Halfway through my senior year at the University of Arizona, I was chosen to be the undergraduate representative at "Arizona First," a three-day, the bipartisan conference focused on shaping legislation to bring economic growth and prosperity to the state. During the meeting, I worked closely with state representatives and senators--the majority of whom were lawyers--proposing legislation to create new job opportunities, more commerce, and an increased standard of living in Arizona.
For the first time in my life, textbooks no longer mattered. I was faced with the severe challenge of balancing reality with idealism. As the conference progressed, I noticed that the most influential participants were lawyers, not because of superior information or inside knowledge, but because they instinctively knew how to deal with the demanding situations and interactions that arose. The conference taught me to appreciate the interpersonal subtleties of conflict resolution and showed me that I would succeed in a career as a lawyer.
During my last year of college, I experienced the rewards that flowed from academic and intellectual challenges. Although I had the option of graduating with a degree in finance in four and a half years, I stayed an extra semester to obtain a second degree in accounting. The abstract nature of finance and the concrete precepts of accounting have provided me with a wealth of knowledge and the ability to look at problems from both a theoretical and a practical perspective.
By distinguishing myself in both of my academic programs, I was granted the honor of becoming a Professor's Assistant (PA). As a PA, I experienced the gratifying challenge of teaching students in need of special assistance, and I drew upon the people skills that I had learned at the conference. Helping students understand previously foreign concepts is an indescribable feeling, and the work convinced me to pursue a career teaching law.
In my third year of college, I was elected president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), assuming full responsibility as the youngest president in our chapter's history. Running meetings, representing the fraternity to the university, and serving as the fraternity's spokesman in the community helped me refine my leadership, organizational, and speaking skills. Before my tenure, SAE was second-to-last in academic rankings among fraternities. After I left, we were number one. For leaving the chapter free of any financial or educational probations, I received the "Order of the Phoenix," the highest national award given to a brother for exemplary leadership and zeal.
Transitioning from academia to the professional world, I obtained a position as a summer intern at XXXX. Based on my background and experience, I was assigned to supervise my assistants during my first audit, a responsibility typically reserved for accountants who have been with the firm for two or more years. Learning to plan and execute an audit has further developed my research and critical thinking skills, which will enhance my competency as a lawyer.
Despite the professional opportunities and rewards available at PwC, I do not believe that I can reach my full potential intellectually, academically, or professionally in an accounting firm. Public accounting is a noble profession, and obtaining my CPA certification will provide me with invaluable skills for dealing with business clients. However, I too often find myself engaging with my clients as an adversary rather than as an advocate. Leaving this field to obtain a law degree will allow me to pursue a career that is more consistent with my dominant personality traits: loyalty and charity.
I look forward to law school as an opportunity to develop my most cherished personal characteristics. As an experienced leader, teacher, scholar, and professional, I have much to contribute to a program in law. My analytical, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills will help me become a competent attorney, and I am anxious to embark on this next career stage.
