EFTA01129568.pdf

After winning three Russian National snowboard championships in a row, I qualified, at the age of 16, for the Winter Olympics in Torino. Taking part was an unforgettable experience and a highlight of my sports career. Now, I would like to achieve a similar level of excellence in my legal career by studying at Harvard Law School. My ultimate goal is to work for the United Nations and I aspire, one day, to be the UN Secretary-General. In 2004, I became a member of the Russian national snowboard team. I was the first Russian half- pipe snowboarding athlete and the youngest of the team to participate in the 2006 Olympics. Travelling around the world to compete and interacting with sponsors taught me what the adult life could be. I remember that the coach of the Russian snowboarding team initially considered me to be too young and confident and not worthy of being sponsored for the preparation of the Winter Games. He denied registering me for any World Cups which are fundamental to qualify for the Olympics. This did not stop me. My family assisted me soliciting the influence of the Head of the Russian Ski Federation and financial help from the GAZPROM bank which became my personal sponsor for training. Once the main obstacles were overcome I scored the required points at the World Snowboard Championships to compete in the Olympics. I recognize that the Olympic Games experience is craved by millions but experienced by few. Therefore, I feel honored that years of my hard work were justified for this one moment of glory in the international spotlight. The sports world developed my perseverance and determination; it provided an ideal context for my tenacious character and desire to succeed, attributes which I am now keen to apply to my academic studies. After the Olympic Games, at the age of 16, I won a scholarship from the Swedish Rotary club to participate in a one-year exchange program in France, to live in a host family and to attend high school. My experience in France broadened my cultural horizons and enabled me to develop my avid interest in international relations and languages. In addition to French, I am fluent in Russian, my native language, together with English and Norwegian. I am also in process of learning Spanish, one of the official UN languages. It was after my experience in France that I realized that I wanted to have EFTA01129568 an international career. Having finished high school with honors I successfully applied to University of Paris I, Sorbonne to study law, motivated by interest in public speaking and international affairs. As a university student I am an active participant of the Model United Nations (MUN), an academic simulation of the United Nations (UN) that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda. The MUN plays an important role in my life and continues to motivate me to work for the UN. I admire its activities in general: through cooperation and diplomacy they promote peace in the world. After joining the organizing committee of my Russian university's MUN, this has fostered my passion for participating in the MUN and public speaking events. I have also managed the Sorbonne University MUN delegation, raising funds to enable participation in MUN events abroad. Besides enhancement of leadership skills, participation in the MUN encourages consensus building, conflict resolution, teamwork, and negotiation that are necessary for the future success in an international career. For me, the most memorable MUN event was the World Model which took place in The Hague in 2009, organized by Harvard University. This summit inspired me to work even harder at my French law school and to pursue studies at Harvard. I believe studying law at Harvard after having studied French and International law from the French perspective would be a unique opportunity for me to compare and contrast two different legal systems. IN particularly attracted to the more personalized educational approach offered by Harvard. I believe Harvard would equip me with a broad international perspective, a key attribute for a career in the UN. Moreover, I am particularly excited and honored by the prospect of attending Professor Alan Dershowitz's lectures, whose book Letters to a Young Lawyer had a profound impact on me. After completing my Juris Doctor studies, I aspire to pass the California bar exam and initially work in arbitration to gain commercial experience before joining the UN. At this juncture in my life, I am a trainee lawyer at Clifford Chance in Paris. This has given me insight into the day-to-day life of a lawyer, the opportunity to draft due diligence reports, attend hearings and respond to conclusions. While working here I am drawn to the challenges I find at the EFTA01129569 intersection of International business law and arbitration. I have a genuine interest that has developed into an enthusiasm to pursue this career path, an enthusiasm that has only increased in my years of study and real world experience at Clifford Chance. Coupled with my hard work ethic, I believe this makes me an excellent candidate for Harvard, my desired next step to becoming a successful lawyer. Some say that I have already lived 10 lives when I tell them about my first 21 years, but I am sure that the most exciting part of my life lies ahead of me. EFTA01129570