Personal identity and self-concept

¶ … participated in public service or volunteer activities? Community service and volunteer work have been meaningful activities in my life. In particular I have been involved in working with the elderly in well-established programs like Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels is unique in that it helps people with their daily lives, doing mundane activities the able-bodied take for granted. Such chores as going grocery shopping seem straightforward to most of us but for seniors, driving to the store can be stressful, painful, or even dangerous. I am honored to have worked with such an esteemed program and will continue to volunteer with Meals on Wheels when possible.

In addition to my work with Meals on Wheels I have also volunteered in school-related programs. For example, I helped lead information sessions for high school students with the Alpha Beta Zeta Chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society. For several years, I also helped raise money for a book replacement program for Hurricane Katrina student victims.

2. Are there economic, cultural, or social factors that have presented obstacles you have had to overcome? Crafting a personal identity as an African-American female can be challenging. On the fringes of many different social worlds, I have struggled to fit into my role as a Black female. Acting the way my peers expected African-American women to act, I felt only like a fool. Yet fitting in as a child and adolescent often meant acting as others expected me to act. Discovering my identity beyond social stereotypes has demanded soul-searching and a return to Christian values.

Attending a Historically Black University also helped solidify my personal identity and overcome many of the obstacles I set for myself. Encountering the diversity that exists within the Black community, I was able for the first time to express myself purely and without the harmful influences of stereotyping. Any other obstacles I have encountered as an African-American woman appear clearly as constructive challenges and opportunities to prove my self-worth and merit as an individual.

3. Do you believe there were special factors adversely affecting your GPA?

Midway through my senior year, I was a passenger in a car that was struck by a drunk driver. I was knocked unconscious and when awoke I was in an ambulance, pain coursing through my body. My collarbone was fractured in three different places and I spent a full two weeks on leave from school to recover from the surgery. Furthermore, I could not use my right arm properly, and as a result my grades did suffer. Not only did the physical pain affect my schoolwork, but the mental anguish of being in a car accident that was no fault of my own made it difficult to concentrate in school.

However, I used the experience as an opportunity to grow. The anger I felt toward the driver and at the sense of being a victim seemed overwhelming at first. I then started to apply spiritual principles to my personal life, understanding that the only way to turn negative emotions into strength and wisdom was by changing my perspective.

4. What are three achievements that you consider to be your most significant?

First, I became the first person in my family to graduate from college. The achievement was sweeter because of the toll the accident had on my life and on my senior year grades. I might have chosen to stay in a state of being a victim but instead triumphed. Second, I earned the opportunity to study abroad in England during my junior year of college. I was also the first person in my family to go abroad and will never forget the look of pride on my parents' faces when they saw me off. Moreover, the decision reflected my mature decision to embark on a career in international law: the first time I experienced that level of mental clarity and confidence. Finally, I believe that my decision to pursue a career in law led to the third most significant achievement of my life thus far. Taking the steps to enter law school required a major commitment. The commitment is one I take seriously and I especially intend to push myself to the limits of my potential.

5. University is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service and leadership. The school seeks to further the mission and encourage adherence to the highest moral and ethical standards. How would you expect to contribute to this environment or identify with this mission? In my senior year of college, the car I was in was struck by a drunk driver. The anger I felt afterwards, toward both the guilty driver and toward the world, consumed me. Only Christ allowed me to transform ill-will into compassion and forgiveness. Similarly, I have applied Christ's teachings to all perceived injustices in the world. My religious convictions have therefore helped me to develop the moral character that prepares me for a challenging career in international law. A compassionate mind is essential in our profession because of the different values, beliefs and worldviews we encounter in practice.