lives. I wanted more and my next step was discovering a different occupation, or major besides human development.

This awareness came to me while talking to my role model, my uncle. My uncle had spent all of his life as a detective in Russia and when he visited me several years ago he gave me good advice about my future plans. He encouraged me to look into a couple areas of the law enforcement field and I immediately fell in love with the idea. After doing some research, I set my goals on becoming a distinguished lawyer, one that could help people in need of legal advice, fight for them legal battles and maybe even save their futures. I believe this noble goal is worth any hardship and I am willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it.