Graduate / GKS-G Korean Scholarship | Personal Statement | M.S. Public Policy (Environment/Green Development) [3]

Greetings EssayForum,

I wanted to throw this out there for your review and help! This is for the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP), also known as the Korean Government Scholarship (GKS) Program at the Graduate Level.

The personal statement is asking for the following:

- Motivations with which you apply for this program
- Family and Education background
- Significant experiences you have had; risks you have taken and achievements you have made,
persons or events that have had a significant influence on you
- Extracurricular activities such as club activities, community service activities or work experiences
- If applicable, describe awards you have received, publications you have made, or skills you have acquired, etc.

1 Page in length. Single-spaced, Times New Roman.

Global warming is going to cause the end of the world as we know it.

I wrote that line as a concrete sentence because I truly believe that to be the case. The scientifically supported 'sirens' are growing increasingly louder, sounding that humanity is rapidly approaching a point of no return, and that something must be done. We must reduce our pollution emissions. We must engage in sustainable practices. We must change the way we live. Because if we don't, there won't be a future left for us.

However, we are not out of time. Not just yet. Another statement, or in this case, an adage, that I believe in is that "knowledge is power." That knowledge is the key to resolving this global warming issue, and is an adage that I strive and use great effort to embody in as many aspects of my life as possible.

The origin of that effort would be attributed to my parents - both were born and raised here in South Korea, and both made significant efforts to make me, a then-unruly child, understand the value, importance, and significance of developing both knowledge and wisdom. I was pushed at a very young age to attend Math and English academies while my friends were outside playing - an experience I distinctly recall to have resented, heavily so. As a child, I didn't understand why I was pushed so hard to study, but as an adult, I understand now. However, even at 34 years old, I am fully aware I still have much to learn and that I will likely never reach a level where I will be satisfied, but I have also experienced firsthand at the benefits that being equipped with appropriate information and experience can bring to any given situation.

I attended and completed four different higher education programs, two of which were directly in the computer science field, and the other two out of personal interest (culinary management) and professional development (business management). While they may seem opposing or irrelevant to one another, they are definitely relevant to me. Culinary management is used most often in my personal life, and I enjoy employing the skills and knowledge gained there to make edible goods that bring a smile to my friends and peers. The computer science and business management knowledge has served to be invaluable in my current position within the private sector, and my most meaningful and longest experience at the ***** - both positions were not directly related to IT, but employed IT aspects. Technology will continue to evolve as time goes on, and I believe that my prior education in combination with my pursuit of Public Policy at the ***** can only work in synergy with one another. For example, it is one thing to understand the fundamentals and theories of Cost-Benefit Analysis for *****, an actual course offered at the *****, on an academic level, but it is another thing to combine that understanding with real programming and database skills to employ the entire concept at a direct and practical level.

One of my crowning achievements during my time in Korea is represented by my final year at the ***** - I had won an Award of Commendation from the Minister of Education in recognition for my contributions made towards the development of English education in this country. This was definitely not a solo effort, however. I am the sum of my past experiences, and I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for the people who shared their knowledge and placed their trust in me. Coming to Korea in 2009 was a major challenge for me due to a lack of reasonable Korean ability, no understanding of my heritage culture, and the immersion in a society, culture, way of life, and people that were, for all intents and purposes, foreign to me. However, through that experience, and through the support of my former school, my community in *****, and the *****, I learned very well the importance and power of education, and especially at my time at the *****, I had the ability to play a direct role in impacting the quality of that education over the almost 6 years there. As I am the sum of my past experiences, I recognize that the students will become the sum of theirs. I wanted to make sure they got the best I could give them, and if that meant doing my best to *****, I definitely wanted to work towards that end.

Now, I want to bring that dedication towards taking steps against climate change.