Thursday, June 08, 2006
inspired by harry potter's hilariously self-deprecating post on his psc essay i hav come up with mine. essay title is why u wanna go study law at nus. it is the first essay written b4 me being shortlisted for interview and another written essay test. for those intending to pursue law at nus this is a sample essay which u shld NOT follow... haah
the essay as follows. post mortem remarks in red.
Being a lawyer, or even wanting to read Law, was not my childhood ambition. Lawyers were often portrayed to be unethical moneygrubbers in movies and Chinese drama serials which I watched, which certainly explained why I did not aspire to become one. When I attended seminars on career choices, the job of the "lawyer" portrayed to me was that of mountains of paperwork to be cleared everyday - a tiring and stressful job. Yet reading Law is a strong ambition of mine now, one that I intend to realize.
up till now all that is said is entirely true. serious. like where got boys wanna b lawyer one. all wanna shoot gun be policeman or soldier wat. oso must be different. many pple would wayang say they childhood ambition is lawyer. so starting must be different then can stand out.
This choice that I have made, however, was not a leap of faith but a result of careful thought and long deliberation. I believe I could trace this ambition of mine back to when I was in Secondary 3, and started to be engrossed in the television series The Practice. I was hooked on to the courtroom drama of each episode of the series, the way the lawyers articulated to convince the jury, and the ethical and moral issues that surfaced along the way. The way the lawyers were portrayed in the series really showed to me that being a lawyer is a dignified profession, one which people would admire and respect.
i did watch the practice... and i did like the courtroom drama la. but i was not really "hooked" lo. u tink i fish arr. its jus colourful use of words. hehe.
At the same time, I began to develop an interest in reading books with a courtroom-thriller genre. Most of these books I read are by John Grisham, and the main protagonist of his books is usually a lawyer finding himself embroiled in a big lawsuit. Though the genre of his books is mostly the same, and the plots occasionally alike, I liked his style of writing and developed quite an appetite for his stories. Reading his books has definitely gotten me more interested in the work of a lawyer.
again entirely true. i have basically read ALL grisham's books. he does noe how to spin a story. gd writer, nice style.
Several people around me, including some of my peers and my father, have said that being a lawyer did not suit me. Many of my friends told me that an active and outgoing person like me would not be able to last long in the confines of an office doing legal paperwork everyday. This is perhaps due to the fact that I have participated in outdoor co-curricular activities like water-polo, cricket and canoeing throughout my school-life. The fact that my hobbies are swimming and soccer did not help things either! However, I believe that preparing for trial and defending clients isn't boring work at all - in fact it all sounds pretty exciting!
ok now the lines of fact and fiction are blurred. truth is that most interviewers dun like nerds and bookworms, so try to present a more outgoing personality. my ccas are real tho, tho many would not believe haah.
My dad had told me that I should go back and realize my childhood ambition as a teacher instead, which he feels is a more meaningful job and able to provide me with greater satisfaction at work. I do not disagree with him - the fact that I had wanted to be a teacher was because I felt it was a fulfilling job as well - but I feel that I had considered long enough to know that being a lawyer is the path I should take, and one which I am more than prepared to overcome the challenges that come along the way. Being a lawyer is more than just another job - it is being part of a system which upholds the stability and order of society when human moral values falter, which is why it is a profession which requires one to possess a strong sense of integrity and professionalism. Being elected and entrusted with the job of class treasurer for four consecutive years has convinced me that my peers trust me and believe that I have the integrity and responsibility to do my job well.
ok my dad din call me 2b teacher. he got suggest la, and he got somehow like say he dowan me 2b lawyer. i added this tidbit as essay fodder. geddit? then i went on to praise lawyers- indirectly of course. then i bragged abt being class treasurer. again subtlely of course. haah.
I also believe that lawyers are one of the most effective and influential people in society. Holding a Law degree would really empower one with the ability to grasp the attention of others when he speaks. Being a student, it is common that my ideals and ambitions are taken lightly when I voice them out. Incidents like when I tell my classmates that I wanted the death penalty abolished are often met with sniggering or disregard, and I believe things would be different if a real lawyer had said the same things. I do not believe being a lawyer would allow me to change society, but I believe that having a Law degree would allow me to make a difference.
hmm once again truth and untruths(not lies) are blurred. i never did voice out that i want the death penalty abolished in class. it is stated to give an impression of active class participation. haah. in me heart i want it abolished tho.
Furthermore, I am convinced and reading Law is the best path that I could take right now. The versatility of the Law degree entails me to venture out into several other fields in the future even if I decide not to be a lawyer. There are many professions and companies which would need someone with the relevant legal expertise to do the job, and I believe that a person possessing a law degree would be a sought-after commodity in the job market, even in lean times when the economy is bad.
