Daniela Rocha

Guzman

P.1 AP Lit

November 18, 2019

PIQ #4: Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or

worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

For much of my childhood, it was clear to me that I wanted to be a lawyer. My career

choice was not a struggle. The actual struggle was figuring out what I needed to achieve in high

school and college in order to study and eventually practice law. In my sophomore year of high

school, I talked to my counselor about career interests and potential college majors. She listed

my interest to be law and political science. No one I knew had pursued a career in the field so no

one could help me. This meant looking into outside sources to teach me about what I would have

to do in high school to prepare for pre-law.

Meanwhile, I received a letter from Envision inviting me to an intense summer law

program at Stanford. I would like to believe it was my counselor’s doing, seeing as I had not

done much to pursue my interest in law. Not only was this an extremely exciting opportunity,

but it was also a $5000 opportunity. My parents wanted to be supportive but were hesitant when

they found out about the price. Luckily Envision was giving a scholarship opportunity that would

deduct money from the original $5000. All I had to do was explain where my interest in law

came from and what I would change about America’s current law system. I didn’t know how to

go about the piece because my interest in law didn’t come from a life-changing event. I believed

my writing would have to be dramatic and have to envoke some emotion from the readers to
convince them that I deserved the scholarship. But it didn’t feel right to lie, so I simply told the

truth. My interest in law came from growing up watching a lot of Law & Order: SVU. My

favorite characters were always the district attorneys and criminal defense lawyers. The court

scenes always seemed the most exciting. The show made me fall in love with law. Luckily I got

the scholarship, making it easier for my parents to pay for the program.

The program exposed me to mock trials and multiple forms of lawyers. This was an

opportunity to really see if law was the right career for me and it was. The advisors were also

extremely helpful in sharing what they did in high school and college to be in law school. The

program only solidified my decision to want to become a district attorney. My goal in this career

path is to create a stricter force against violence while lessening discrimination in the courtroom

when it comes to race and color. Overall, I am extremely grateful for Envision inviting me and

giving me a scholarship that would help me learn more about the world of law and how I can

better it.