Scholarship / I'm on my way to become that great food engineer I've always wanted [2]

Please guys, have a look on my personal statement and tell how i can make it better.

( Please provide a narrative statement discussing your professional, academic and future plans. It should not be a mere listing of facts.

attracted by different kind of food

Food is an essential element to the human being and no one can't survive without it. According to Dr. Maslow Hierarchy of Needs, Food is a part of "psychological needs" which is a basic need. But food isn't just a necessity, it is also one of our great source of pleasure. From children to adults, everyone appreciates food especially when it is delicious. Like Charles Pierre Monsolet said once, "Gastronomy is the joy of all ages".

From a young age, I have always like eating. I was attracted by those colorful candies, those chocolates I couldn't even afford but I knew delicious. I was always ready when it comes to food because it gives me pleasure. Growing up, I realize that Food isn't just about pleasure but more important than that. How could we recover from some minor illness by eating some foods but get sick by eating others? How could some food change when not eat on time? Because I didn't have answers for that questions, it aroused my curiosity and that's what first pushed me to the food sciences.

In high School, science was my favorite subject so at the end it was easy to choose a field related to it. I had been oriented towards medicine but instead I chose a bachelor's degree in food science and technology. At first it was a little complicated but I was finally able to convince my family that food science was just as important as medicine. Food Science is relevant to our everyday lives, and that's what makes it so interesting to me.

In 2011, I started my bachelor degree in food science and technology at ESTBA (University of Lomé). Since the old system at the university had just been replaced by the LMD system, there were some drawbacks for the courses and there was also a lack of practice. These factors led me to seek additional resources and to invest myself more. I had to work independently and ingeniously spending hours after classes working in the library and on the internet. This allowed me to have a better understanding of the food sciences and to answer the questions i asked myself. At the end, I learned more things outside of my training, especially with my experiences. The proof with my end of training internship where i really could put into practice what I had learned theoretically in class. Now I'm working in a food packaging society where I used to answer questions people ask themselves.

I think my work experience has been very productive in that it has allowed me to achieve some of my goals. I'm on my way to become that great food engineer I've always wanted to be so currently I aspire to do more, I am thirsty for new knowledge. I would like to be able thanks to this Master degree to help the other Togolese also to reach their objectives so that together we can bring the Togolese food industry to a higher level. I have worked hard to get here and I think it's not enough so I plan to do more in the future.

Scholarship / Food Technology and Packaging -Your study objectives for Fulbright application [4]

hi guys, Please have a look on my personal statement and study objectives for fulbright application. Any suggestions, advices and corrections to make me improve this is welcome. Thanks

Study Objectives for Master in Food Technology and Packaging

Togo is a country with a large agricultural population where agriculture accounts for about 38% of GDP. He has a rentier agriculture with a variety of products. Despite this agricultural wealth, only most foreign food products from other countries are found on the market. When you take a tour of the rural areas, you realize that there are resources but those if they are wasted. Fruits, vegetables, etc. that rot due to lack of conservation and processing. Faced to this situation, we have to wonder why the agri-food industry is so undeveloped and especially how can we fix it?

Holder of a Bachelor's degree in Food Science and Technology, this first university degree has given me foundations in the discipline. It allowed me to have a global approach in food science and i learned how to develop solutions to micro problems in food processing. At the end of my training, my internship at NIOTO, Togo's first oilseed processing industry allowed me to make the transition to the practical world. I had to work on the processes of transformation and their improvements and it really pleased me. The more I advanced, my desire to understand took the form of a passion.

After my internship, I started working as quality controller at white way, a company producing food packaging. As an important part of the production team, I was responsible for the management and complaints of the customers. I was able to discuss with many food processors. They want to know which kind of packaging they can use for the things they are producing so many of them often talk about the problems encountered. Thanks to this experience, I finally realized that our problem was much more a problem of lack of qualified people who can help people achieving their goals. People want to do well but knowledge is not present.

I would like to be able to do according to the definition of Claudia Roden who says "True gastronomy is making the most of what is available, however modest". Aware that to be effective in the realization of my future projects I will need a higher education, I would like to do a Master in Food Technology and Packaging. This master is in agreement with my training and my past experiences.

Through this Master, I want to gain a better understanding of the food sciences to help design safe products from available resources. I want to achieve personal development as a researcher and be able to provide simple and effective solutions to the technical problems that hinder the evolution of our agribusiness. I strongly believe that by pursuing a master's degree from a reputable graduate school in the United States, I will have the opportunity to truly understand and appreciate the competing interests and views surrounding Food sciences and the know-how of Americans in the matter.

Upon my return, with the strong background i will get, i would like to seek and employment in a Company working on foods process, a consulting firm or any other place I can put my newly acquired knowledge in practice.