Personal statement, and Policy statements

(1 ) 3 pages

1 . Describe your background and aspirations , including your motivation for participating in public service and the Executive branch of California state government

2 . If you had the ability to change any state public policy , what would you change and why

I was born in the country of Guatemala and for the duration of my first 15 years of existence in this world I have been separated from my mother who migrated in this great country of United States after my birth . I first and foremost , know the effects

of being separated from a biological parent . There was this feeling of unbounded experience of being an orphan and the longing to see and hug my real parent . I have to learn how to live in a family not of my own which most of the time treated us as others while we and my siblings were ed to scrub floors , furniture and wash clothes by hands . There was always the necessity to physically toil to justify that I deserve to eat , even going barefoot in the wee hours of the morning to the boondocks to just to weed and grow plants . Likewise my father , who missed my mother a lot have to quench his longing for her through the destructive habit of drinking . The separation without doubt has brought tremendous hardship emotional and physical , on my part and my other siblings . But to paraphrase the great adage of Friedrich Nietzsche : what can 't kill you can only make you stronger

Indeed , that hardship that I had to endure in the country of my origin made me a stronger person . Somehow , the difficulty of being apart with my mother and the hardship that I and my siblings had to face there reinforced the value of being a determine person within me

When my mother petitioned me to be with her in this country after a decade and a half of separation , the feeling of elation brought an infinite happiness within me . The experiences that I had to hurdle and face in my home country turned out to be true lessons for me about the value of life and family . Most of these experiences were taught to me the hard way

It is not at all unexpected from my part when I stepped foot in this country that promises a greener pasture and brighter future that I use the opportunity to improve myself . In high-school , I took no hesitation to learn and absorb everything that I can in the classroom and from my classmates and teachers so that I can be a better person . I know my education is a good foundation as to what I would become in terms of becoming a productive member of this society in the future . This determination to become a better person whom great opportunities would come was even reinforced during my college years as I also applied the same philosophy about life in general that I developed in high-school

Moreover , my education on what is life all about does not stop on academic pursuits . Aside from targeting good academic records , I know I have to see life in a holistic perspective . This reason has pushed me to be an athletic person where I played basketball for my school and join the sports programs of my university . Besides achieving physical fitness , these activities showed and taught me the value of being a team player - an attribute that I knew by then would help me in any field that I would pursue in the near future

Even the other activities that I signed up for in the university like volunteering to go to Rwanda to assist AIDS victims and going to Mexico to help in an orphanage institution as well as giving time to pregnant teenagers at Planned Parenthood , are all spurred by a sense of deeper goal of understanding life in every angle

After finishing my college degree and with these experiences under tucked under my belt , there is no question or equivocation that the answer as to what I would do with these lessons about life and personal attainment is to give service to the community in anyway I can . And in what kind of institution can this be possible than the government itself where the sit of power resides . In the government sector rest mostly the responsibilities of overseeing the welfare of those uncared for and those that are marginalized and most of all in the government sector is where the policy , the map-making of a good society are being planned designed , and done with . The government sector , especially the executive branch is where power and influence reside to guide , assist and provide people with basic needs so that this country and state , particularly the state of California , will become a better place where people can realize their potential

It is therefore my intent and interest if I would be given the chance that the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA ) be amended by way of separating the subject of marriage and the encouragement for the formation and maintenance of two-parent families from its issues . Understanding that under this specific Act , it has a program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF , the questions as to the welfare of children and the family in general is not being addressed in all its aspect under this public policy

I would want that the issue of marriage and family be excluded in this said Act and in its place bring and formulate a new separate act that will specifically addressed the issues of the importance of marriage and of the family , especially on the issues of encouraging two-parent family

The philosophy behind this suggestion is very obvious . If we can separate as a distinct problem the issues of family and marriage , then every endeavor that has to do with these subjects will be given their rightful allocated budget . Moreover , the issues emanating from the problems of marriage and family issues most usually are the causes and reasons for the problems that are besieging our state and society in general . If we can address and focus on these issues as soon as possible , then the problems that the state experienced and will experience will be avoided in the near future

(2 ) Personal Statement : 3 pages

If there ever were a lesson that I learned throughout my short existence in this world , it is the realization that education does not stop in classrooms and universities . The world for me , in fact , is one huge classroom where true and everlasting lessons can be gained and obtained . The world outside the campus offers different colors about life , about people , about different conflicting ideas on how to see reality and about various situations where the end results will always be better , clear insights on what life is really all about

