sample law school personal statements

In high school, I was a big track star—banners were put up for me, my coaches adored me, and my parents showed off my trophies to anyone who would look. I was the kind of kid you would expect to play for a big university and eventually go pro. I knew it wasn’t going to happen—I come from a working class family and the plan was to take a blue-collar job at my aunt’s local diner and help out my two sisters as they continue high school.

But I enjoyed the fame nonetheless, and it was nothing short of culture shock when I took on my first job, fresh out of high school and still not over my own glory days. While the rest of my peers went off to college and pursued their own dreams, I worked as a food server for my aunt’s local diner. There were no banners, no stadium lights, no fanfare—just work to be done and money to be earned. One of the servers there was Annie. She had been at the job for years and had no plans of leaving. As I got to know her, I realized that she stayed so long not because she was contented, but because she didn’t have the drive to seek something better. There could not have been a more effective way to shatter the dreams of a 17-year-old girl.

My turning point came when Annie came up to me and asked me where I planned to go after the job. I could not answer; I’d figured I’d work there as long as I had to, and I hadn’t further than that. But she wouldn’t have it. I was too young to settle for something so small, she said. The world is waiting. Grab it. So I did—I found a local college, managed a partial scholarship, and kept my job on a part-time basis to pursue a degree in community development.

Luckily, my school turned out to have a strong sports program, and I eventually found myself in the track team. My natural talent pushed me to become that star athlete again, but the drive I got from my diner days pushed me to become a star student as well. As I took on my classes, I found myself increasingly interested in the law and how big a role it actually plays in the world of sports. I earned my degree in three years, a feat few athletes at my school have accomplished, and went on to work in various community sports programs.

A couple of years after I resigned from the diner, I found out that Annie, the fellow server who motivated me to get out of my diner job, was killed in a tragic car accident. Since Annie’s death, I became more convicted in pursuing a degree in law. Every time I step into one of my classes in college, I remember Annie who lost the drive to become better, never knowing what destiny can bring her if she only had the courage to seek her life’s passion, until her death.

I decided to study law because I believe it will help me serve my community better. I specifically chose the _____ School of Law because of its active athletic community, which I believe will help me stay focused on my goals. Ultimately, I want to become a competent sports manager and help young students realize that there’s always something better waiting.

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