I live on Long Island, just outside New York City, and I go into the city often. Cities like this only exist because of laws and rules that guide how people interact, protect rights, and let so many of us work together safely. Laws make it possible for people to live, trade, and cooperate on a massive scale. For example, property laws determine who owns what and how land can be used, contract laws ensure that agreements are enforceable, labor laws protect workers’ rights, and traffic laws keep people safe on the roads. All of these rules help ensure that markets run smoothly, encourage innovation, and hold individuals and institutions accountable for their actions.

My interest in rules and systems, whether in figure skating, Formula 1, or the legal system in Ukraine ,comes from the same curiosity: how can rules create fairness, safety, and order? Just as sports regulations and traffic laws maintain order and protect people, societal laws coordinate the lives of millions, balancing individual freedom with the needs of the broader community. For example, tax laws fund public services like schools and hospitals, criminal laws protect citizens from harm, and environmental regulations ensure communities are safe and sustainable, all while balancing individual freedom with the needs of the broader community.

Learning about these systems has shown me how much law shapes the way people live and interact on a day to day basis. Laws provide the structure that keeps communities functioning, protects people, and ensures fairness. Understanding this motivates me to get involved; whether through studying law in school, seeking out internships in the courts, participating in debate and mock trials, or volunteering with organizations that focus on legal advocacy and policy. I want to work toward improving the rules that guide society so communities can be safer, fairer, and stronger.