'Cultivating a passion for helping and serving people' - Personal Statement for graduate MPA Program

The Prompt:
500 word letter of intent explaining reasons for pursuing the MPA; how their educational experience has prepared them for the MPA program, and how the degree will help the applicant achieve his or her goals

The Essay:

Every decision, every choice, every action and non action serves as a stepping stone in how we create and live our lives. For me, my actions led to cultivating a passion for helping and serving people.

I was born the oldest in a first generation household and I was taught from a young age that hard work could get you anything. It was also instilled in me that the opportunities was something shouldn't take for granted. I studied hard, got good grades and became involved with clubs and extracurricular activities. It was then that my passion began to blossom. My freshman year of high school, I became the inaugural president of SHAPE (Students Helping Achieve Philanthropic Excellence), a philanthropic club that provided students with the resources and platform to learn skills in fundraising and working along with local government agencies and non-profit organizations. I remember that being a pivotal moment in my high school career and served as a gateway to the many other opportunities that came in my schooling and even post graduate decisions.

My hard work payed off and and I got accepted into my choice of colleges. I decided stay close to home and remain involved in service. Recalling the time and enjoyment I had in SHAPE, I sought something similar as a collegiate student. Not finding anything, I reached out to the organization and speared headed an alumni chapter for likeminded individuals looking to continue their work in the Public Sector. In addition to the alumni chapter, I also joined a service ingrained Sorority which was dedicated to raising awareness of Domestic Violence and creating "Real. Strong. Women." I held leadership positions creating service projects and public awareness across campus with the skills learned in my studies as a Public Relation major. I was able to connect my Public Relation courses to my passion by creating stronger media presence public awareness through means of traditional print and immerging social media platforms in a variety of markets. After four years, I received my degree in Public Relations with a minor Psychology.

While obtaining my Master's degree I intend to specialize my degree with a non-profit concentration. I would like to continue to deepen my understanding of the non-profit world and how to become a more effective and efficient leader. I would like to strengthen the unique relationship between Public Relations and Public Administration I used during my undergraduate career.

I would like complete my degree at UTSA because of it nationally ranked Public Administration program and the on-going research in both Public Administration theory and the specificity in Public policy formulation in the civil rights field.

After completing my degree, I intend to continue my education and cultivate my passion by obtaining a juris degree with a concentration in the public sector.

It was because the urging from my parents I took advantage of the opportunities in front of me, it was because decided to get involved in high school I earned about the non-profit world. It will be because of my time and education at UTSA that I will continue my service in the Public Sector and philanthropic endeavors.

Any edits or suggestions please and thanks!