|
|
|
Personal Statement:Law with Social AnthropologyTSR Wiki > University > Applying to University > Personal Statement Library > Law with Social Anthropology
Law with Social Anthropology Personal StatementMy interest in law has developed from a childhood obsession with philosophy and sociology, an obsession which continued throughout much of my adolescence until three years ago. A fascination with Jeremy Bentham led me to look towards analytical jurisprudence in understanding legal theory on a philosophical level, specifically within the work of H.L.A. Hart. As an advocate of moral relativism, I had always found the legal system to be ethically arbitrary and could never grasp the supposed correlation between law and morality. But between the covers of The Context of Law, I found an answer: that law is an institution conceptually separate from morality but still tied intrinsically to a social contract. Legal positivism led me to realize that even the crudest trial, whether held in America or Zimbabwe, is, at its core, the attempted resolution of a philosophical dispute within society and the opportunity to be involved in such a resolution excites me on both a personal and scholarly level. Within my surroundings, I have found ways to exercise this interest, specifically within the context of debate. Avid participation in debate led me to acquire three skills: critical thinking, determination, and leadership. It forced me to take stances on both sides of legal and ethical quandaries, such as whether nations ought to relieve the arrears of highly indebted countries, or whether the United States ought to violate their constitution by ratifying the Rome Statute. As the captain of a 25 person team, following an intensive schedule where 30 hours a week were spent on debate, I realized that only through steadfast resolve could I manage the workload. On a personal level, being elected captain of the debate team two years in a row taught me the meaning of the word "leader." I learned quickly that leading meant taking charge 15% of the time, but the other 85% of the time it meant mentoring and facilitating the growth of others. Throughout my four-year career I won national-level titles and 12 first place titles as well as a place in the Stanford College of Cardinals while studying at the Stanford National Forensics Institute. I believe that spending 8 hours a day for weeks in the Stanford law library, reading legal journals, highlighting relevant sections of A Critique of Practical Reason and Law's Empire, falling asleep and waking with the imprint of carpet on my face has helped to prepare me for the demanding workload of law school. I found a practical application for debate when I was elected to my city's school board as a student member, and was able to impact policy through argument and rhetoric. My interest in law met a passion for human rights in my school's branch of Amnesty International, of which I was president. Through Amnesty, I held large-scale letter-writing campaigns designed to free political prisoners of Burma who were denied fair legal proceedings under a repressive military regime. While I have always fostered a passion for the arts, last year I became interested in film and directed, produced, and acted in a satirical short film entitled Club Jesus, based on the lives of 10 individuals in a mental institution who believe themselves to be the second coming of Christ. As an ardent guitarist and pianist for the past nine years, I also composed and produced an original jazz-folk score for the film. The film went on to win local festivals, and is still competing at national student film festivals. I sincerely hope to develop these passions further by continuing debating, acting, and playing music in university. I believe strongly in internationalism, a philosophy fostered by both growing up in a multi-national family as well as receiving an International Baccalaureate education. I aspire to work in international law, ideally with the International Criminal Court, where every trial presents a new philosophical question, culminating in a verdict which recognizes fundamental human rights. Universities Applied to:
Grades Achieved:I took International Baccalaureate:
CommentsGeneral Comments:Comments on the statement: |
|
|||||||||||||
