I need help evaluating my personal statement for my application for the Global-MINDS master's program in Social and Cultural psychology.
I am to highlight: "Why do you want to pursue the Global-MINDS master's program? How does this program align with your career goals? What are your research interests?"
Below is the draft of my personal statement:
"They must never find out about me" were the words I would constantly say to myself growing up. From a young age, I knew that the odds were against me. I was an effeminate queer boy raised in a low-income, abusive home where it was difficult to feed, and getting quality education was a privilege not all my siblings enjoyed. I was in school when the Same-sex Prohibition Act of 2014 was enacted in Nigeria, an act that could imprison a queer person for up to 14 years. I experienced firsthand how happy the people around me were because finally they could be rid of the gays, and I knew just then that it was not going to be an easy ride for me. I knew the last thing I wanted was for my family to discover that I was an impostor in their home, which made me feel alien, and exacerbated my mental issues. I would go on to suffer from depression and social anxiety.
I knew I was different and wanted to learn more about myself and possibly help those who felt the same way, so I was drawn to study psychology. I wanted to understand human differences and similarities, the factors that contributed to them, and how this impacted their lives mentally, socially, and physically. The journey became more difficult after my diagnosis of HIV in my second year due to being a victim of sexual abuse. I could not talk to my family about it, nor could I reach out to them for help, I had to handle most of the struggles myself, the emotional, mental, and adherence struggles. I knew this diagnosis would further expose me to more discrimination if people found out. I found some solace in my friends and their acceptance of me made living with HIV easier.
For my undergraduate thesis, I focused on childhood emotional maltreatment and the mediating effects of perceived social support on the development of social anxiety and loneliness in undergraduates. I could not focus on how this particularly affected queer people due to how unaccepting my institution would have been of the topic. I am drawn to the Global-MINDS master's program because it offers an opportunity to explore my research interests without the barriers of bias, prejudice, and discrimination I may face exploring them in my country. The program's emphasis on diversity and inclusivity resonates deeply with me and by being accepted into the program, I can gain the necessary knowledge, skills, and networks to drive positive change and promote social justice.
I have always wanted to be a lecturer and public speaker/advocate in the field of psychology and the Global-MINDS master's program will bring me a step further in achieving this. Upon completing the Global MINDS program, I intend to further my education by pursuing a PhD in either Social Psychology or Health Psychology, to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that impact the mental and physical well-being of marginalized individuals, particularly queer people. I want to be able to provide well-informed information and education to my students, empowering them to understand human diversity and the importance of promoting inclusivity, as well as contributing to policy changes in homophobic countries, like Nigeria through advocacy.
My choice of mobility paths in order of preference is mobility path C, path A, and path B. I am interested in making research on the relationship between migration, HIV treatment outcomes, and the psychological well-being of queer individuals living with HIV. My research interests stem from personal experiences and a deep commitment to understanding the difficulties of queer lives. Specifically, I aim to investigate how migration from homophobic countries to more accepting environments impacts the lives of queer individuals living with HIV. Alternatively, I am also interested in investigating the consequences of family rejection on risk-taking behaviors, including sexual risks and delinquency, among queer individuals. This investigation would explore the role of perceived family rejection in shaping the lives of queer individuals. These research interests align with my passion for promoting inclusivity, diversity, and social justice, and I believe that exploring these topics will contribute meaningfully to the existing body of knowledge.
Unfortunately, growing up in Nigeria, I have experienced firsthand the challenges of pursuing academic and research goals in a resource-constrained environment. Despite my passion for exploring the factors that contribute to the psychosocial well-being of queer individuals, I face significant financial barriers to pursuing international studies. This is why I am eager to apply for the Global MINDS Scholarship. This opportunity would enable me to pursue my research interests in a supportive and inclusive environment, leveraging my unique experiences, academic achievements, professional experience, and volunteer work in public speaking and advocacy.
.
I am to highlight: "Why do you want to pursue the Global-MINDS master's program? How does this program align with your career goals? What are your research interests?"
Below is the draft of my personal statement:
"They must never find out about me" were the words I would constantly say to myself growing up. From a young age, I knew that the odds were against me. I was an effeminate queer boy raised in a low-income, abusive home where it was difficult to feed, and getting quality education was a privilege not all my siblings enjoyed. I was in school when the Same-sex Prohibition Act of 2014 was enacted in Nigeria, an act that could imprison a queer person for up to 14 years. I experienced firsthand how happy the people around me were because finally they could be rid of the gays, and I knew just then that it was not going to be an easy ride for me. I knew the last thing I wanted was for my family to discover that I was an impostor in their home, which made me feel alien, and exacerbated my mental issues. I would go on to suffer from depression and social anxiety.
I knew I was different and wanted to learn more about myself and possibly help those who felt the same way, so I was drawn to study psychology. I wanted to understand human differences and similarities, the factors that contributed to them, and how this impacted their lives mentally, socially, and physically. The journey became more difficult after my diagnosis of HIV in my second year due to being a victim of sexual abuse. I could not talk to my family about it, nor could I reach out to them for help, I had to handle most of the struggles myself, the emotional, mental, and adherence struggles. I knew this diagnosis would further expose me to more discrimination if people found out. I found some solace in my friends and their acceptance of me made living with HIV easier.
For my undergraduate thesis, I focused on childhood emotional maltreatment and the mediating effects of perceived social support on the development of social anxiety and loneliness in undergraduates. I could not focus on how this particularly affected queer people due to how unaccepting my institution would have been of the topic. I am drawn to the Global-MINDS master's program because it offers an opportunity to explore my research interests without the barriers of bias, prejudice, and discrimination I may face exploring them in my country. The program's emphasis on diversity and inclusivity resonates deeply with me and by being accepted into the program, I can gain the necessary knowledge, skills, and networks to drive positive change and promote social justice.
I have always wanted to be a lecturer and public speaker/advocate in the field of psychology and the Global-MINDS master's program will bring me a step further in achieving this. Upon completing the Global MINDS program, I intend to further my education by pursuing a PhD in either Social Psychology or Health Psychology, to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that impact the mental and physical well-being of marginalized individuals, particularly queer people. I want to be able to provide well-informed information and education to my students, empowering them to understand human diversity and the importance of promoting inclusivity, as well as contributing to policy changes in homophobic countries, like Nigeria through advocacy.
My choice of mobility paths in order of preference is mobility path C, path A, and path B. I am interested in making research on the relationship between migration, HIV treatment outcomes, and the psychological well-being of queer individuals living with HIV. My research interests stem from personal experiences and a deep commitment to understanding the difficulties of queer lives. Specifically, I aim to investigate how migration from homophobic countries to more accepting environments impacts the lives of queer individuals living with HIV. Alternatively, I am also interested in investigating the consequences of family rejection on risk-taking behaviors, including sexual risks and delinquency, among queer individuals. This investigation would explore the role of perceived family rejection in shaping the lives of queer individuals. These research interests align with my passion for promoting inclusivity, diversity, and social justice, and I believe that exploring these topics will contribute meaningfully to the existing body of knowledge.
Unfortunately, growing up in Nigeria, I have experienced firsthand the challenges of pursuing academic and research goals in a resource-constrained environment. Despite my passion for exploring the factors that contribute to the psychosocial well-being of queer individuals, I face significant financial barriers to pursuing international studies. This is why I am eager to apply for the Global MINDS Scholarship. This opportunity would enable me to pursue my research interests in a supportive and inclusive environment, leveraging my unique experiences, academic achievements, professional experience, and volunteer work in public speaking and advocacy.
.
