Grad's guide to graduate admissions essays - Colleen Reding 2015
Boston college law school
Law
My interest in law, particularly the international and immigration aspects of the legal system, began at an early age. The 5 years that I lived in Dublin, Ireland, made me acutely aware of the world beyond America’s shores. I realized that a decision made in Washington could have a marked impact on another country. I visited Belfast and saw firsthand the deep segregation between Protestants and Catholics, and the effects of years of that violent struggle were startling. Yet these troubles have largely subsided, in part because of international influence and pressure.
My interest in international affairs, particularly the international legal system, was heightened during my junior year of college spent studying in London. I met students and professors who made me realize how English, Chinese, and American students are truly interconnected, and the importance of understanding each culture in order to have intelligent, enlightened debate and discussion. I studied international law and international organizations from an English perspective that served as a valuable contrast to what I had studied in the U.S. I have also taken courses focusing on the practice of diplomacy and the ethics of international relations. Entering into the legal profession seems like the next best step to turn this academic focus into a policy influencing reality.
My curiosity about the intricacies of both international and domestic law was also heightened in the past year because of two experiences with immigration in the U.S. My sister, a teacher in a New York City public high school, had an incredibly bright student who wanted to go to a top private university and was accepted. From my sister’s stories and my encounters with him when I helped with Saturday tutoring my freshman year of college, I knew he would make a wonderful addition to any campus. He is not an American citizen, and therefore was not eligible for much financial aid. Unable to afford a private university on his own, he and his family spent months worrying about this predicament. Luckily he was able to work out an arrangement with a first-class university, and to the benefit of all the college students, he is on campus this year. I believe that it should not be this difficult for a hard working, intelligent student in America to get a first-rate education. Perhaps a couple of changed laws could fix this large problem.
I was also struck by the injustices and intricacies of the immigration dilemma in the U.S. during my time as an employee at a food manufacturing company. This has been my summer job for the past four summers, and one of the most interesting aspects of the job is the people with whom I work. Although most of the people who work in the lab and the office are White Americans, the majority of workers in the plant doing the heavy lifting and making the product are Hispanic. The divisions that exist are not overt but still apparent. They are very hard working and without them the company would not function. Yet language barriers still exist, and it is difficult to become fully integrated into American society. The debate over immigration is often controversial, but it seems straightforward that everyone has certain rights that cannot be infringed upon regardless of their country of birth.
These experiences have greatly shaped my worldview and form the basis of why I want to go to law school. The world of the 21st century is so globalized and integrated that we cannot afford to be insular. My time spent abroad and my experiences here in the U.S. have given me a very international outlook. These unique experiences led me to pursue studies relating to international politics and to concentrate on international law. I believe that law school would complement and enhance this academic background and allow me to develop the skills to move from the academic realm to policy-making. Studying law in Boston, one of the oldest cities in the U.S. and home to a wide variety of different people and cultures, would be both challenging and rewarding.
