Theresa Berlage

Personal Statement

I will never forget the day I became an American citizen. At the time it all seemed so new

and strange that I could not truly comprehend how gravely that moment would change me. I was

fourteen years old and to date I had only witnessed anything quite like this in movies. I grew up

an American. I spoke like an American, dressed like an American and in my heart felt like an

American. However, I had never felt less American than the day I actually became one. My two

younger sisters were born in the United States a short two years after my older sister, my two

parents, and I had arrived. I was only a year old when we landed here from Switzerland and thus,

never knew anything else. Aside from Thanksgivings alone, the sound of German being spoken

in the house, and the endless immigration lines we stood in at the airport, I had no deep

realization that I in fact belonged to another land, not the one I called home. Walking into the

court room on the day I would finally be able to truly call myself an American all I felt was

complete and utter gratefulness. As I stood with my parents and my older sister and raised my

hand as I pledged my loyalty to the United States of America I knew that there was nothing I

could not do. It was that chilling experience in a court room at fourteen years old that instilled a

passion for the law in me.

I looked around at the faces of the others in the room that were also being welcomed into

this new, extraordinary family of Americans and I simply did not want to leave. I wanted to be

the one to help people like this and make their dreams come true just as the judge did for my

family and I that day. I love my heritage and my global citizenry given my now four citizenships

including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States of America. This has given me a

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perspective throughout my life to seek out any and every opportunity afforded to me in this

country while reaching out to others who do not have the same privileges.

Just a few months ago at my church a wonderful older gentlemen stood, pain rolling over

his face as he pleaded with the congregation to pray for him. He is an immigrant from South

America who was on a work visa and despite his old age works day and night to support his

family. He severely injured his back on the job and required medical attention as a result. After

countless bills arrived in the mail he filed an insurance claim to have his employer of many years

cover the costs. Due to his work visa and immigrant status, the employer denied any contract

regarding insurance and left him to pay all the costs himself, something he could not afford.

Watching this wonderful man plead as his wife sat beside him with tears rolling down her face I

recalled that day in the court room when I saw the door open to endless opportunities and

luxuries. In that moment I knew I wanted to use my ability to practice law and work in the

United States to help people like that man achieve justice and ultimately, experience the feeling I

did on that day all those years ago. That is where my passion for law came from and why I will

work diligently to reach my goals.