Arriving in the United States with aspirations of pursuing a legal career, I encountered a system different from India's, where law requires completion of undergraduate studies first. This revelation sparked an intellectual journey that would transform not only my career aspirations but my fundamental approach to understanding complex social issues. Through my academic evolution from Shoreline Community College to the University of Washington Bothell, I have developed a sophisticated understanding of how effective solutions to societal challenges require intersectional analysis that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries; a perspective that will inform my future work as a legal advocate committed to meaningful social change. 

 

My academic journey began at Shoreline Community College in 2020, where I cautiously explored various disciplines to determine my path forward. The initial quarters involved foundational courses that would provide a broad base of knowledge. Coming from India's educational system, I needed to adjust to American academic expectations and formats. While adapting to a new educational environment presented challenges, these early experiences taught me persistence and the value of developing new learning strategies. During these early terms, I focused on building essential academic foundations through courses in English composition, Precalculus, Prerequisite natural sciences and International Studies. The writing courses were particularly important as an international student, as they helped me develop the academic writing skills necessary for success in the American university system. Through numerous introductory level essays, I honed my ability to construct arguments and analyze texts, skills that would become increasingly sophisticated as my education progressed. I was inclined towards an International Studies major.

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As I settled into my second year at Shoreline, I began focusing more intentionally on social sciences and business courses that would provide a foundation for legal studies. Courses in economics and accounting (ECON 200, ECON 201, ACT 215) introduced me to analytical frameworks for understanding market mechanisms and economic policy. While the mathematical aspects sometimes proved challenging, I persevered until the concepts became clear, demonstrating my commitment to mastering intricate material even when it didn't come naturally at first.

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My interest in law and governance began to crystallize through courses like BUS 201(Introduction to Business Law) and POLS 202 (Introduction to American Politics). In POLS 202, I created a policy proposal addressing economic inequality through education reform, arguing to shift defense funds to education and improve high school curriculum. Through this assignment, I gained insight into the complexity of policy making and learned how challenging it is to create legislation that addresses social issues. I developed skills in crafting evidence-based arguments and experienced firsthand the negotiation process required to build consensus for a policy proposal. Fall 2022 also marked my first formal exploration of non-profit management and social justice work through BUS 201, where I produced the artifact "Solving Underlying Business Issues: Washington Immigration-Refugee Relief Foundation." I created a hypothetical organization and developed a comprehensive plan to address challenges faced by immigrant and refugee communities. I learned how to analyze regulatory frameworks that impact service delivery, develop sustainable funding models, and create programs that effectively address community needs while maintaining organizational stability. This was when I decided to switch my major to concentrate on Political science and Finance, which required me to take an additional year of classes. 

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I enrolled in the Honors college in Winter 2023, focusing on research and multicultural classes. In ENG 102 Honors, I produced one of my earliest analytical works examining legal and constitutional issues: "Shooting Holes Into the Declaration of Independence: Gun Laws in America." This research paper demonstrated my emerging ability to engage with complex legal and constitutional questions, analyzing tensions between founding principles and contemporary legislation. In addition to developing legal writing and research skills, I recognized that becoming an effective advocate required strong oration abilities. To address this, I enrolled in public speaking courses where I learned essential techniques for structuring persuasive arguments, managing presentation anxiety, adapting to different audiences, and delivering compelling speeches with confidence. These communication skills complemented my written analysis, preparing me to articulate complicated legal positions in both academic and professional settings.

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Spring 2023 included Geology, Nutrition and Philosophy classes which were required to complete my associates degree credits. The geology course involved field reports requiring careful observation and analysis of natural phenomena. During our field trip to Mount Rainier National Park, I compiled Field trip report analyzing geological formations and their historical development. This scientific approach to observation complimented my developing analytical skills in social sciences, teaching me the value of empirical evidence and methodical analysis across disciplines. This class also enhanced my interpersonal skills as I collaborated with a diverse group of students during our field trip. Camping together, preparing meals, and navigating challenges as a team fostered strong communication, adaptability, and teamwork, enriching my ability to connect with people from different backgrounds.

