Hello! I'm working on my personal statement for a graduate program in AI related field, and I'd be grateful if someone could review my draft. I'm mainly looking for feedback on coherence, structure, and whether the narrative feels clear. Any suggestions would be a huge help. Thank you in advance!
My parents separated when I was only four years old, and from a very young age I learned to navigate two very different realities. Both my mother and father came from poor families. My mother grew up in a small rural town and never had the opportunity to continue her education, while my father lost his mother at the age of nine and was raised by his father alongside two siblings. Despite these hardships, he managed to complete his studies, which allowed him to achieve a more stable and comfortable life. Growing up between these two contrasting worlds showed me early on how transformative education can be. Both my parents experienced struggle, but only one had the opportunity to reshape his reality through knowledge. That realization became a core part of my identity and convinced me that education is the key to building a better future.
Within this context, my parents unknowingly made a decision that would change the trajectory of my life: they enrolled me in English classes when I was around nine or ten years old. At the time, I did not understand the long-term impact it would have, but through those early lessons, my world began to expand. Until then, my reality was limited to my immediate surroundings, yet learning a second language opened a window into cultures, ideas, and possibilities far beyond what I had imagined. As my English improved, so did my curiosity about the world. A few years later, I traveled for the first time to the United States with my father, an experience that profoundly shaped me. Even with limited English, I realized I could communicate, connect, and navigate daily life. Seeing, hearing, and experiencing a new reality firsthand sparked a deep desire to one day live abroad and learn from different cultures.
At seventeen, that childhood dream briefly became reality. I spent a month living with a host family in San Diego, studying English at a local school. Unlike my first trip, my English was stronger, giving me the confidence to fully immerse myself. The real challenge was living independently for the first time-managing my own schedule, adapting to new routines, and learning to coexist with people from different cultural backgrounds. Navigating unfamiliar environments without my parents taught me responsibility, maturity, and empathy. It was during this time that I truly understood how stepping outside one's comfort zone can broaden one's perspective and shape one's character.
After finishing high school, despite pressure from my father to pursue engineering, I enrolled in Economics at PUC-Rio. In Brazil, students typically enter university through the ENEM exam, similar to Korea's 수능, and PUC-Rio is widely regarded as one of the best private institutions for Economics. At the time, it felt like a compromise between my own interests and my father's expectations. However, once I began my studies, it became clear that the field did not resonate with me. Although I was interested in understanding global markets, I could not imagine myself building a future in that area.
Throughout my life, I had always been closely connected to technology through curiosity, personal projects, or simply exploring new tools on my own. During my time in Economics, this connection only intensified. I began teaching myself programming at home, building small applications and discovering how naturally and enthusiastically I engaged with the process. I realized that my professional path needed to align with what genuinely excited me. After two semesters, I made the difficult decision to step away from the program and pursue Information Systems instead a choice that marked a turning point in my life. It felt like the first time I was truly listening to myself.
My father made it clear he would not fund a second attempt at a private university. If I truly wanted to change paths, I would have to earn a place at a federal institution, among the most competitive in the country. Instead of discouraging me, this strengthened my resolve. While preparing intensely for the ENEM, I discovered the Global Korea Scholarship for the first time. It gave me a clear vision of a future that united my personal growth, my academic goals, and that childhood dream of living abroad. It felt as if the ten-year-old version of myself the boy who once stared curiously at the world beyond his own-had finally found a real, concrete path toward the future he imagined. Later that year, I was accepted into the Information Systems program at Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), one of Brazil's leading federal institutions.
While awaiting my exam results, I immersed myself in learning Korean and exploring the country's culture, history, and values. Studying the language reminded me of my younger self learning English for the first time, discovering that the world was much bigger than I had realized. What inspired me most was learning how Korea transformed itself from a country devastated by war into one of the world's leading technological powers. Understanding that this transformation was driven by education, discipline, and a collective commitment to progress made me admire the country even more and strengthened my desire to build my future there.
