I have always known I want to be a lawyer.

In 1997, my family immigrated to the United

States after my father lost his life savings as the result of his business partners underhanded
illegal embezzlement schemes. Pakistan, a country where most government officials operate
solely on the basis of bribery, failed my father as he lost every cent of his savings, every
investment, and all of his property. Had it not been for a judicial system that was designed to
dispense justice to only those with deep pockets, my father would not have had to struggle for
fourteen years of his life. It is because of this hardship that I find myself drawn to the field of
law. For me, the law is a powerful tool through which people can promote change, growth,
justice, and equality; and an individual with a J.D. is allotted the power to understand his rights
and fight for them when necessary.
In pursuit of this goal, I have prepared myself for upcoming years of demanding
coursework, high level of competition, and commitment through my studies and contributions in
high school. In my time at MacArthur High School, I have challenged myself academically by
completing numerous Advanced Placement and Dual Credit courses. These advanced paced
classes have given me a deeper insight into the sum of time and effort required to be a successful
student, and has allowed me to earn college credit while in high school. Outside of school, I have
participated in various extracurricular activities including Student Council, Senior Class
Officers, Texas Association of Future Educators, and UIL Academics. Organizations like these
have enabled me to develop and maintain ties to my community, and work alongside others who
share the same values. Through this experience, I have learned to allocate my time efficiently,
adapt to working in group settings, and diversify my interests. I believe these skills will prove
vital to become a successful student and lawyer.
As the youngest of three children, in a low-income household, funding my education
proves difficult. At the age of thirteen, my father passed away from terminal lung cancer which
left my family emotionally and financially devastated. This experience forced my mother, who
without any practical or work experience, to transition from a housewife with minimal education
to become a single mother and the breadwinner of the family. She fulfilled this role as a fast food
employee, a position she still maintains today, making near minimum wage pay. Consequently,
without the aid financial assistance, pursuing a college education remains virtually impossible.
My high school journey has molded me into a person that values education, works
passionately to excel in it, and has the necessary skills to pursue it. By 2021, I hope to graduate
McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelors degree in
Business. Subsequently, I plan to attend an accredited law school with a focus in business and
immigration law. With the closing of one chapter, I feel prepared to enter this new chapter in my
life and endeavor to accomplish my goals with hard work, diligence, and perseverance. I hope
you will find me to be a deserving candidate and consider me for this scholarship.
 As an eighteen year old Pakistani Ahmadi Muslim, I feel that I came into this world for
one reason. I find that my purpose in this world is to serve God through the dedication and
service of others. While I am young, my circumstances and my life have required me to mature
before my age. At the age of thirteen, I was forced to say goodbye to one of the most important
individuals in my life to lung cancermy father. At a time where I was just growing, learning
and coming into my own, I was also mourning the loss my fatherthe support system of the
family, the breadwinner of the household, my role model and my best friend. We lost our home,
our cars, our financial security and the glue that held the family together. During this time, when
it felt as if the ground underneath my feet was slipping, our community came together as one and
uplifted us with the support, love and encouragement we could have never fathomed. This early
childhood experience transformed my priorities and it is because of this very reason that I am so
passionately drawn to the idea of community service. Men and women we barely knew helped us
in a time where we could not help ourselves, and my goal is to become a source of strength for
others as they became a source of strength for me in the most defeated time of my life.
As a senior in high school I have made it my mission to involve myself in as many
community service projects possible while maintaining a balance between my grades and
extracurricular academic activities. I participate in activities that go beyond the scope of service
limited to my community alone, by leading and organizing canned food and coat drives for
afflicted individuals outside the country, and collectively donating sums of money I ration from
weekly allowances and donations from family and friends to countries infested with poverty, like
Pakistan. While I understand that twenty-five hours of community service is a requirement
necessary to apply for this scholarship, I have had the opportunity and privilege to successfully
complete considerably more. In addition to my periodic involvement in community service
projects throughout the year, I assumed the permanent responsibility to mentor several girls from
within our community who are on the verge of beginning their high school career. These
preadolescent teengers hail from low-income minority backgrounds, and for them the aspiration
to achieve a college education is merely a dream. As their mentor I serve to make their dreams
translate into a practical and achievable reality. Not only do I help them develop themselves into
proud capable young women, but I meet with them at least once a month to outline their future
goals and the steps necessary to make their dreams a reality. I serve as their tutor, as their friend
and as their support system. To these girls, I give what the people in my community gave me
during my fathers demiseunconditional love.
My endeavor to help my community is not limited to a numeric requirement. I plan to
make service to my community a part of my permanent life. When admitted into college, I hope
to take time out of my week and weekends to make myself available to individuals around me in
need. Since I was given the support and love I needed from people who did not know me from
atom at the most vulnerable point in my life, it is now my responsibility to carry on the torch of
selfless service for others and create the same permanent impact on to others as others have done
unto me.