A Character-Building Childhood: College Admission Essay Sample

"Go to bed, Adelya, it's late." As a child, I heard this command very often. I did not, however, always obey.

I clearly recall the many nights I stayed up well past midnight just so I could finish studying for a test the next day. My routine was always the same. After my parents and younger brother were fast asleep, I would creep into the kitchen, turn on the lights, and continue reviewing for the next day's exam. At some point, of course, my mother would come into the kitchen and insist that I go back to bed. She always told me that I would achieve an exceptional grade regardless of whether or not I spent more hours with my nose in my books. I would thank my mother and kiss her goodnight, but after she left I would continue to study until I was positive that I would be able to answer all of the test questions flawlessly.

I grew up Jewish in Azerbaijan, a country in the former Soviet Union, where opportunities for education and advancement are slim. At the age of seven, I came to America with my family as a refugee, and our lives changed forever. In America I received a strong educational foundation that brought me many wonderful opportunities. I was given a significant university grant and was chosen for a highly competitive internship in the Brooklyn District Attorney's office. Before we arrived in America, our daily lives in Azerbaijan were very difficult. We were constantly in a state of war, and rarely walked outside, for fear of death. Even daily necessities such as bread and milk were burdensome to acquire, due to our limited financial means. Acquiring a formal education was not an option for anyone in my household.

In spite of the fact that my mother had never obtained a high school degree, she was determined to educate me. When I was just five years old, she was reading me Russian novels such as Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin and teaching me to recite poetry. I even learned some English, thanks to the books my mother had bought with the small amount of money she had saved. When I finally started school in America, I was already familiar with simple words like "house" and "dog."

Thanks to my mother's strong appreciation of the value of education, I became a very driven and successful young woman. The obstacles that I faced as a child were merely challenges that strengthened both my resolve and my character. I have always strived to attain the highest possible level of achievement and I have fought through every impediment thrown my way. An education from Brooklyn Law School would bring positive and invigorating new challenges for me, and I am confident that I will be able to use my skills and experience to succeed in the study and practice of law.