By the end of my first semester at UFF, a senior student gave a lecture about the programming job market and announced that he was seeking volunteers for a project developing a shift-management system for nurses at our university hospital. I volunteered immediately. I wanted hands-on experience with building something meaningful for society and learning how real-world development worked. Unfortunately, the project did not move forward due to unforeseen issues, but it became my first experience as a "real programmer." Even without completion, it deepened my passion for technology and confirmed that I had chosen the right path.
As I progressed through my undergraduate studies, always with GKS in mind, I wanted to be certain that Korea was truly the right place for me. So, during my school vacation, I made the decision to visit the country myself. In July 2022, I spent a month in Korea a trip that felt deeply meaningful. After years of imagining what life there might feel like, I finally walked the streets I had only seen online, heard the language around me, and experienced the culture firsthand. For the first time, the future I dreamed of no longer felt distant; it felt tangible and within reach.
After that first trip to Korea and still during my undergraduate years, I had the opportunity to travel to South Korea other times. In total, I visited the country five times, including a three-month stay. Throughout these trips, I explored cities such as 부산, 수원, 안산, 인천, 서울, 경주, 춘천, 강릉, and 태백. Experiencing daily life, speaking the language, and learning more about Korea's history and culture firsthand helped me grow both personally and academically. These visits reinforced my conviction that Korea was not just a place I admired from afar but a country where I genuinely felt connected and envisioned myself building a future.
Alongside these experiences abroad, my academic journey was equally demanding and transformative. In the fourth semester, I began my first internship at a company that developed software solutions for investment fund managers. As part of my role, I was challenged to obtain the CPA-20 certification, a requirement for professionals in Brazil's financial market. Balancing university work, the intensity of a first professional experience, and the demanding certification exam was one of the hardest periods of my degree. Yet, it taught me resilience, discipline, and how to perform under pressure. I succeeded in earning the certification while maintaining strong academic performance.
During the sixth and seventh semesters, I pursued a second internship with a clear goal in mind: to deepen my technical expertise and work with new technologies. This experience expanded my skills and prepared me for the next step in my career. In my final semester, I secured my first formal job in the field, which brought new challenges managing full-time work while completing my degree. Despite the demanding schedule, I stayed committed to both responsibilities. I completed my undergraduate program successfully and received a grade of 10 on my thesis. My advisor was highly impressed with the project and encouraged me to develop it further into a research article. We are currently in the process of preparing that paper for publication.
Throughout my undergraduate journey, I consistently researched universities in Korea where I hoped to pursue graduate studies, especially in fields related to artificial intelligence. Among all the institutions I explored, Hanyang University ERICA stood out from the very beginning. Its industry-oriented curriculum, strong research groups, and commitment to innovation aligned perfectly with the direction I want to follow.
My motivation to study AI is rooted in a simple belief: artificial intelligence is not just another technological trend it is the future of the world. Today, AI is the most exciting and transformative field in technology, reshaping industries, enhancing public services, and redefining how societies solve complex problems. What fascinates me most is its ability to combine rigorous mathematics, creativity, and real-world impact. I want to be part of this movement and contribute to solutions that improve quality of life, expand access to technology, and address critical challenges in both Korea and Brazil.
In early 2025, during my most recent visit to Korea, I had the opportunity to visit Hanyang University ERICA's campus in person. Walking through its facilities, seeing the laboratories, and observing how students and researchers actively work on real-world applications of AI was a transformative moment for me. I was truly mesmerized not only by the campus itself, but by the atmosphere of innovation and purpose that surrounded it. That visit confirmed what I had long felt: ERICA is exactly the academic environment where I can grow, contribute, and build the foundation for the professional I aspire to become.
Looking back, every step of my journey from my childhood experiences, to discovering my passion for technology, to the challenges I faced during university shaped who I am today. The long nights balancing work and studies, the excitement of learning new languages, the independence I gained while living abroad, and the countless moments of growth throughout my travels to Korea all became part of a path I never could have predicted when I was younger. What I carry from these experiences is a deep sense of gratitude and determination. They taught me resilience, curiosity, and the importance of always pursuing what feels meaningful and true to who I am. More than anything, they showed me that even the most distant dreams become real when we keep moving forward with purpose and sincerity.
