Motivation letter for a summer school on sustainable development

For the application I needed to write a brief essay to describe background and why I'm interested in the program.
Thank you in advance for any advice).

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When I start to study something I am up to my neck in the subject. But it is not every subject that I would want to learn. Practical orientation is the countdown for me. Before starting anything I need to know that the affair will have a concrete result - experience, future possibilities and so on. I think these traits determine what I have done and will do.

I suppose it is my all-or-nothing attitude that enabled me to be one of the top students both at school and in the university. Unfortunately, I need to say (and a lot of people would agree with me) that education in Belarus is more theoretical than practical. You don't notice it much while receiving basic education. As for higher education I am confident that getting excellent marks at the university doesn't guarantee that you are ready to face problems related to the subject in reality. I mean, if you've passed course of economics it doesn't mean that you now understand all the processes flowing in your country and in the world. That's why I decided to continue my education as a post graduate student - in my thesis I want to do something that is really applicable.

I also try to make hand-on approach part and parcel of my teaching. I take pleasure in watching my students discover existing rules of the world around. Teaching is extremely rewarding both on the personal and professional level. It teaches me to be tactful, patient and attentive to people. Also, while discussing topics with my students I always learn something new.

This utilitarian approach is the reason why I decided to participate in the program. I think studying the topic and collaborating with people from different countries and scientific fields will give me different, global prospective on the subjects I study and teach now. I would like to learn more about sustainable development and the methods of its attainment because it is the foundation of our future and we need to know how to make it better.

looks good
i would focus more on why you want to do the job/what you can bring to it
rather than a resume
as these positions probably get heaps of applications, so you neeed to make yours stand out

Thanks, Mark.

I also thought I should emphasize why I want to get this scholarship, but there is a limit of 350 words, and I don't know what to delete, everything seems important).

Very good, Olga. I like it. This sentence conveys to the reader what you mean, but it is not overbearing. If you explain too much, it is overbearing, but if you let the reader figure out what this sentence means, the reader feels delighted.

I still would like to see one more sentence added to the end of the first paragraph. If you pretend that the reader can only see one sentence, what sentence would you write to express the meaning of this essay? Add that to the end of the first paragraph.

If you add that thesis statement, I think it will be a sentence about teaching or about utilitarian philosophy.

The essay is strong already! Just add that thesis statement! :-)