I want very much to attain an MSW Degree from the University of XXXX to better prepare myself to continue my career as a mental health and substance abuse specialist in greater Washington XXXX. This will help me to achieve my long-term goal of some group homes for the mentally ill and mildly mentally retarded persons. I am currently employed as a family support worker in Washington DC, for a community-based organization, servicing and strengthening families through outreach. I assist them with finding housing, employment, developing parenting skills and coping in creative and effective ways with their mental health related issues, especially substance abuse. I do home visits and I also work with youth who are aging out of the foster care system, helping them to successfully integrate into the community and find and keep employment and affordable housing. I have also worked as a case manager for seniors, helping them to attain the services that they need to be able to remain at home and avoid nursing home placement. Throughout my many years as a social worker, I have always struggled mightily to do all I can for my clients and to always make ethical decisions. I have also worked as a therapist in youth detention facilities, conducted anger management groups, and provided substance abuse education for incarcerated youths both male and female. I have worked as a probation officer preparing sentence investigation reports to assist the courts in sentencing dispositions, and as a parole officer. At 56, I am far from a traditional student, yet I feel strongly that my vast experience will enable me to make a valuable contribution to your program and to enhance our celebration of diversity. I am a Black woman, and this is important to my identity as a social worker. My gifts include serving as a role model, especially for Black women, and an example of how we as Black people need to take responsibility for our own and help each other out as a minority community. I often feel most effective as a social worker when I am assigned to work with Black clients, especially women. Contribution to my community is my primary concern in life. I see a tremendous need for new and improved social service programs and access to information in the community, so that people are not lost in the system and failed by our society. I see people slip through the cracks of our system every day and this pains me, especially in the case of young people. I ask for the opportunity to spend the balance of my professional life helping to improve our interconnected system of community service, making it more effective for those most in need of our services. I admire the University of XXXX and will feel enormously privileged and grateful if you help me to fulfill my lifelong dream of obtaining a graduate degree in my field. I look forward to using the knowledge and skills that I will develop in your program to help individuals and families better navigate the system. I look forward to learning how to better help people thrive and contribute to our community through participation in specialized educational programs and job skill development. I want to learn how to best assist my clients in the referral process and obtaining needed services based on the unique needs of each individual and family, especially affordable housing. Of singular importance in this regard will be helping youth avoid the criminal justice system, wasting their lives in jail, and being a burden rather than a contribution to our society. MSW FAMILY Welfare Personal Purpose Statement

I am a young man from India who grew up in Montreal, Canada. I have worked for many years towards the goal of becoming a surgeon and I count myself especially fortunate to share the world of medicine with my wife, who is also Indian and a physician. She is currently in a residency program in Internal Medicine at XXXX Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. For a variety of reasons, until now, we have placed a priority on my wife's career and now that she is happily settled into a residency position, and I am hoping to find one as well. Thus, I am looking for a residency position in Arizona, so that we can be near each other. We feel strongly that we are both better doctors when we can be together. I have always wanted to do surgery and I love being in the operating room and working with my hands. My colleagues and mentors have assured me that I have great skill as a surgeon. I feel most satisfied when I am in the OR, the mix of adrenaline and excitement and it is hard to see myself doing anything else. Being a leader, the responsibility for the patient's life in your hands; I am drawn to the hands-on nature of surgery. I have long cultivated great skill in my hands, fixing problems, and this has helped to provide me with the confidence to become a surgeon. I like the way that surgeons are constantly challenged by patients with extremely complicated conditions and forced to make critically important decisions almost immediately. It is indeed an intellectual challenge to take scattered pieces of a puzzle and mold them into a final diagnosis and treatment plan. I deeply appreciate the immense diversity and enormous variety of problems that one faces in general surgery, and this is why I have chosen to develop a special focus in this area of medicine. I am excited about the immense practical opportunities that practicing surgery affords for professional growth. Thus, I am looking for a residency position in surgery or internal medicine and would very much prefer an Arizona location. I was accepted at XXXX Hospital in Phoenix, AZ for a PGY1 position in the General Surgery program for 2007-2008, but since my ECFMG certification did not come through, I was unable to fulfill the program's prerequisites. I feel strongly that my current position has provided me with additional valuable experience that will be of benefit to my future practice. I am a lead investigator on an epidemiologic study of ventilator associated pneumonia in adult trauma patients with the Department of Trauma Surgery at XXXX Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. I hope very much to be accepted into a medical residency program in Arizona where I could continue to be heavily involved with research and publication as part of my residency. I look forward to a long and productive professional life as a practicing surgeon and someday also having the privilege of fellowships in the areas of surgery and internal medicine. I