I was an exchange student in Tokyo when the March 11th earthquake hit Japan this year. Fortunately, Tokyo was only briefly affected and gradually returned to normal despite occasional aftershocks. It was the panic that people went into that frightened me most; rumors spread quickly and people began to flee as fast as they could. By the end of the fifth day, all planes from Tokyo to Shanghai were fully booked. One of my friends was even too scared to leave his room after reading a post on Twitter that radioactive particles were all over Tokyo, killing every living creature.
Two weeks later, I went to the earthquake-struck area of XXX as a volunteer where I met a middle-aged woman named Mrs. Izuhara. Despite her weakness, she refused to eat the government-subsidized meal. Asked why, she said she heard the government was using food awash with radiation for preparation of those meals. She was not the only one to believe that; I found other victims vulnerable to such rumors.
To dispel these worries, my teammates and I searched the Internet daily for updated and reliable information. We relied heavily on the International Atomic Energy Agency and other academic institutions instead of sources such as the media or government announcements in our research to reduce as much bias as possible. Even with reliable information, it was rather difficult to explain complicated figures and jargon to desperate victims.
At that time, I was enrolled in a seminar on law, XXXX. Through the seminar, I learned the importance of the representation of facts as revealed by a close reading of both majority and dissenting opinions in Supreme Court decisions. Based on this knowledge, I proposed that we focus on making scientific facts interesting and understandable. On my suggestion, we tailored slides for demonstrations to different age groups, and included colored charts and vivid pictures to simplify the presentation of scientific data. After these presentations, we were relieved to learn that the attendees were calmed and assured by what they learned. I was glad that Mrs. Izuhara finally agreed to eat the subsidized meals afterwards. I was justifiably proud that my ability to research information, assess its objectivity, and present it in an accurate yet accessible manner was of enormous advantage in our volunteer work.
Not long before we left, however, discontent once again arose among the victims, this time caused by the lack of timely legal assistance. With many important documents lost or destroyed, it became difficult for people to claim compensation for their insured property. Meanwhile, for families of casualties, problems arose from inheritance issues in the absence of properly drafted wills. When the victims learned that we were law students, they asked our opinion on whether they could and should sue the government and the Tokyo Electricity Power Company for their loss. At the time, the matter was far beyond our abilities and knowledge. Still, I continued to help them with the vital issues that would restore some order in their lives. I spent hours listening to their concerns and guided them in examining their cases logically and objectively. These objective narratives gave them clearer perspectives on their loss and the available ways to claim compensation, as well as provided them with rational expectations for future negotiation with professionals. Their correspondence with me after I returned to Tokyo expressed their gratitude for my volunteer services, specifically for my efforts to aid them in analyzing and presenting their cases.
Despite these accomplishments, I believe the serious shortage of law professionals still hindered, to a large extent, actual rebuilding after that disaster. I know I could have made better practical contributions if I possessed the expertise of a legal professional. Half a year later, I still have that mixture of pride and helplessness I experienced back then. That and my strong interest in law inspired me to apply to law school and pursue a career as lawyer.
The reputation of XXX University, its stellar faculty, and its academic atmosphere make it the ideal environment in which to pursue the expertise I need to be an outstanding member of the legal profession.
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) I’m presently on, I’ll try to take another look and hopefully be of some use with some more emotionally connotative language. Shoot me a pm tomorrow if I don’t remember.
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