My parents separated when I was only four years old, and from a very young age I learned to navigate two very different realities. Both my mother and father came from poor families. My mother grew up in a small rural town and never had the opportunity to continue her education, while my father lost his mother at the age of nine and was raised by his father alongside two siblings. Despite these hardships, he managed to complete his studies, which allowed him to achieve a more stable and comfortable life. Growing up between these two contrasting worlds showed me early on how transformative education can be. Both my parents experienced struggle, but only one had the opportunity to reshape his reality through knowledge. That realization became a core part of my identity and convinced me that education is the key to building a better future.
Within this context, my parents unknowingly made a decision that would change the trajectory of my life: they enrolled me in English classes when I was around nine or ten years old. At the time, I did not understand the long-term impact it would have, but through those early lessons, my world began to expand. Until then, my reality was limited to my immediate surroundings, yet learning a second language opened a window into cultures, ideas, and possibilities far beyond what I had imagined. As my English improved, so did my curiosity about the world. A few years later, I traveled for the first time to the United States with my father, an experience that profoundly shaped me. Even with limited English, I realized I could communicate, connect, and navigate daily life. Seeing, hearing, and experiencing a new reality firsthand sparked a deep desire to one day live abroad and learn from different cultures.
At seventeen, that childhood dream briefly became reality. I spent a month living with a host family in San Diego, studying English at a local school. Unlike my first trip, my English was stronger, giving me the confidence to fully immerse myself. The real challenge was living independently for the first time-managing my own schedule, adapting to new routines, and learning to coexist with people from different cultural backgrounds. Navigating unfamiliar environments without my parents taught me responsibility, maturity, and empathy. It was during this time that I truly understood how stepping outside one's comfort zone can broaden one's perspective and shape one's character.
After finishing high school, despite pressure from my father to pursue engineering, I enrolled in Economics at PUC-Rio. In Brazil, students typically enter university through the ENEM exam, similar to Korea's 수능, and PUC-Rio is widely regarded as one of the best private institutions for Economics. At the time, it felt like a compromise between my own interests and my father's expectations. However, once I began my studies, it became clear that the field did not resonate with me. Although I was interested in understanding global markets, I could not imagine myself building a future in that area.
Throughout my life, I had always been closely connected to technology through curiosity, personal projects, or simply exploring new tools on my own. During my time in Economics, this connection only intensified. I began teaching myself programming at home, building small applications and discovering how naturally and enthusiastically I engaged with the process. I realized that my professional path needed to align with what genuinely excited me. After two semesters, I made the difficult decision to step away from the program and pursue Information Systems instead a choice that marked a turning point in my life. It felt like the first time I was truly listening to myself.
My father made it clear he would not fund a second attempt at a private university. If I truly wanted to change paths, I would have to earn a place at a federal institution, among the most competitive in the country. Instead of discouraging me, this strengthened my resolve. While preparing intensely for the ENEM, I discovered the Global Korea Scholarship for the first time. It gave me a clear vision of a future that united my personal growth, my academic goals, and that childhood dream of living abroad. It felt as if the ten-year-old version of myself the boy who once stared curiously at the world beyond his own-had finally found a real, concrete path toward the future he imagined. Later that year, I was accepted into the Information Systems program at Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), one of Brazil's leading federal institutions.
While awaiting my exam results, I immersed myself in learning Korean and exploring the country's culture, history, and values. Studying the language reminded me of my younger self learning English for the first time, discovering that the world was much bigger than I had realized. What inspired me most was learning how Korea transformed itself from a country devastated by war into one of the world's leading technological powers. Understanding that this transformation was driven by education, discipline, and a collective commitment to progress made me admire the country even more and strengthened my desire to build my future there.
