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My degree and community - Mastercard Foundation Scholars application essays. [4]
STUDY AND CAREER OBJECTIVES
It will be a pleasure to change the face of agriculture in Nigeria. I will be especially pleased to see my people get access to quality food and water supplies that are well protected, and goo for their health.
The king of water that my people drink and the quality of the food they eat gives me lots of concerns. This explains why I want to be an Agricultural Engineer so that I can help protect the numerous underground water supplies available in my community and to also ensure that foods of good qualities are available to my countrymen.
In addition, the devastating nature of the environment in my community does not appeal to me. To this, I want to provide a solution; I want to see my people live in a safe environment therewith live longer life in good health.
HOW MY DEGREE WILL BENEFIT MY COMMUNITY
Nigeria, the most populous black nation, is blessed with a great deal of natural resources including fertile lands. It will not be mistake to describe her as the land that flows with milk and honey, as her oil bank seems inexhaustible, and her farm produce can only admired. In addition, Nigeria boasts of a vast human resources. She possibly has all that it takes to be among the world's greatest economies but little things deny her this honour.
It's disheartening to discover the quality of the foods eaten by a larger portion of the masses in a country of Nigeria's calibre. I mean am always moved when I see people feeding on different substandard foods in my beloved country. The most disturbing issues on my mind being that Nigeria can actually produce the best of quality foods in the world, give her abundant natural resources and fertile lands, not forgetting her wealth of human resources.
Furthermore, the rate of environmental pollution in the country is alarming. The wild life and even humans, not to mention crops are constantly exposed to hazardous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, the excessive accumulation of which may result in serious disorders of vital organs in the body.
With a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Engineering, I will be empowered to provide protection for Nigeria's surface and underground water in the little areas that I can. I will be in a better position to contribute to the quality of foods produced in the country, and even the quantity as well, thereby possibly ending or seriously reducing the rate of food importation in my dear nation. I also hope to organize symposia to enlighten the general public on the implications of environmental pollution in contrast to the comforts denied from a clean environment. The areas of crop science I hope to pay more attention to in order to ensure that Nigerian farmers produce food enough for their family's consumptions. This achieved, they will be able to sell whatever excesses they have to others thereby help in reducing the rate of importation of agricultural produce.
Conclusively, achieving a Bachelor's degree in a school like the Arizona State University will doubtlessly empower me to incisively make my statement in my community. It would equip me to render my candid support to her. The way I perform my obligation to her will be bolstered, and I will be released to show the depth of my patriotism to my country Nigeria. And finally, the Master Card Foundation Scholars Program at ASU will never regret giving me a chance. So help me God.
AN EXPERIENCE WHEN MY ACADEMIC TALENTS AND CREATIVITY HELPED SOMEONE IN MY COMMUNITY.
People are definitely different in their own ways. While some are caring, others seem not to care about what goes on around them. In addition, some people seem to derive a kind of satisfaction in helping others, while some others feel that helping people will reduce their chances of becoming great individuals.
I believe in rendering selfless service to humanity, and I get an explicable sensation of joy whenever I do so. This accounts for the reason why I have many friends; as lots of people say that I act like a father to all, consequently, they are encouraged to come closer to me. Maybe, the person that benefited most from this quality of mine is Matthew. I met him in my grade 7 when he was struggling to prove a point of academically in the Junior Secondary School Pasali (JSS Pasali). He was the class captain, and could not hide his desire for my academic prowess, but found it difficult to come to me, as he was shy. Through observation and inference. I was able to decipher what his problem was, and did not hesitate in making friends with him.
As our friendship grew stronger, he began to understand things he never really understood about me, and made no secrets of his desire to have me tutor him academically so that his grades would improve. On my own part, I love sharing my knowledge as I believe that by so doing, I will get better and have more insight in that field. Therefore, I gladly stated my new assignment and was always encouraged by Matthew's teachability.
Though the desired results did not come immediately, we were both excited when he came second in the class after some time. He couldn't have wished for a better performance as we were all in the same class, and indeed this helped us develop a stronger sense of camaraderie. Interestingly, his parents saw this as an auspicious sign for our friendship, and therefore gave us their blessings. This gave us the impetus to study together most times even at night, and our hard works were always reflected after the examination.
