“I have an irrepressible desire to live till I can be assured that the world is a little better for my having lived in it.” – Abraham Lincoln
Upon my first hearing of this remarkable quote I immediately questioned my existence. What was I doing to better the world? How could I? These questions and the million more that spun in my mind, led me to adopt Lincoln’s incredible quote as a mantra for me to live by. Yet, how could I live up to the ideals of Lincoln? There are millions of people just in the Los Angeles area, how am I to make a difference? I started to ponder this question heavily, and it had me reflect on my past.
I was fortunate to complete my bachelor’s in economics at Cal Poly Pomona. This is where I gained an appreciation for the law. I had the opportunity to be a part of Cal Poly’s Model United Nations team, where I was tasked with representing Poland in New York. It was here that I saw a troublesome trend, I saw the issues plaguing the world outside of the academic environment, and I became determined to try my best to help the people of the world who are oppressed. I wanted to fight for human rights. But how?
I love hiking, being out in nature allows me to clear my head and destress. On my trips to the local mountains in LA, I thought about the future in depth. Both law and medicine allow me to help the people of the world. Which to pick? I chose both.
I received my EMT license in an effort to help people more directly, when they are having an emergency. Where seconds really matter. I chose work in San Bernardino, one of the most dangerous cities in the United States, not because it is where the most adrenaline pumping calls were, but rather because it is a city which needs resources and good providers. Concurrently, during my first year of law school I was drawn into criminal law. The dynamics were similar to working in the field. This thought was confirmed when I interned with the LA District Attorney’s Office. I saw the innerworkings of criminal litigation and noticed that the DA is able to save lives through prevention in the investigative elements the attorneys conduct. This experience drew me closer to my goal.
