The past few weeks I have been working on the personal statement for my law school applications.  Even though I love writing, it has been a difficult and, at times, emotional process.  I have been soliciting help from friends who have made it into law school and getting feedback on my statement.  A friend of mine wrote her personal statement on the theme never settle and always persevere.  Great topic – I wish I would have thought of it - and also today’s words of wisdom or maybe the personal statement I wish I could write.

The stories we love to hear are biographies of people who have not settled.  There is the story of Liz Murray who went from growing up on welfare and living on New York streets to attending Harvard University.  There is also the story of Chris Gardner whose journey from sleeping in shelters to becoming a millionaire was depicted on film. 

I received an email earlier this week from my step mom in response to an email I had written her telling her about my trouble with my personal statement, complaining a little about how lack of funds may stop me from going, and just generally waxing poetic about the process.  In her reply she offered words of encouragement and also said, “To me – true child abuse is telling some lower middle class kid ‘Dream – you can be anything you want to be.  You may be the next president!’ Not in ANY lifetime.” She went on to explain her view saying that she believes that exceptional individuals are passed over every day for those with “trust funds and …pedigree.”

After reading that my mind started turning over the different stories, advice and guidance I have heard in my life time.  I think there is a difference between those people who are passed over for the silver spoon kids and those who overcome their circumstances.  I think the difference is that they did not settle for what they were handed in life.  I grew up as one of the have-nots in a single parent home.  Because of our lack of money we missed rent so often that we lived in every rental house in my neighborhood between middle and high school.  Until I got my first job new school clothes every year were a luxury and after school activities were a challenge because there was  no gas money to pick me up.  There were many other challenges but that is another post.  Some might say I shouldn’t be where I am today - I should be in the same place that other people who grew up under these circumstances.  But I am not and it is because I did not settle. 

My competition in the admissions pool is going to be filled with students who could afford to study abroad for a semester, who participated in unpaid internships doing amazing things, people who don’t care if they get the funding to go, and people who have jobs at family firms waiting for them on the other side.  That would stop some people in my position in their tracks, but no matter how intimidating it is I can’t let it stop me because up until now I have settled and now is not the time to start.  I understand the sacrifices I am undertaking but I also know that practicing law has been a dream of mine since I was eight years old and doing anything except trying is settling.  It may delay motherhood, marriage, and paying off my student debt but I fully accept those consequences.  I draw on stories like Garnder’s and Murray’s, if that didn’t stop them I can’t be a pussy and let anything stop me.  Everyone has a story, it is up to you to make sure that others want to hear yours.