At first glance, buildings are merely structures with a roof and walls, but upon closer inspection, it’s hard not to realize how similar buildings are to humankind. Buildings are born into wealth or poverty, enjoying the privilege or struggle accompanying their circumstances. They have responsibilities and duties. They endure crises of faith and purpose. They succeed, fail, live, and, sooner or later, they die.
The first building I remember is a low-income housing facility. The two-bedroom apartment was home to my mother, aunt, sister, two brothers, and me. At sunset, a symphony of crickets, cicadas, and bullfrogs filled the air, accompanied by the raconteuring of my aunt. We were rich on love but poor on money. It was bliss. That was until our usual orchestra of nocturnal creatures was interrupted by a gunshot. As the deafening sound permeated the complex, my aunt rushed outside to find our neighbor on the ground. Before my family could stop me, I rushed out behind her. At seven years old, I saw what greed accomplishes. The neighbor took his last breath as I was stepping through the door. That was my first encounter with death. For a pack of cigarettes and a few bucks, a man lost his life, and I lost my veil of innocence. Inconsolable, I was pulled back into the apartment complex--petrified with fear. The next day, my family went to a place I had never been before: the library.
My newfound respite housed even more stories than my aunt. The local library, with its large, vaulted ceilings, was a place of solace that captured my attention for hours. I read myriad stories of discontented farmhands and supernatural creatures. Eventually, I found myself reading about the history of screwdrivers, how bees shape society, and the values of civil rights leaders. More importantly, I learned that everyone and everything has a story--of courageousness in the face of fear, of hope and heartache, and the oscillation between sacrifice and selfishness. I’ve always been engulfed in learning other’s stories. Stories taught me to value perspective over harsh judgment, pride oneself on authenticity, and esteem those who are looked upon as less. This need for knowledge and perspective coalesced into a lifelong student, advocate, and stalwart companion for all I encountered.
As the years went by, I continued frequenting the library. One day, as I was leaving, I felt a shortness of breath. I was dizzy, and suddenly, I collapsed. An ambulance was called, and I was rushed to the regional hospital. My heartbeat was over 200 beats per minute, and after an EKG and hours of testing, I was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. An extra electrical pathway between the heart’s upper and lower chamber carries a death sentence for some. I was bestowed an opportunity to strive for greatness after being on the cusp of demise. Instead of cowering away and leading a life crippled by ailment, I grappled with my disadvantage and leveraged it into momentum. I learned everything I could about Wolff-Parkinson-White, and I succeeded in making a complete recovery within three months. At the same time, I maintained my rigorous school and work schedule, applied for scholarships at several universities, and then walked through the doors of __________ State University and into the Honors Program.
The __________ State University Honors Program is designed for students pursuing intellectual curiosity and acquiring a deeper understanding of the world. Three hundred students apply annually, and twenty are afforded the opportunity to explore the Western canon, participate in collaborative inquiry and dialogue on the fundamental questions of human existence, and to take intensive courses that lay a foundation for lifelong wonder and learning. Beyond the pedagogical, the Honors Program encourages students to give back to the community. With the backing of several regional organizations, I led ninety volunteers in the inaugural winter clothing drive. Collecting one hundred winter coats in a month seemed impossible, but within two days, that goal was completed. In all, over 3,000 coats and other winter apparel items were collected and distributed to various county agencies and non-profit groups. The coat drive triumphed through unparalleled altruism of the community. Leading the clothing drive shed light on the social conscience and charitableness of humanity. It was a glimmer of hope in a seemingly dark world--serving as a confirmation of human rectitude.
The unvarnished eminence of civilization comes from mankind’s capacity for renewal and reform. Our preference for pragmatic, future-oriented strategies of flourishment gave rise to edifices of greatness, but regardless of size or stature, these institutions would falter without the individuals they are comprised of. Humanity has a collective obligation to make the future better than the past. Accordingly, my purpose is to live a good life for as long as I can, and beyond that, to ensure others can achieve the same. A career in law is the requisite stepping stone to accomplish my aspirations. The Doctor of Jurisprudence is more than a law degree--it is the recognition of the fallibility of people and the galvanization of conviction necessary to confront this fallibility in a world of capricious change. It is my lifelong desire to attend law school, and I can only conceive doing so within the walls of _______________ at ________________.