No doubt the road to being a lawyer would not be an easy one, but I believe that I am determined enough in my choice to go all out to realize my dreams, and the first step is reading Law at NUS.
ok ending must divert abit. change directn noe? cos u must noe that study law need not become lawyer. so must say it gives me different avenues. then after end essay appropriately lo. haaaah.
comments on me tag pls.
the essay as follows. post mortem remarks in red.
Being a lawyer, or even wanting to read Law, was not my childhood ambition. Lawyers were often portrayed to be unethical moneygrubbers in movies and Chinese drama serials which I watched, which certainly explained why I did not aspire to become one. When I attended seminars on career choices, the job of the "lawyer" portrayed to me was that of mountains of paperwork to be cleared everyday - a tiring and stressful job. Yet reading Law is a strong ambition of mine now, one that I intend to realize.
up till now all that is said is entirely true. serious. like where got boys wanna b lawyer one. all wanna shoot gun be policeman or soldier wat. oso must be different. many pple would wayang say they childhood ambition is lawyer. so starting must be different then can stand out.
This choice that I have made, however, was not a leap of faith but a result of careful thought and long deliberation. I believe I could trace this ambition of mine back to when I was in Secondary 3, and started to be engrossed in the television series The Practice. I was hooked on to the courtroom drama of each episode of the series, the way the lawyers articulated to convince the jury, and the ethical and moral issues that surfaced along the way. The way the lawyers were portrayed in the series really showed to me that being a lawyer is a dignified profession, one which people would admire and respect.
i did watch the practice... and i did like the courtroom drama la. but i was not really "hooked" lo. u tink i fish arr. its jus colourful use of words. hehe.
At the same time, I began to develop an interest in reading books with a courtroom-thriller genre. Most of these books I read are by John Grisham, and the main protagonist of his books is usually a lawyer finding himself embroiled in a big lawsuit. Though the genre of his books is mostly the same, and the plots occasionally alike, I liked his style of writing and developed quite an appetite for his stories. Reading his books has definitely gotten me more interested in the work of a lawyer.
again entirely true. i have basically read ALL grisham's books. he does noe how to spin a story. gd writer, nice style.
Several people around me, including some of my peers and my father, have said that being a lawyer did not suit me. Many of my friends told me that an active and outgoing person like me would not be able to last long in the confines of an office doing legal paperwork everyday. This is perhaps due to the fact that I have participated in outdoor co-curricular activities like water-polo, cricket and canoeing throughout my school-life. The fact that my hobbies are swimming and soccer did not help things either! However, I believe that preparing for trial and defending clients isn't boring work at all - in fact it all sounds pretty exciting!
ok now the lines of fact and fiction are blurred. truth is that most interviewers dun like nerds and bookworms, so try to present a more outgoing personality. my ccas are real tho, tho many would not believe haah.
My dad had told me that I should go back and realize my childhood ambition as a teacher instead, which he feels is a more meaningful job and able to provide me with greater satisfaction at work. I do not disagree with him - the fact that I had wanted to be a teacher was because I felt it was a fulfilling job as well - but I feel that I had considered long enough to know that being a lawyer is the path I should take, and one which I am more than prepared to overcome the challenges that come along the way. Being a lawyer is more than just another job - it is being part of a system which upholds the stability and order of society when human moral values falter, which is why it is a profession which requires one to possess a strong sense of integrity and professionalism. Being elected and entrusted with the job of class treasurer for four consecutive years has convinced me that my peers trust me and believe that I have the integrity and responsibility to do my job well.
ok my dad din call me 2b teacher. he got suggest la, and he got somehow like say he dowan me 2b lawyer. i added this tidbit as essay fodder. geddit? then i went on to praise lawyers- indirectly of course. then i bragged abt being class treasurer. again subtlely of course. haah.
I also believe that lawyers are one of the most effective and influential people in society. Holding a Law degree would really empower one with the ability to grasp the attention of others when he speaks. Being a student, it is common that my ideals and ambitions are taken lightly when I voice them out. Incidents like when I tell my classmates that I wanted the death penalty abolished are often met with sniggering or disregard, and I believe things would be different if a real lawyer had said the same things. I do not believe being a lawyer would allow me to change society, but I believe that having a Law degree would allow me to make a difference.
hmm once again truth and untruths(not lies) are blurred. i never did voice out that i want the death penalty abolished in class. it is stated to give an impression of active class participation. haah. in me heart i want it abolished tho.
Furthermore, I am convinced and reading Law is the best path that I could take right now. The versatility of the Law degree entails me to venture out into several other fields in the future even if I decide not to be a lawyer. There are many professions and companies which would need someone with the relevant legal expertise to do the job, and I believe that a person possessing a law degree would be a sought-after commodity in the job market, even in lean times when the economy is bad.
No doubt the road to being a lawyer would not be an easy one, but I believe that I am determined enough in my choice to go all out to realize my dreams, and the first step is reading Law at NUS.
ok ending must divert abit. change directn noe? cos u must noe that study law need not become lawyer. so must say it gives me different avenues. then after end essay appropriately lo. haaaah.
comments on me tag pls.