Election night 2000 was a pivotal moment in my life. I stayed up all night on November 7, 2000, not because I was fascinated by the idea of watching the Florida flip-flop between Gore and Bush, but because I had an IV in my arm that made it impossible for me to feel comfortable. Early that evening I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a disease that affects 1 in 800 people in America. This was an especially pivotal time in my life, considering that I had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis — an autoimmune disease that attacks the gastrointestinal tract in 1 in 1,400 Americans — the previous June, and I had my Bar-Mitzvah in September. According to the Jewish religion, I had become an adult and as such I had decided to face my new medical challenges with gusto, trying to see the positive side from the beginning. I can't say I'm happy that I was a statistical anomaly of nature, but I am grateful for the opportunity to see from a young age how to turn a difficult situation into a positive one. After almost nine years, I return to this pivotal night in my life because it marked a change that still plays a role in my life now and will continue to shape me in the future. At just 13 years old I was discouraged by the thought of having to inject myself with needles every day. The confusion and anger I felt during the first months were intense. A coach at my middle school confided in me, telling me how his juvenile diabetes had a decisive role in making him a healthier and more aware adult. After the initial shock wore off, I volunteered with the Juvenile Diabetes Association and took a proactive role in helping children enduring the same emotional trauma learn to cope with our family burden. I have met newly diagnosed diabetic children, in a... middle of paper......technology productively will be the key to solving our environmental concerns. Being comfortable in technology, accompanied by my legal knowledge gained at Berkeley Law, I aim to have a positive impact on the upcoming environmental issues we will all face. I am particularly excited about the prospect of studying at Berkeley in the environmental department. The certificate you offer for Green Technology is particularly interesting to me, it appears to be a unique program that will train its graduates in what I consider to be the correct approach to addressing our environmental issues, technology. This certificate and the CLEE research center are one of the main reasons I appreciate Berkeley. I look forward to the opportunity to study within a historic environmental law department, along with its location, which allows the department to connect with the vibrant and cutting-edge local community.
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