am particularly attracted to the practice of trauma surgery as I find this area especially challenging and exciting. I see education as a lifelong, daily process and I would like to teach, as well, at some point later in my career. Through my volunteer work at several hospitals, I was able to visualize much more accurately what my life would be like as a doctor, my window to the future. Besides being actively involved in school activities, I have always found time to give back to the community and maintain an extremely healthy and conscientious attitude towards life. Serving as Captain of the volleyball and rugby teams, Certified Lifeguard, and Vice President of Finance, I have incorporated a healthy balance of academics, athletics, and leadership into my university experience. As a Big Brother for children in St. Lucia, we set up an after-school program for local children and my years of experience as a team athlete have helped me to learn how to inspire others and lead as well as follow. At 29, I feel like I am at my optimal point to begin practicing surgery full time: I have an exceedingly high energy level and steady concentration with a quick focus and controlled response. I am looking forward to long hours, many frustrations, and increasing awareness of the limitations as well as opportunities that exist in a fast paced, very rigorous medical environment. I am an enormously hard worker who possesses a wealth of medical and technical knowledge. Most of all, I am a compassionate young man and an exceptionally good listener with a practiced sense of humor. In addition to research, I am currently keeping up my medical education by attending all trauma/grand rounds and lectures at St. Joseph's Hospital in the department of Trauma/General Surgery and serving as a webmaster for the development and maintenance of an interactive website for the Trauma Service of the State of Arizona. Later in life, I hope to give something back to humanity by donating my time as a physician in the developing world, my native India. I am a well-traveled man who has seen much of Europe, the USA, and Canada and gotten to know many diverse cultures; these experiences are some of my greatest treasures, heightening my profound respect for differences in cultural values and customs and the importance of being respectful of those differences. I look forward to giving my all to my patients from all levels of society, cultural backgrounds, and social groups. And I want to thank you for your consideration of my application. Personal Statement for Residency in Trauma Surgery

Originally from Colombia where I completed medical school, I am now in my third year of my residency program in Internal Medicine here in the USA. I am especially well versed and experienced in the treatment of metabolic diseases and I find a great deal of satisfaction helping sick people, especially the elderly. Nothing brings me as much joy as seeing patients fully recover because of receiving the appropriate, integral treatment. I am especially concerned with diseases such as diabetes that are reaching epidemic proportions in many parts of the world. I hope to specialize in Endocrinology primarily to continue to learn everything that I can about Diabetes and its consequences for a variety of systems such as heart, kidneys, and nervous systems. Since medical school, I have been extremely fascinated by and heavily engaged with endocrinology, especially thyroid disease. The part of Colombia that I come from has an extremely high incidence of goiter and both of my own grandmothers suffered from this disease; one of them is a thyroid cancer survivor. I was especially excited when I began my first rotation in the Endocrinology Clinic because I knew that I would have the opportunity to gain a lot of exposure in thyroid disease; I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to perform FNA biopsies. I am now really excited about the prospect of learning about hormone axis, Hypothalamic-pituitary thyroid, suprarenal, reproductive, etc. The relationship between diabetes and obesity is another area where I seek to develop special expertise. Here in my residency position, I am practicing in a hospital where kidney disease is quite common and the main etiology for it is diabetes. I am saddened to see so many patients having to go through hemodialysis and its all-too-frequent complications. Patients with ESRD always touch my heart in special ways. My passion for endocrinology also involves fighting kidney disease since preventing diabetes also helps to prevent kidney disease. I treasure each opportunity to help educate patients, helping patients to control their weight, preventing diabetes and metabolic syndromes. In the future, I want to have the opportunity to combine Endocrinology with Public Health – in a constant quest to improve outcomes in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and obesity. I am most pleased that so many of the medically underserved here in the USA speak my maternal language, since I love helps patients practicing medicine in Spanish. My parents were key role models who always encouraged me to excel and to distinguish myself in service to the community. As soon as I finished medical school in Colombia, I was off to a rural area serving in a small town, after which I practiced as an emergency room physician for both inpatients and outpatients. I went on to spend a total of 4 years as an ER physician in Colombia and it was here that my special passion for metabolic disease took shape. One of the principal reasons that I came to the USA was to learn as much as I could in the most advanced environment possible, especially in the critical area of endocrinology. I have a great passion for medicine and extensive clinical experience that I passionately believe would make me an asset to your team if I were to be selected for a fellowship position in Endocrinology. Thank you for considering my application to your distinguished fellowship program. Endocrinology Fellowship Personal Statement Examples

