ginger
coons
cv
exhaustive list of traits, skills and interests
life story
law school letters
areas of interest
school things
cv
exhaustive list of traits, skills and interests
life story
law school letters
areas of interest
school things
The following are drafts of the letter of intent that
ginger coons was writing as part of the admission procedure for law
school. Since writing these, she has come to the decision that there
are better paths for her than law.
Life Story
I Want to Impress You
Titles
Which One Doesn't Belong?
Epiphany
Life Story
I Want to Impress You
Titles
Which One Doesn't Belong?
Epiphany
Epiphany
After two years studying design, in the first semester of my third year, I had an epiphany. I finally stopped struggling. For two years, in the back of my head, I had looked at the fantastic work produced by my peers, and wondered why my work didn't measure up. In our core design class, with everyone in my year together, I finally got the lightning bolt that let me come to peace with my work. I realized that I am not a graphic designer. I am not a web designer. I am not a product designer, or a spatial one, either. I can do all of these things, but I am not the best at any of them. And I need to be the best at what I do. I want to change the world.
So what am I, then? What am I the best at? When I stopped struggling to be what I wasn't, I realized that I have skills unique among my design peers. I know how to research, and love doing it. I'm convincing when I argue, and I care deeply about an awful lot of things. Most importantly, when I stand up at the front of a room, I can make people listen, no matter what I'm talking about. That's what I'm the best at. I'm the best at caring, and making others care. I know how to mobilize. I know how to organize. And I know how to inspire. Luckily, it turns out that those skills are more important to me than being good at Photoshop.
Does that make me a good candidate for law school? If it doesn't, I don't want to go. I'm interested in law because I am an activist, and always have been. I see no reason to grow up and change that. I want to do something with my life that has a positive impact. I want to create change, and I'm prepared to take on every challenge that world changing can possibly entail. I like policy, and I've actually found that studying for the LSAT can be fun. Most importantly, I want to keep learning. If I were to finish my BFA, get a job, and start just working, I don't think I'd be very happy. I want to do something that will make me keep up, because I don't know how to slow down. I need a challenge. And I'm not in it for the billable hours.
It's not just law, though. It's tech law. I am an unabashed geek. I live my life Open, and have done since I was about fourteen. I see no reason to buy software that restricts my usage and creativity. I understand that technology moves faster than law. But it still bothers me that most Canadians are scoff laws, solely because they media shift. I want a chance to think more about things like that. I want to see where technology and civil liberties intersect.
Pursuing law has been a tough decision for me. I've struggled with the prospect of not working as a designer. However, I think that in law, I have the potential to be remarkable, instead of just standard. Besides, my design experience gives me a whole different frame of reference. I'm no poli sci grad. No matter what I become, I will always be a designer.
After two years studying design, in the first semester of my third year, I had an epiphany. I finally stopped struggling. For two years, in the back of my head, I had looked at the fantastic work produced by my peers, and wondered why my work didn't measure up. In our core design class, with everyone in my year together, I finally got the lightning bolt that let me come to peace with my work. I realized that I am not a graphic designer. I am not a web designer. I am not a product designer, or a spatial one, either. I can do all of these things, but I am not the best at any of them. And I need to be the best at what I do. I want to change the world.
So what am I, then? What am I the best at? When I stopped struggling to be what I wasn't, I realized that I have skills unique among my design peers. I know how to research, and love doing it. I'm convincing when I argue, and I care deeply about an awful lot of things. Most importantly, when I stand up at the front of a room, I can make people listen, no matter what I'm talking about. That's what I'm the best at. I'm the best at caring, and making others care. I know how to mobilize. I know how to organize. And I know how to inspire. Luckily, it turns out that those skills are more important to me than being good at Photoshop.
Does that make me a good candidate for law school? If it doesn't, I don't want to go. I'm interested in law because I am an activist, and always have been. I see no reason to grow up and change that. I want to do something with my life that has a positive impact. I want to create change, and I'm prepared to take on every challenge that world changing can possibly entail. I like policy, and I've actually found that studying for the LSAT can be fun. Most importantly, I want to keep learning. If I were to finish my BFA, get a job, and start just working, I don't think I'd be very happy. I want to do something that will make me keep up, because I don't know how to slow down. I need a challenge. And I'm not in it for the billable hours.
It's not just law, though. It's tech law. I am an unabashed geek. I live my life Open, and have done since I was about fourteen. I see no reason to buy software that restricts my usage and creativity. I understand that technology moves faster than law. But it still bothers me that most Canadians are scoff laws, solely because they media shift. I want a chance to think more about things like that. I want to see where technology and civil liberties intersect.
Pursuing law has been a tough decision for me. I've struggled with the prospect of not working as a designer. However, I think that in law, I have the potential to be remarkable, instead of just standard. Besides, my design experience gives me a whole different frame of reference. I'm no poli sci grad. No matter what I become, I will always be a designer.