By the end of my first semester at UFF, a senior student gave a lecture about the programming job market and announced that he was seeking volunteers for a project developing a shift-management system for nurses at our university hospital. I volunteered immediately. I wanted hands-on experience with building something meaningful for society and learning how real-world development worked. Unfortunately, the project did not move forward due to unforeseen issues, but it became my first experience as a "real programmer." Even without completion, it deepened my passion for technology and confirmed that I had chosen the right path.
As I progressed through my undergraduate studies, always with GKS in mind, I wanted to be certain that Korea was truly the right place for me. So, during my school vacation, I made the decision to visit the country myself. In July 2022, I spent a month in Korea a trip that felt deeply meaningful. After years of imagining what life there might feel like, I finally walked the streets I had only seen online, heard the language around me, and experienced the culture firsthand. For the first time, the future I dreamed of no longer felt distant; it felt tangible and within reach.
After that first trip to Korea and still during my undergraduate years, I had the opportunity to travel to South Korea other times. In total, I visited the country five times, including a three-month stay. Throughout these trips, I explored cities such as 부산, 수원, 안산, 인천, 서울, 경주, 춘천, 강릉, and 태백. Experiencing daily life, speaking the language, and learning more about Korea's history and culture firsthand helped me grow both personally and academically. These visits reinforced my conviction that Korea was not just a place I admired from afar but a country where I genuinely felt connected and envisioned myself building a future.
Alongside these experiences abroad, my academic journey was equally demanding and transformative. In the fourth semester, I began my first internship at a company that developed software solutions for investment fund managers. As part of my role, I was challenged to obtain the CPA-20 certification, a requirement for professionals in Brazil's financial market. Balancing university work, the intensity of a first professional experience, and the demanding certification exam was one of the hardest periods of my degree. Yet, it taught me resilience, discipline, and how to perform under pressure. I succeeded in earning the certification while maintaining strong academic performance.
During the sixth and seventh semesters, I pursued a second internship with a clear goal in mind: to deepen my technical expertise and work with new technologies. This experience expanded my skills and prepared me for the next step in my career. In my final semester, I secured my first formal job in the field, which brought new challenges managing full-time work while completing my degree. Despite the demanding schedule, I stayed committed to both responsibilities. I completed my undergraduate program successfully and received a grade of 10 on my thesis. My advisor was highly impressed with the project and encouraged me to develop it further into a research article. We are currently in the process of preparing that paper for publication.
Throughout my undergraduate journey, I consistently researched universities in Korea where I hoped to pursue graduate studies, especially in fields related to artificial intelligence. Among all the institutions I explored, Hanyang University ERICA stood out from the very beginning. Its industry-oriented curriculum, strong research groups, and commitment to innovation aligned perfectly with the direction I want to follow.
My motivation to study AI is rooted in a simple belief: artificial intelligence is not just another technological trend it is the future of the world. Today, AI is the most exciting and transformative field in technology, reshaping industries, enhancing public services, and redefining how societies solve complex problems. What fascinates me most is its ability to combine rigorous mathematics, creativity, and real-world impact. I want to be part of this movement and contribute to solutions that improve quality of life, expand access to technology, and address critical challenges in both Korea and Brazil.
In early 2025, during my most recent visit to Korea, I had the opportunity to visit Hanyang University ERICA's campus in person. Walking through its facilities, seeing the laboratories, and observing how students and researchers actively work on real-world applications of AI was a transformative moment for me. I was truly mesmerized not only by the campus itself, but by the atmosphere of innovation and purpose that surrounded it. That visit confirmed what I had long felt: ERICA is exactly the academic environment where I can grow, contribute, and build the foundation for the professional I aspire to become.
Looking back, every step of my journey from my childhood experiences, to discovering my passion for technology, to the challenges I faced during university shaped who I am today. The long nights balancing work and studies, the excitement of learning new languages, the independence I gained while living abroad, and the countless moments of growth throughout my travels to Korea all became part of a path I never could have predicted when I was younger. What I carry from these experiences is a deep sense of gratitude and determination. They taught me resilience, curiosity, and the importance of always pursuing what feels meaningful and true to who I am. More than anything, they showed me that even the most distant dreams become real when we keep moving forward with purpose and sincerity.
