Adrenaline pumped into my veins. I took a shaky breath and my wandering eyes looked at the
blurred faces surrounding me. Uncertainty hid behind their murmurs… “I'll do it.” Before I even realized,
the words slipped past my lips, almost as if they were being compelled out of me. The words slipped out
with such confidence and assurance that I even surprised myself. Suddenly, I entered a race, a race
against time. I had 24 hours to complete four weeks’ worth of work. Time was running thin, and there I
was, starting the race while others were already near the finish line.
Two months previous to this critical moment in my life, I had heard about a law program, the High
School Law Institute, to be conducted at NYU. I had hesitated in joining the program because I
questioned my abilities: could someone as insignificant and unqualified as me even get accepted? I
applied anyway, after being persuaded by my friends and teachers, and thought, “Why not? Let me just
take a shot in the dark and see where it leads me.” To my utter surprise, I got accepted! Out of
thousands of applicants, I was one of the few selected.
My weekends were now filled with rigorous classes and lectures, so much information I wanted to soak
in, like a sponge. I became preoccupied with what seemed like a fountain of endless knowledge. This
program also involved mock trials in which we would compete against the same program at Columbia.
In preparation for this mock trial, each person was assigned specific roles, dedicating weeks of their time
for research, background info, proper procedures, and a set of questions to be used against the
witnesses. I selected the cross-examination. I knew that I enjoyed debating, and hoped this would be a
good opportunity to question someone and see how they would respond. My desire to attain the best
results led to endless days and sleepless nights. Yet, I felt satisfaction knowing that I dedicated all that I
could to the task.
This sense of euphoria ended abruptly.
One day before the debate, we discovered that one of the important cross examiners wouldn't be able
to attend. I felt completely blindsided. I knew someone had to step up to the plate, so I volunteered.
With less than 24 hours to the debate, I threw myself into research, gathered all the data I could, asked
my teachers for assistance, and didn't rest until I was confident.
Looking back now, I can see how much I’ve grown as a person. The twelve-year-old girl afraid of the
loudness of her own voice has transformed into a young lady with eyes filled with determination and a
voice projecting the strength and determination of her own words. I learned to be resilient and not pay
any mind to the questioning gaze of people who refused to believe I could amount to anything. This
change drove the young lady who persisted, who did not give up in times of adversity, who was
resilient… to WIN her round of the debate! Noticing the reaction of those around me, I realized that this
was not something I simply wanted to do, it was something I certainly could do. That shaky breath that
forced out that “I’ll do it,” has settled, breathing out a new confidence and a new sense of purpose.