I hope to become a passionate person who will take part in the Global UGRAD Program.

Requirement:
The Global UGRAD Program is for young leaders committed to serving their home communities.

Why would you be a great participant in the global UGRAD Program?

While almost all lifelong dream is to conquer the highest mountain, I would prefer to spend my youth roaming on all the hillsides. Instead of trying my best to become a master in a certain field, I always desire to be knowledgeable about various aspects of life. I did believe that this mindset could help me to be a well-rounded individual, but actually not, I got lost.

I am an only child. I am the one that received all of my parent's care and attention. I was well-qualified to pass gloriously all of my dreaming - school entrance test. And I had to shoulder many expectations. Due to these things, I was in the habit of following others' arrangements or social trends. Gradually, I could not define my own life goal and then lost all my motivation for improving. My first two years at university were the sequence of dreamy and aimless days, which totally challenged my durability. The idea of taking a gap - year did pop into my head every semester.

But then, as we all know, good things come when you least expect them. At that moment, I took a chance that significantly influenced my perspective about my life. I became a voluntary English teacher in a 6-week project in Malaysia. Flying to the world means that I was steadily breaking my limit and getting out of my comfort zone. Being independent in 6 weeks helps me deeply understand my flexible ability, improve problem - solving skills and enhance leadership competency.

My exchange experience provoked my interest in understanding current global issues and I am becoming more willing to take action to make the world a better place. No longer being safe and limit myself, I would be more daring to take in big challenges. I believe that challenges could provide me with ample opportunities to learn new things and useful skills. For example, in the project, I had to operate an English camp for more than 50 students. During the preparation, I learned how to draw up a detailed schedule, plan an agenda, design booths and create relevant games and activities. Above all, I learned how to deliver my thoughts effectively and be persuasive in my communication with others throughout daily discussions. Befriending with participants from many other cultures and regions definitely broadened my horizon. Because of being more knowledgeable about some common norms, I could be more open and thoughtful when interacting with others. Thanks to this project, I can deem that I am already well-equipped to embark on another new journey. I got a big chance to make a self-reflection, which is being aware of my own strengths and weaknesses, and somehow define my most important values in life. Besides, I will have an appreciative attitude towards any experience I could have. To be more precise, I would always give the best of me in every task I perform and make use of every second in the project to contribute and experience.

I fervently hope that this could be the great journey where I can further develop by boosting my strengths and minimizing my weaknesses, and become a passionate participant.

I think there are several aspects the exchange program are searching for at their applicants. Yours just covers one of them, which is community spirit. Other essential aspects include your motive when participating in the program, how you would contribute to their program and to your home community.

My advice is that you cut down on the lengthy opening part about your family background and go straight to talk about your experience in Malaysia.

The Global UGrad program looks for future leaders and problem solvers in their home country. The application specifically asks you to represent your leadership abilities within your community or country. That means, you have to show that you have the foundation to become a person who can change the future of your country for the better. The focus of the essay must be on the skills that relate to interpersonal skills, problem solving, and civic mindedness. A focus on how you can contribute to the improvement of the program, along with how you think you can apply what you have learned in your home country upon your return would help boost your image as a potential student with the reviewer. Paragraph 3 would make for an excellent revision point for this essay. Use paragraph 3 to sell yourself as a leader and future problem solver in your country. Skip the self-centered information in the first 2 paragraphs. Those do not paint you in a good light as an applicant.