Scholarship / Personal Statement for KGSP Undergrad '22- The inscrutability [of economics] is perhaps not unintent [2]

I know there is a lot missing but I need some feedback to know where I am going wrong. I have also done a finance based internship in a youth organisation of my country but didn't know how to incorporate it here so I left it Thank you :)

PERSONAL STATEMENT

"It has become a very strange and perhaps frightening subject from the ordinary point of view, but anyone who penetrates into it will find a veritable fairyland" (Kasner E and Newman J). This saying is perhaps the most fitted to describe my enthusiasm for Economics. One look at the world around us and we can instantly see how vital a role economics plays in every aspect of life. A fleeting glimpse of a newspaper headline or the core section of the evening news will tell you that economics influences nearly everything we do and think.

The subjects I have studied in high School, namely Political Science, Mathematics and Economics provide a good grounding in skills and knowledge in the career path I'm interested in. The study of economics and politics provides explanations and predictions, as well as more universal theories, which underlie human behaviour, as well as offering insight into the validity of the various political choices competing for our favour. The logic and ingenuity of Mathematics in solving problems strongly appeals to me, as it can clarify economic phenomena by deriving and testing models with data. Living in a time of immense economic uncertainty has sparked my curiosity to explain the rationale of consumers, firms and governments. I have pursued my interest in current economic affairs by reading Paul Krugman's online blog. My curiosity has driven me to question the Keynesian policies he advocates, and the contrasting fiscal austerity widely implemented today.

I would not discover my love for Economics if it were not for my teacher. Everyone has that one teacher that was their favourite because of how inspiring they were, or because they made the student look at things in a more positive way. Throughout my school experience, the most inspiring teacher to me was Ms. SS, who taught me economics from 9th to 12th grade. She is someone who is so excited about her subject that one would feel compelled to listen to her and get excited as well. She always tried to get us to form our own opinions and never wanted us to get into the habit of doing work only to please her. As someone with social anxiety and afraid of public speaking, she was the one who inspired me to crush my fears and move forward.

Outside academia, I have engaged myself in various extracurricular activities. I have attended International Mock Parliament twice- here I represented the Finance minister of YY- this required me to study various economic problems to their core and hence come up with viable solutions. I also take a keen interest in Debating which has given me a platform to make my voice heard and has helped me develop good public speaking skills. I have been part of the management team and many school events-these have taught me how to handle things under pressure and in an organized manner.

During my Internship at Company name this summer, I worked with an international team to develop a new initiative for Company name to incorporate. I engaged and communicated with a variety of international professionals and peers during workshops and virtual meetings. Since I'm interested in pursuing Research in the Future, this internship was particularly helpful since I was able to take the position of a research assistant in a project for the Yale Law School and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

YY, being a third world country is ridden by poverty and disease and from a young age I have attempted to make a difference in this by working with non-government organizations. Through my School, I was able to become a guide under the YY country's scouts asociation. I have used this experience and volunteered during COVID to supply books and other stationaries to disadvantaged children in city 1 and city 2. Later, working as Volunteer in Missionaries of Charity as an English teacher further strengthened my desire to help and educate those less fortunate than myself. These experiences cultivated my interest in Development Economics.

I, like many others, developed a strong interest of Korean Culture and Language through Korean Media. Reading Korean classic Book X cemented my interests in Korean Literature and Politics. I came across the term "Miracle on the Han River" in 2018 which made me discover how South Korea made itself a global innovation leader in the past century. Many studies attribute South Korea's structural transformation to policy reforms aimed at opening the country to foreign markets. By being able to study the South Korean economy, one can learn lessons which can be...(need to add more here)... South Korea has experienced one of the largest economic transformations of the past 60 years. It started as an agriculture-based economy in the 1960s, and it became the 11th largest economy in the world in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016.

I am currently a member of Youth YY-South Korea Forum. Our aim here is to strengthen ties between India and South Korea through Track II diplomacy.(should I add more here?).

Due to financial restraints I had to let go of opportunities through which I could strengthen my application further, namely SAT and IELTS exams because the fees are very high. I feel there's more to life than just test scores and I hope my work and research experience can demonstrate my passion. My family, consisting of my parents and my older sister besides me have given their most to uphold education in the family because they truly believe education is the tool to improve oneself. My family never had a lot, but we pooled our efforts together to make ends meet but it can only go so far.

I believe I have the intellectual curiosity and strength of character to be a successful undergraduate in my chosen area of study; I am determined to continue my education despite lacking finances. I hope to gain a thorough understanding of the way national economies interact and how local decisions can contribute towards a much more global and interconnected economic development.