For the first fifteen years of my existence , life challenged me to be tough considering that my mother migrated away from my country of origin , Guatemala , to find a greener pasture here in the United States and at the same time to prepare us (her children ) for a better , brighter future

Life without her , as I mentioned , was tough and difficult . I never imagined that the first years of my life , when I started to gain consciousness about the world that I live in , would be harsh and hazardous to for me . I learned how to live in houses I could not call home since the people there treated me and my siblings as others . In my early childhood , the stark face of injustice and unfair treatment was thrown straight at me . I could not believe that there are people who could be so insensitive to the flight of poor people like us . Living in front of this harsh face of injustice , I was forced to scrub floors clean furniture and wash by hands dirty laundry in exchange for left-over food that lesser human beings would surely fold up in utter self-pity and hopelessness concluding that there is no bright future ahead of him life and the world is dark and unfair would surely his perspective about life

With great acknowledgment to the blessings to God that I have been given the right outlook to see and treat these experiences , instead of indulging myself with negative thoughts that I on the onset of life am already beaten and a failure , the experience rather toughened me up . It toughened me up to bear on my shoulders the hardship of poverty and blows of the real world . I learned that there is no other recourse to me but to see these experiences as a challenge to my character these difficult and hard times are catalysts that could only shape and mold my character to become a better , stronger person . At the same time while I was enduring the bleak and overcast false promise of the future suggested by the experience , I learned how to remain positive about life and see that behind this gloomy face of reality there is on the other side of the situation the clear , beautiful facet of true life . As they say , there is a B-side to every story , and that B-side means a beautiful world . And for the duration of those difficult years of my life , this had always been my guiding philosophy about life

True to what I have believed then , there is indeed a B-side to everything , even to the darkest hour of one 's life . That Beautiful Life would come into reality when I migrated here in United States and began my true and pure formal education in campus . The campus life gave me the opportunity to trek a shortcut of what person I can become sooner or later considering my potential and experiences about life

Life has been beautiful for me ever since . With a toughened human spirit , I began to apply this character in every aspect of my campus life . Besides having reinforced that positive outlook in life by participating in school activities like sports , campus life has bestowed on me the opportunity to help and assist the others who are needy and losing the warrior spirit within them

Now that I am through with my undergraduate studies and inevitably forced to face the real world again , I want to go back to my first statement that based from what I learned in my short life , education does not stop in classrooms and universities . The world is virtually a huge classroom where real education happens and where real lessons can be learned . And this education about true life in general I have already learned since entering the campus life . Life for me then after my college years is just a continuation of the beautiful education I have started before entering the academic life

What good intention and aspiration it would be then to reinvigorate my human spirit than gaining ground to be included in your Fellowship program . For me there is no other better means of understanding the flights and situations of other in need people than by becoming on the forefront of studying them , knowing and learning their basic needs understanding their own aspirations and issues about life . By becoming a fellow in your program , my philosophy that the world is one huge classroom where life presents different colors about life , about people about different conflicting ideas on how to see reality and about various situations where the end results will always be better , clear insights on what life is really all about will be assimilated with what one can learn in a controlled , guided learning experience

There can be no better education than that if one would ask me . It is getting education straight from both worlds : the academic and the outside world . To go on further without flattery , this is education that can only lead to one 's development as an individual and as a part of the huge design of collective group which we call society . There can be no benefit that can be derived from it than self-enhancement and clear insights of the concrete real world that we all hope for will pave the way of reaching out a hand to the lowly and needy and thrust them upward to realize their own potentials as human beings and part of world called human race

It is therefore my humble intention to be considered and be given the chance to be part of your prestigious Senate Fellowship program which I am sure will help me develop and realize my full potential as an individual in to do service to my fellowmen (3 ) 1 page Policy Statement

Since the State of California is facing three demographics changes in the coming decades , particularly in the population growth , increasing diversity in younger age and increase of senior citizens , these changes in the make-up of the populace of the state can be addressed by the local government in three major endeavors , respectively for each change

Allocate 15 percent of the State 's fiscal earning each year for the promotion of the state as an attractive location for investors , both local and foreign , to accommodate the dire need to absorb the bulging workforce . Negotiate with real estate investors to come up with a plan to expand and build up more houses in to give proper shelter to the growing population . Put 2 of the promotion of its population control policies