Today, he tells me that I am the reason why he is still in school because according to him, he believed that some people were created to be stupid and as such considered himself one. But was forced to change his perception when I constantly told him that he can be the best in anything he is determined to do. More so, he helped me become a better student as I always had to study ahead in order to have what to teach him, and not just that, he forced me to study deeply and widely, which are producing great results in my studies today.
STATEMENT OF FIVE YEAR COUNTRY CHANGE AND HOW I HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CHANGE.
It has been five years after my graduation from the Arisona State University as a Mastercard Scholar, and things have greatly changed both in my country and in my community especially. At least, the community boast of having access to protected water supplies that everybody trusts, and this well complements the quality food produced by the farmers who are now more enlightened and as such operate on a commercial basis.
On the other hand, I have been able to convince the natives to dispose their refuse properly so as to maintain a serene environment. More importantly, my team of volunteers have been able to talk most producers into recycling used products such as cans, and this as well contributed to the cleanliness of the community.
Furthermore, more job opportunities have been created in Agriculture since its evolution from merely a subsistence custom to a more profit oriented commercial agriculture. This has pulled many youths into the profession, and ultimately reduced the level of importation of agricultural produce. More interestingly, it is not just an improvement in quantity but in quality as well, which explains why Nigeria's exports are hot prospects in the markets. Probably, the most important effect of the youths interest in Agriculture is the fact that rural urban migration has significantly reduced in my community, and the farmers continual rise in demand of electricity and good roads has brought about development to the community.
It is also important to note how the activities of burglars have greatly reduced as a result of the suspected culprits finding comfort in the now environs commercial agriculture. This has not only helped the community, but the country as well as the percentage of unemployed youths has-declined thereby contributing to the rise in value of the country's income per head. This unabated influx of the youths into agriculture has as well opened up a way for the younger ones to have access to quality education as the money realised from these business enterprises has been re-invested into the lives of these future leaders.
Finally, I have nothing to regret, but have every reason to celebrate the development that has come to my community, even as I hope that more good things continue to come as I and my team of volunteers continue to work tirelessly to ensure that Nigeria realises her full potential.
DESCRIBE THE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE YOU BRING TO ASU AND HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ASU COMMUNITY
Leadership is paramount to the development of any group, community or country. This is why the choice of leaders is usually give much deserved attention as the success of the led to a great extent depends on the decisions of the ruler.
I believe that my name, Moses has not been a fluke as it seems the great leadership acumen of the Isrealie Moses who is widely known for his great achievements in leadership has rubbed off on me. It might interest you to know that I have virtually served as a leader in all the institutions that I have passed through so far. Starting from my primary school to my secondary school days, and even in the church, fellowships, clubs and societies, I have held one post of responsibility or the other.
I can remember vividly that right from my grade 7 to grade 12, I served as the class captain. More so, I have served as the president of the Young Farmers Club, the president of the SAGE Club, vice president Fellowship of Christian Students (F.C.S), Evangelism Secretary F.C.S, Captain Kayarda House Sports team, Captain Niger House sports team, Assistant Labour Prefect, Labour Prefect, Health Prefect, and worked in the Sunday school some time ago. These great offices provided me with priceless experiences that culminated in making me who I am today.
Furthermore, my involvement in these posts of responsibility provided a platform for me to meet and worked with people different orientations. And this has irrevocably bolstered the way I relate with people especially those from different backgrounds as mine. Notably, I used to find it difficult to work with people I feel are lazy and stubborn, but my engagement in the SAGE club opened my eyes to better ways of relating to such individuals so as to help them improve, and those principles have failed me thus far. I learnt how to resuscitate seemingly weak members of a team during my active days in the evangelism unit. The truth remains that I learnt one or two things in each of the office that I was privileged to occupy.
Talking about Arizona State University (ASU), I will not be a minnow in terms of leadership and experiences, though I know that the school parades high class students. Therefore, I can assure that I have great leadership experiences that will doubtlessly contribute to the overall richness of the school community. More importantly my maturity and resilience will add more glamour to ASU's already glamorous community. Laconically, I am convinced that I will enhance the cordial relationship of the ASU community as well as enliven the whole campus with my enigmatic charisma.