Personal statement writing and development

Personal Statement

STATEMENT 1: At a recent Commencement Mass, LMU's former President, Fr. Robert Lawton, S.J. said: So what is the answer to this deep insecurity we all feel? The answer, I think, is to embrace the adventure of becoming deeply, and fully, ourselves. This is what God is really calling us to. It seems like the riskiest of all journeys, this journey to be true to oneself. But it's ultimately the journey that leads us to happiness, that leads us into God's dreams for us."

Why do you think Fr. Lawton says the journey to be oneself seems the riskiest of all journeys? What risks lie ahead as you embark on your college career, and the adventure of discovering and becoming yourself?

**please incorporate a few specific details from your life**

One thing I've learned so far in my young life is that the impact of social pressure can be overwhelming for anyone. Our parents, peers, and the media are constantly suggesting what we "should" do and be; it's very difficult to remain true to oneself. But I agree that this is the meaning of life, to attain complete personal fulfillment and happiness by honoring one's authentic self. This necessarily means honoring God's wishes for me as an individual, because I am at heart what God wants me to be. Of course this is why life is never easy for anyone, because standing up for that little voice inside that knows your purpose on this Earth is very scary sometimes.

We are taught to be unselfish; however, I would argue that there is a good kind of selfishness that is necessary for the fulfillment of God's purpose for me. If I don't listen to my deepest yearnings, if I don't pay attention to the situations and choices that make me happy vs. frustrated, I will never get on track with God and what He wants for me in life. I believe everyone is here for a reason: to carry out a very specific and special role that will benefit all of mankind.

I also believe the reason why there is so much depression and unrest in the world is that people try too hard to please their parents, peers, and the media, at the expense of becoming who they truly are -- who they were born to be. And as Fr. Robert Lawton, S.J. said: this quest is an exciting adventure. The emptiness, boredom, and apathy so many people suffer from, that causes them to turn to drugs, alcohol, prescription anti-depressants, or any other kind of addiction, can only be cured through fulfillment of the true self. What could be better news? That what we truly want in life is what we should have, what we are meant to have? That fact is what makes God so amazing and shows how deeply he loves us and wants us to be happy.

So why can't we all just be ourselves and attain happiness? It sounds so simple. But as Fr. Lawton also said, it's not really simple at all. In fact, it's very risky. By committing ourselves to follow a path in life that we truly believe in, we risk alienating friends and family. We risk not being "normal" or "cool." And especially for young people, being "normal" and "cool" seems to be what self-esteem is all about. How can we risk giving that up by standing up for ourselves? How can we maintain a sense of self-worth in the eyes of the world, as well as in the eyes of God? And how do we know for sure what He wants for us?

I guess it's a matter of intuition; I guess you know based on how happy you truly are. If you're excited to face every day, without any help from any sort of addiction, then I would argue you're officially happy. And if you're genuinely happy, you must be honoring your authentic self and God's dreams for you.

This is an exhilarating prospect for me because I'm just beginning to learn who I really am. But I need to be prepared for the risks and the difficulties. If I think it's going to be easy I might easily lose my way. For example, I may believe that I know what I want to do with my life and what my career path should be, and this may be something that will bring me wealth and make my parents very proud. Yet once I actually embark on that career, I might realize that deep down my career choice was wrong; that it's not going to help me become the best person I can be. There must be something else I am meant to do that will bring out more of the good in me and allow me to contribute more to society. This kind of realization takes place quite often among college students and recent graduates; however, how many of us actually listen to that voice inside? The thought of calling our parents and telling them we are switching career paths and most likely need more schooling can be mortifying. What if we're just being selfish? What will our friends think -- that we couldn't stick it out? Peer pressure and pressures from family are profound and powerful. It takes great courage to stand up to that kind of influence just for the sake of you.