KGSP 2017 - Letter of Self Introduction - One step closer to my dreams

my goal is so close

I grew up in a middle class family. My father is a Fiscal Compliance Officer while my mother is a housewife. Life was tough for us. It was not always bliss but we're taught to focus more on the positive things. We've faced setbacks and bumps along the way but my parents had always told us to stand up and treat those obstacles as learning experience. That lesson had helped me get through any failures that I have faced and potential problems that I will encounter in the future. I have learned from my parents the value of hard work. I was taught that through hard work and perseverance, achieving ones goal is possible. Whenever I would ask for something, my parents would let us earn it by having good grades or doing house chores. It may be such simple things but it instilled into us an important learning. My qualities of being a risk-taker and sociable are from my father. Those qualities had help him in entering the buy and sell business as a sideline. I have always been a dreamer. I have always hoped on running a business - a business that I would share with my family as way of giving back to them for lending their wings so I can fly. It may be a restaurant, a salon or even a clothing line. My father has inspired me to not only dream but to be a pursuer of it. And now, I am taking one step into achieving the future I have imagined.

My interest in business has led me to take up Bachelor of Science in Marketing in [UNIVERSITY]. In my course of choice, it was focused more on the understanding the connection between a business and its consumers. My academic years in college have been a fulfilling journey. Balancing my studies, social life and extracurricular activities became a challenge for me. I became a member of our university's Marketing Organization and was also accepted as one of the few scholars of [FOUNDATION]. Through patience and determination, I was able to maintain good grades and be included in Dean's list. In my second year graduation, I was able to receive an award as a student with honors. After years of managing my academic studies and other activities, I was able to graduate on-time and received a bachelor's degree on Marketing.

As a fresh graduate, I acquired a work as a Sales Administrative Assistant [COMPANY]., a fast-moving consumer goods company from 2014 to 2015. It was a challenging yet a learning experience for me since I handled tasks that are not my forte. The job was more focused on monitoring expense report and analyzing data. Nevertheless, I was able to acquire new learnings and was given another point of view of business process.

Currently, I have been working as a Marketing Assistant for [COMPANY], one of the well-known retail companies in the Philippines, since [MONTH] 2015. With this position, I assisted the product developers in creating new items for the brand. Not only I was able to oversee the entire process but I was involve in it. During my stay in [COMPANY]. I was also assigned to facilitate checking and registration of products of a Korean cosmetic brand that our company brought here in the Philippines. Being involved in the business process has rekindled my desire to have my own business. Running my own business means I need to be more informed with regards to the business industry. That pushed me to take my Master's degree.

The Korean Government Scholarship would allow me to study in Korea, a country who has gained robust growth in the business industry. The KGSP would also be an aide for me to not only broaden my knowledge of the field but also gain an understanding of the Korean business ideology through first-hand experience and help me develop my skills that would be of help for m in achieving my goal of becoming an effective business leader.

South Korea has been known to have an education setting of high quality. That is one of the reasons why I decided to study in Korea. Studying in a country whose educational setting is conducive to learning would help me focus more on my studies. Aside from the quality of education, I have been interested in the Korean culture - its cuisine, language and music. As I become more immersed in the Korean culture, I started studying the language independently. A new country means new a new environment and experiences. If given the chance to be accepted in the program, I would be able to interact with Korean businessman and mentors that will help me widen my perspective of the field and introduce me to new opportunities that would help me in achieving my goal.

Expand the discussion of how you participated in bringing the Korean cosmetics brand to the Philippines. What did your participation entail? You need to expand on that discussion because it directly relates to the reasons why you wish to study in Korea. That should serve as one of your highest motivating factors. The exposure that you got to dealing with the Korean company will be good in justifying the connection of your professional and business interests with its Korean counterparts.

It is already understood that the KGSP will allow you study in Korea. There is no need to state the obvious. Instead, merge the information about your desire to learn more about the Korean business practices with your reason for choosing to study in Korea. The essay will be more informative that way and also allow you to close the essay in a manner that best suits your presentation.

@Holt

Hi Holt Regarding my participation in bringing the cosmetic brand,I was not involve with the negotiating process. It was already brought here when I handled it. I was only assigned in checking and getting the products registered before its launch in the market. Although, I am the directly communicating with my Korean counterpart with certain concerns. Should I still include it?

Definitely include the part regarding communications between you and your Korean counterpart. That falls directly into your desire to understand more about how Koreans do business and why it is done in a certain style. Remember, the prompt asks you to discuss your personal experience in relation to the KGSP. Having a Korean counterpart to deal with hits the the target squarely. The fact that you actually have to engage with a Korean in discharging your duties gives you a background in the professional world of Korean business, no matter how minute that exposure is. Try your best to highlight that part. It is one of the most notable aspects of your application and must be given the full presentation and appreciation it deserves in your application.

This is a very well developed essay. It's impressiveness comes from the fact that you were able to justify a Korean connection between you, your planned masters degree, and your work experience. Excellent work. However, when you begin to mention the cuisine, language, and music, you fall back on the most commonly referred to pop culture references for your desire to study in the country. The strength of your essay is in your business background and its Korean connection. So remove the commonplace references. Without the common references, the essay comes across as strong, well informed, and truly considered in terms of topic development. It becomes unique. Once you remove the pop culture reference, the essay will finally be ready for your use. There will be nothing left to correct or edit. I won't even have to approve the form anymore. Good work. You created a very impressive essay.

@Holt

Thank you Holt for you your guidance and patience with me. I will now close this thread and create a new one for my study plan and future goals. Again, thank you!