For many years, I have been interested in studying law. My interest in pursuing this field began at age five when I first set eyes on a courtroom setting. Even at that early age, I was fascinated. The honorable judge of the courtroom, for some reason unremembered, took me on her lap and allowed me to rap her gavel. Days later, I received a gavel via UPS from that very judge. From that moment forth, I knew I would someday follow her example. Completing this application takes some courage on my part, realizing my past mistakes and misjudgments may have jeopardized my chances for acceptance. However, I must at least try. During the last three years, I have struggled academically in the wake of many personal tragedies, and through it all, I have never stopped believing in my abilities. Now, I am crossing my fingers in the hopes that my drive to succeed shines past my previous mistakes, and in the hopes that you will see before you a person driven to excellence. It has taken three years for me to realize my dreams of holding the gavel were dwindling. Now that I have recalled the vision, I realize the years spent in between have prepared me for the work ahead.
             By the fall of 2002, many people I knew in high school had dropped out, had children, or were killed due to gang violence. In my first two years of college, my boyfriend, a best friend, two family members, and three other friends passed away. Through it all, I was the only one who remained in school. Even though I had not completed more than 30 units, I never gave up on my abilities or myself. I realized that I too could have dropped out, had children, or been killed due to gang violence. Yet I had persevered, and to me, this meant that I still had a chance. I was not going to let it pass me by. More determined than ever, I vowed that I would succeed. With much effort and sacrifice, I was successful in pulling myself away from my "friends" and gangbanging. I
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