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After completing my Associate degree at Shoreline Community College in August 2023, I transferred to the University of Washington Bothell to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Law, Economics, and Public Policy. This transition marked not just an institutional change but an intellectual evolution as I moved from primarily introductory courses to more specialized and advanced study. The truth is, my journey hasn't been linear. I initially hesitated between various majors before committing to Law, Economics, and Public Policy, eventually adding minors in Human Rights and Science, Technology and Society. This wasn't indecision but a reflection of my growing understanding that real-world problems don't respect disciplinary boundaries. My coursework taught me that the most pressing issues that society is facing, from reproductive rights and human rights violations to technological governance require approaches that draw from multiple perspectives.

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I've come to believe deeply in the power of intersectional analysis not as an abstract academic concept, but as a vital tool for creating meaningful change. This realization didn't happen overnight, but emerged gradually through challenging assignments and conversations with peers and professors who pushed me to think beyond simplistic solutions. My policy analysis memo on childhood obesity from BISLEP 302 marks an early attempt to wrestle with this complexity. Looking back, I can see how this assignment forced me to recognize that even seemingly straightforward public health issues are shaped by economic policies, food systems, cultural practices, and educational structures. The process of developing recommendations taught me humility—there are no perfect solutions, only thoughtful interventions that acknowledge the interconnected nature of social problems.

Perhaps my most profound growth came through our collaborative presentation "Do Muslim Women (Still) Need Saving?" in BIS 466. This project confronted me with my own unexamined assumptions about Muslim women's experiences. Working alongside diverse teammates, I learned to question Western-centric perspectives that position certain women as victims awaiting rescue rather than agents navigating complex systems of power. This experience wasn't just academically enriching, it fundamentally shifted how I understand my responsibility as a future legal advocate.

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The canvassing work I undertook with the non-profit Washington CAN! for my Human Rights minor was equally transformative, though in different ways. Discussing policy issues like universal healthcare, immigration reform, social housing directly with community members revealed the gap between academic theories and lived realities. Some conversations were uncomfortable, even disheartening. Not everyone shared my views or priorities, and I had to learn to listen genuinely to perspectives that challenged my own. This experience taught me that effective advocacy isn't about imposing solutions but about creating dialogue across differences.

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The culmination of my UWB education is reflected in three pivotal projects that demonstrate not just what I learned, but how I've come to approach complex social issues. Where once I might have accepted simplified narratives, I now instinctively seek out the hidden connections between historical patterns and present-day inequities. My research proposal "Tracing Colonial Patterns in Contemporary Wellness Marketing" from BIS 340 examines how historical power structures persist in everyday consumer contexts. Through researching the commodification of ghee in wellness spaces, I uncovered how colonial patterns of appropriation continue in modern marketing. This project taught me to recognize how even seemingly benign consumer goods carry complex histories of power and exploitation—an insight that will inform my approach to cases involving cultural property and intellectual rights.

The legal opinions I drafted in BISLEP 301 represent proper legal reasoning, citation, and judicial writing style. In crafting the Supreme Court opinion in the Final Exam for "Magdalen Abercrombie v. Juniper Fitch," I learned to balance legal precedent with social context, considering not just what the law says but how its application affects different communities unequally. This exercise developed my capacity to consider the broader social implications of legal decisions. My analysis of "The Fontainebleau Hotel Corp. v. Forty-Five Twenty-Five, Inc." pushed me to examine property rights through multiple lenses; economic, environmental, and social. The paper showcases my skills in legal research, case analysis, and understanding of how court decisions shape property rights and relationships between neighboring property owners.

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As I move forward toward a legal career, I carry these lessons with me. I understand now that the most challenging social problems resist simple categorization. They exist at the intersection of multiple systems that could be legal, economic, social, political and require approaches that honor this complexity. The artifacts in this portfolio represent not just academic accomplishments but milestones in a journey toward becoming someone who can contribute meaningfully to creating a more just world. The student who transferred to UWB in 2023 was searching for direction. The person graduating now has found not just a career path(plus now I know why US requires undergrad before pursuing a doctorate) but a way of understanding the world that acknowledges its complexity while remaining committed to positive change. This transformation represents what education at its best can accomplish.