Give 35 of the State 's budget for the construction and maintenance of public schools for younger people . Give educational grants to those young people who have shown great potential to be great leaders for the coming generation . Creation and constant application of policies that promote peaceful co-existence among growing multi-cultural ethic group to parry race discrimination and the like this can be done through well-though off plans where members of different cultural group can learn to deal with each other

Segregate 7 of State 's budget for the improvement of social services for the senior citizens ' needs . Create policy for tax incentives for nursing homes that give support to the elderly

These are basically the skeleton for the policies that would guide the State of California in addressing the changing demographic of the populace . Other detailed policies can be derived from this list of endeavor by the state

(4 ) 1 page Personal Statement

Before coming to United States from my origin of birth - Guatemala - I have faced the stark and harsh face of injustice . This kind of injustice is usually done to people who are under-privileged and poor family like us . I have to be stripped off of my basic rights for comfortable shelter and free education . Yet , this injustice done to me and my siblings has strengthened my character as a person and as an individual who knows that there is a lot within me that can be harness to lead me to a brighter , promising future

Faced at an early age with the dark countenance of injustice , it is not at all surprising of me to be interested in the discipline of Judicial processes . It is in the Judiciary system that people who are less in life can be given an equal footing vis-a-vis those who are well-off Knowing therefore the workings and the system of the Judiciary presents a favorable opportunity on my part to use everything that I can learn from it in understanding what are rightly for me and what are not

At the same time , all knowledge and wisdom that I can obtain from the program will be of useful tool for me in my obligation as a citizen of this great country to enlighten and help those who are lacking of information as to what they deserve under the laws of this land . There can be no other use for everything that I will learn in the program but to apply and disseminate it for those who are under-educated and under-privileged . These are basically the direct result of whatever I may gain in entering the program

I have talked to people who used to be part of the program and they are all in one in saying that there is nothing that can be gained in your Judicial Administration Fellowship Program but benefit for the development of the individual as a citizen of this country . I therefore asked for your consideration in giving me the chance to develop myself as a good member of society of this country and at the same time use the knowledge that will be imparted on me to help those who are needy and under-educated

(5 ) 2 pages A Policy Statement

What is the most appropriate boundary for the jurisdiction of a trial court : city , county or state ? Why

First and foremost the question of boundary of any trial court in any state under the country of United States is determined appropriately on the consideration of the dependant 's and petitioner 's proximity to the convenient court closest to them . This rule is only altered or fixed to suit the two parties in case there is a sufficient reason to apply the law elsewhere

Basically this is the major running philosophy as to the determinant of whether it is the city , county or state can hear the procedural hearing of the court . Under any normal circumstances , the trial court that will take hold of any case under its judicial wing is always considered by this factor : proximity and convenience of both parties to the territorial jurisdiction of a court

If any crime , felony is committed in a county and within that country is where both the parties of dependant and the petitioner resides then there is an automatic and logical assumption that the trial court that is appropriate to hold the hearing for the crime or felony committed will be there . It is very illogical and beyond normal consideration of common reason to hold the trial of the case in another county or city where the case did not happen and where the two warring parties are not conveniently near it

There are some circumstances when this rule is not followed though . Take for example if the dependant and the petitioner do not reside in the same county . The determinant to the jurisdiction of the trial court here first and foremost will be the court which is closest and convenient to the petitioner . Meanwhile , if the dependant will ask for his right for habeas corpus , this will be done by addressing the court nearest and convenient to him

If in some way , the crime is committed not in the place of resident of both the warring parties , then the place of the crime then will take hold of the jurisdiction to hold the trial within its boundary

Yet , the law is flexible in instances when there is sufficient evidence that proximity and convenience of the court nearest to both parties cannot be applied . The good reasons that can make this instance applicable is when the crime for example is of national interest or popular that there is a need to hold the judicial proceedings under a court not local for both parties . There are many example of this case that happened in the past and they are numerous to name here

Underlying philosophy behind this flexibility in terms of the jurisdiction of the trial court is seen under the light of protection for both the warring parties and at the same time considering also the interest of the State over the crime committed

It is safe therefore to conclude that the appropriate jurisdiction of a trial court is not determined by the location of the court and it is not even determined by segregating its function and territorial boundary by city , county or state . The law of the land and of the country , in particular the state , is flexible in terms as to the determination where the jurisdiction of the trial resides

The only thing that must be understood in this question and terms is that the law provides enough flexibility on what court should hold a trial in terms of the interest of the dependant , the petitioner and that of the interest of the people of the state . PAGE

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