Boston University School of Law: Law Degree Admission

As I wrote this supplemental application to Boston University, I reflected on my diverse background, intellectual development, and unwavering commitment to making a significant impact, making a compelling case for how I can contribute to the vibrant and inclusive community that defines Boston University. First, I will explain what personal story led me to study legal law. Next, I will share my academic experience studying law and my future plans to study in Boston University. 

Kabul Afghanistan, 1994 – the year and the city I was born in. The Afghan civil war had ignited between some of the mujahideen groups. Amidst the bombs and rockets raining down over the city, my mother weighed down with the stress and anxiety went into early labor. She was rushed to the hospital and gave birth to a premature baby…me. She was terrified to stay overnight at the hospital due to the rockets flying above, so she asked to be discharged to go home hours after giving birth to me, thinking that at least if something happened we would all be together (we’re talking about the 1990s in a third world country where there were no consequences in breaking some rules). My parents reached my grandparents’ house where they had been staying since their own home was destroyed due to the bombings. Being brought into this world in the midst of a civil war, it is a wonder that I am even here today. 

A couple of years later, the Taliban took over the city of Kabul. The Taliban banned girls from receiving an education. For my dad that was a no go since in addition to three sons, he had four daughters—me being the youngest. Decisions needed to be made and we were forced to flee the country in search of a better and brighter future. We managed to cross the border to Pakistan somehow and then from there to Russia. My parents felt somewhat at peace knowing that they were in a safer country and there was some light at the end of the tunnel. Linking up with the immigration services in Russia, my parents hoped to eventually reach the United States in order to attain better educational opportunities for us, the children. Eight years later, my mom received a telegram that would change our lives forever. Families that had some sort of medical condition were being moved up in the queue and allowed to leave sooner than the ones that had no medical issues. My little brother had a heart condition and therefore we were put in the faster list that ultimately got us to the US. I started eighth grade at Wright Middle in Nashville, TN, was put in ESL (English second language) classes because I could barely count to 100 in English. Eventually, I graduated high school and went on to attend Middle Tennessee State University, where I obtained an undergraduate degree in Biology and minor in Chemistry. Obtaining that degree was the biggest mistake of my life to date. Unfortunately, I had done so to fulfill my parents’ wishes that I go to medical school. I always thought they knew better and frankly I was left with no choice with my father’s threats. My father is a typical traditional, cultural middle eastern father and tried to force his wants and beliefs onto us – his children. While studying science in my sophomore year, I began to consider alternative paths for my future and applied for internships with the local law firms and the state department. I was able to secure an internship with the TN State Treasury Department as a legal assistant to the State’s Social Security Administrator and public defender Mary E. Griffin. At the time, they were looking to digitalize State Records and needed interns desperately. When I had my interview with Ms. Griffin, I was upfront and honest about everything. That internship landed me the best mentor I could ever ask for and the best experiences during my time at the Treasury Department. However, I had to keep this internship secret because of my parents’ vehement opposition to anything outside of a medical degree.

When I finally crossed the stage in my senior year, I was ecstatic that my dad would finally be proud of me for once. But everything came crashing down on me when I realized later after the commencement that he had decided not to attend my graduation because he thought that a bachelor degree was comparable to an associate degree. I realized that I should have been worried about making myself proud all along, not anyone else.

It was then that I decided that I wanted to make a change for ME. The day that I had been dreading for so long finally came, and I decided to have a conversation with my father about my interest in politics and my desire to change my career trajectory. Let me just briefly say that the conversation landed me a slap in the face. I was subsequently told that I was a shame to his family’s reputation for disobeying him. Things went really badly that evening, and I left my childhood home barefoot with nothing but the clothes on my back. Since that day, I haven’t stepped foot in my parents’ home. Even worse, my father has kept my family away from me and literally disowned me because I “disobeyed” him. For the longest time I felt guilty, all the nonstop threatening voicemails and ugly text messages haunted me and guilt tripped me until I had to finally cut all contact with my parents. It was then, left to create own life that I finally felt at peace. I’m grateful for my little brother who’s the only person that calls me to check up on me. My older sisters and brothers all think that I should have listened to my parents. While they have gone on to careers that fulfilled my parents’ dreams, I never could quite understand what was wrong with forging my own path and becoming a lawyer.

The day I had that conversation with my dad about my career path change is when he told me verbatim that I “would be a loser in the world of politics as a woman.” The things he told me that night have been engrained in my brain to this day, but his words only made me stronger because from where I am standing neither have I won yet but nor have I lost, I am still chasing my dreams despite everything I have been through these past couple of years. With all due respect to my father—from where I am standing, he has lost; not only has he lost a daughter, but also lost in being the supportive father figure that I longed for. Nevertheless, I am grateful for all that has happened to me because I would not be who I am today otherwise. My assertiveness, compassion, and perseverance are what made me fight through my depression and get myself back on my feet. I have a dream that one day I can reach out and make a difference in the lives of other children going through similar situations as my own. I want to educate women around the world that our democracy is about empowering everyone, about equality between men and women, and most importantly about freedom, freedom of choice in whatever that may be. Everything that was unfortunately stripped away from me while growing up.

Currently, I am working for the Mayor’s Office in Nashville as the New American’s liaison and staff assistant. Please check out the link below from the Tennessean News , where I am mentioned in the 17th paragraph. My mentor Mary E. Griffin was able to help me secure this position in the mayor’s office, where I help newly arrived legal immigrants to Nashville in finding resources, translators, getting their children enrolled in school, getting them involved with Metro government so that they understand the importance of voting, and ultimately helping them through the citizenship application process.

As I look to obtaining a law degree from Boston University, I know that this decision derives from my true passion. Growing up, I had wanted to attend Boston University together with my best friend. Unfortunately, the conditions that I was living under never allowed me to even dream of such a thing. As a middle eastern girl, it is frowned upon to live alone or leave your parents’ house before marriage. Therefore, I had to attend Middle Tennessee State University and commute 50 minutes back and forth every day for four years.

Today, my dream of attending BU still remains true in my heart. I want to attend Boston University School of Law to acquire the skills, legal context and history, and education necessary to do work in promoting the benefits of law and equality here at home and in third world countries around the world. In the long-term, I see myself going into international or immigration law. Although I am estranged from my parents, I know the struggles they experienced coming to this country. As an immigration attorney, I want to help legal immigrants as they navigate the confusing process of becoming citizens or permanent residents here in the US. As an international law attorney, I could see myself helping to give voice to the voiceless.