Graduate / "to bring representation of my Filipino culture to OIG" - personal history statement [3]

Ok, so I think I've polished my personal history a bit more (with some help) and I'd like to ask for some feedback on the entire essay.

PERSONAL HISTORY

While working at a veterinary office, I had the opportunity to assist the veterinarian in a necropsy of a large Rottweiler. Once the procedure was underway, and I was elbow deep in the chest of the dog, I found myself pondering why I was in this situation. I had to know why this dog had passed away. I couldn't turn away from the desire to find out. If there is one question that has plagued me throughout my adult life, it is the question of why.

My education and work history is quite eclectic. I have worked or interned in several different industries, and I have approached every position with ardor. In each field of employment I've maintained, the question of why has driven my passion. In addition to my time working in the veterinary field, I have also held positions with the San Francisco District Attorney's office at the Consumer Protection Department, and the Social Security Administration.

I started at the veterinary hospital as a client service representative, and worked closely with the doctors assisting whenever I could. My drive and curiosity quickly impressed my employers, and before long I was asked to begin training as a veterinary technician. I eagerly accepted the new position, and jumped into my new duties with enthusiasm. Trying to determine why an animal is hurt or ill can be challenging, especially considering they cannot vocalize their ailment or symptoms. I learned that not all questions can be answered simply by asking, and that conducting my own study was a necessity.

At the consumer protection agency I acted as a mediator, and would investigate the complaints of consumers against various businesses. In this position I was required to research case law along with the history of the companies in order to mediate a decision that was amicable to both parties. Mediation involves numerous steps, and each is a vital piece of reaching a resolution. It was my responsibility to discover the reason for the dispute, and determine if the complaint was legitimate. My duties also included determining a course of action, and insuring both parties would come together to resolve the issue.

My current position is with the Social Security Administration, and this employment opportunity has been the most challenging I have undertaken. The vast and ever-changing policies and procedures the Social Security Administration incorporates require that I remain constantly updated on the newest and most pertinent information. Almost every client I deal with has questions that necessitate detailed knowledge of the policies related to their unique cases. The client's individual benefits, income, and living arrangements can augment the complexity of each case, and it is my job to delve through the massive amounts of information in order to explain or change the record whenever necessary.

At first glance, these jobs do not appear to have much in common, but they all forced me to strive to solve the mystery of why. After a recent self-evaluation, I discovered this link in my job history, and have decided to pursue a career as an investigator with the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General (OIG).

SSA has always believed in and encouraged diversity, as shown by the 70% female workforce boasted by SSA. However, if we examine the department of OIG and it's senior staff one can see that the ratio of men to women is 5:2 and none are of Asian or Pacific Islander descent. The OIG Semi Annual Report to Congress (Fall 2010) also lists their efforts to increase diversity, but their most recent increases to minorities were all male hires. The Spring 2010 report reveals the increases in the Hispanic and Black employees represented in both genders, but the Pacific Islander minority was only increased by male hires. This disparity within the agency brings me back to that ever present question, why? I hope to answer this question by bringing representation of my Filipina culture to OIG. I believe I can contribute a unique prospective to the department as well as the agency as a whole.