A Reminder
In Singapore, a lawsuit against a doctor is the most difficult to handle, Dr Edmund Kronenburg, one of the directors of a local law firm who specialised in medical negligence cases, explained to my godbrother and me. He further illustrated that it will cost a bomb. Our hearts sank.
My godmother, a once healthy and active lady, sauntered into her hospital ward on the day of the operation, but came out lying paralysed from the neck down, after barely escaping death in the operation theatre due to an unknown complication. At present, the family wants nothing but a decent compensation for all the resulting expenses. Yet this seemingly straightforward task is proving to be an enigmatic ball-buster due to limited reserves.
We were finally advised to go negotiate with the operating doctor all by ourselves, just me and my 23-year old godbrother who had little clue about the law. Only if the doctor refuses to cooperate will the law step in, along with the king-sized bill.
A couple of weeks later, I went down to Chinatown to interact with the aged over there, as well as to bring some food and necessities down for them. One man in his sixties, who used to be a well-respected figure in the Underworld in 1950s, approached me for help with teary eyes. His only wish in life now is to find back his beloved sister whom he has lost contact with for over 20 years. I went to the Police, they referred us to the Immigrations & Checkpoint Authority (ICA), Singapore. I called the ICA up and they said they would not be able to help us in any way as all information are to be kept purely confidential, regardless of the situation.
November 2003 - I embarked on a mission to Cambodia. We were to provide construction aid at the Sangkhuem Orphanage. I was lucky to be one of the few who had the chance to be brought into the cruelly rural areas in Siem Reap where even bicycles, the most common mode of transport in rural areas, were not even heard of. We were told by the locals that the orphanage we were assigned to was considered one of the most privileged ones. There were many abominable orphanages around which paid peanuts to the villagers in exchange of their children and these hapless kids would be brutally abused and starved in the orphanages, often leading to early deaths. Today, this is still very much in practice and it seems nothing is done about it.
Everybody has their own achievements, however small, likewise for me. I used to work as a journalistic writer for a publishing company during my polytechnic internship and continued part-time for them even after my internship ended. There, I helped out with the publication of the Singapore National Day's souvenir and activity books for the year 2004. I was one of the three main writers whose responsibilities included conducting interviews, attending media briefs, researching on Singapore's history, coordinating and analysing data collected and finally, writing the books out. At the end of my work term, I received an appreciation plague from our local Minister for Defence.
I am sure these skills that I have picked up and applied throughout my internship are parallel to the ones vital in the law industry. However, this is not the main reason why I am applying for law. In fact, it is through my personal experiences in life that makes law so endearing and fascinating a subject for me.
When one is faced with so many contradictions in life, there are endless burning questions he or she will want to find answers to. To me, it seems that the law is a determining factor in many of the controversial situations I have witnessed. Therefore, here I am, seeking to capitalise on the power of the law for all the right causes.
- June 2005
Sometimes, I just have to remind myself of the reasons why I took up law in the first place. This will keep me going, hopefully.
My godmother, a once healthy and active lady, sauntered into her hospital ward on the day of the operation, but came out lying paralysed from the neck down, after barely escaping death in the operation theatre due to an unknown complication. At present, the family wants nothing but a decent compensation for all the resulting expenses. Yet this seemingly straightforward task is proving to be an enigmatic ball-buster due to limited reserves.
We were finally advised to go negotiate with the operating doctor all by ourselves, just me and my 23-year old godbrother who had little clue about the law. Only if the doctor refuses to cooperate will the law step in, along with the king-sized bill.
A couple of weeks later, I went down to Chinatown to interact with the aged over there, as well as to bring some food and necessities down for them. One man in his sixties, who used to be a well-respected figure in the Underworld in 1950s, approached me for help with teary eyes. His only wish in life now is to find back his beloved sister whom he has lost contact with for over 20 years. I went to the Police, they referred us to the Immigrations & Checkpoint Authority (ICA), Singapore. I called the ICA up and they said they would not be able to help us in any way as all information are to be kept purely confidential, regardless of the situation.
November 2003 - I embarked on a mission to Cambodia. We were to provide construction aid at the Sangkhuem Orphanage. I was lucky to be one of the few who had the chance to be brought into the cruelly rural areas in Siem Reap where even bicycles, the most common mode of transport in rural areas, were not even heard of. We were told by the locals that the orphanage we were assigned to was considered one of the most privileged ones. There were many abominable orphanages around which paid peanuts to the villagers in exchange of their children and these hapless kids would be brutally abused and starved in the orphanages, often leading to early deaths. Today, this is still very much in practice and it seems nothing is done about it.
Everybody has their own achievements, however small, likewise for me. I used to work as a journalistic writer for a publishing company during my polytechnic internship and continued part-time for them even after my internship ended. There, I helped out with the publication of the Singapore National Day's souvenir and activity books for the year 2004. I was one of the three main writers whose responsibilities included conducting interviews, attending media briefs, researching on Singapore's history, coordinating and analysing data collected and finally, writing the books out. At the end of my work term, I received an appreciation plague from our local Minister for Defence.
I am sure these skills that I have picked up and applied throughout my internship are parallel to the ones vital in the law industry. However, this is not the main reason why I am applying for law. In fact, it is through my personal experiences in life that makes law so endearing and fascinating a subject for me.
When one is faced with so many contradictions in life, there are endless burning questions he or she will want to find answers to. To me, it seems that the law is a determining factor in many of the controversial situations I have witnessed. Therefore, here I am, seeking to capitalise on the power of the law for all the right causes.
- June 2005
Sometimes, I just have to remind myself of the reasons why I took up law in the first place. This will keep me going, hopefully.
posted by geri at 5:00 PM
3 Predictions:
Ah i noe. It dawned on me halfway while reading this really very strong yet soft post. No uni in their right mind would have turned this away. :P
way to go.
thanks! but the further i go into it, the more i realised law isnt what i made it out to be when i wrote tt personal statement. :(
well things dont always turn out the way you want them to, right?
btw who is this?
gosh a most resounding and resonating personal statement i must say. keep that fire burning (i believe it was never doused in the first place)
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