The first two years of medical school introduced me to countless specialties I could imagine entering. I had a taste of several things through volunteering, work, and research, but I needed more “hands-on” experience. During this time, I began working nights and weekends for State Organ/Tissue Procurement as a tissue procurement technician. We would remove from tissue donors everything from long bones, ribs, and the iliac crest to lower limb veins, tendons, and even heart valves. It was the perfect job for a medical student. I could learn sterile techniques, use surgical instruments, and gain actual surgical experience without fearing inflicting further injury to the patient. I loved the fast pace and feel of surgery. Then, during my first third-year rotation, I tore my ACL playing football and underwent autograft replacement one week before starting my surgical process. Standing on a swollen leg all day and icing it all night proved taxing and made me question my love for the OR. I enjoyed the clinic during most of my rotations, but it also proved taxing without the variety of procedures. On the first day of my fourth year in Pediatric Orthopedics, this was what I had been looking for. First of all, I could empathize with many of the patients in the clinic, having broken multiple bones myself: everything from both bone forearm fracture skiing, to my nose in basketball practice, to a partial Achilles tendon tear and then my ACL playing football, not to mention all the hand, finger, and toe fractures. Second, it brought back all the excitement I felt in my job as a Tissue Procurement Tech with the additional adrenaline rush of working on a dynamic, living person. I was thrilled to see the opposite end of my work in tissue recovery. Witnessing firsthand the results of allograft tendons, bone blocks, and fracture sites packed with bone powder further increased the pride I had in working with donors. Third, I valued being able to impact the patient’s quality of life immediately. I saw an 8-year-old boy in the ER who had been hit by a car and sustained multiple displaced fractures with nerve impingement at his right elbow. The tears of concern and fear in the eyes of his parents were only matched by tears of relief when the cast was removed, and a full range of motion was re-established. Through Orthopedics, I could provide a good life for my family. Knowing from experience that I would be prepared to take care of them in the event of an accident would also bring peace to my soul. My family is the most critical aspect of my life, and the highlight of my day is when I can give my wife and eight-week-old daughter a hug and a kiss. My time spent with them is precious to me. Also, a good physician should be well-rounded, and I value my occasional free time to pursue interests such as: football, scuba diving, skiing, hiking, hunting, community volunteer work, church activities, and the occasional nap. With suitable time management I feel I will be able to occasionally enjoy these aspects of my life. I always hoped that I would be excited to go to work and that I would find people as passionate about their jobs as I was. I have yet to meet an Orthopedic Surgeon who didn't have a smile while telling me about their job. I could not be more excited about what my future holds. Residency Pediatric Medicine Personal Statement Examples

I want very much to attain an MSW Degree from the University of Maryland to better prepare myself to continue my career as a mental health and substance abuse specialist in the greater Washington D.C. area. This will help me to achieve my long-term goal of someday founding and operating my own community based mental health care organization with group homes for the mentally ill and mildly mentally retarded persons. I am currently employed as a family support worker in Washington D.C. for a community-based organization, servicing and strengthening families through outreach. I assist them with finding housing, employment, developing parenting skills and coping in creative and effective ways with their mental health related issues, especially substance abuse. I do home visits and I also work with youth who are aging out of the foster care system, helping them to successfully integrate into the community and find and keep employment and affordable housing. I have also worked as a case manager for seniors, helping them to attain the services that they need to be able to remain at home and avoid nursing home placement. Throughout my many years as a social worker, I have always struggled mightily to do all I can for my clients and to always make ethical decisions. I have also worked as a therapist in youth detention facilities, conducted anger management groups, and provided substance abuse education for incarcerated youths both male and female. I have worked as a probation officer preparing sentence investigation reports to assist the courts in sentencing dispositions, and as a parole officer. At 56, I am far from a traditional student, yet I feel strongly that my vast experience will enable me to make a valuable contribution to your program and to enhance our celebration of diversity. I am a Black woman, and this is important to my identity as a social worker. My gifts include serving as a role model, especially for Black women, and an example of how we as Black people need to take responsibility for our own and help each other out as a minority community. I often feel most effective as a social worker when I am assigned to work with Black clients, especially women. Contribution to my community is my primary concern in life. I see a tremendous need for new and improved social service programs and access to information in the community, so that people are not lost in the system and failed by our society. I see people slip through the cracks of our system every day and this pains me, especially in the case of young people. I ask for the opportunity to spend the balance of my professional life helping to improve our interconnected system of community service, making it more effective for those most in need of our services. I admire the University of ____ and will feel enormously privileged and grateful if you help me to fulfill my lifelong dream of obtaining a graduate degree in my field. I look forward to using the knowledge and skills that I will develop in your program to help individuals and families better navigate the system. I look forward to learning how to better help people thrive and contribute to our community through participation in specialized educational programs and job skill development. I want to learn how to best assist my clients in the referral process and obtaining needed services based on the unique needs of each individual and family, especially affordable housing. Of singular importance in this regard will be helping youth avoid the criminal justice system, wasting their lives in jail, and being a burden rather than a contribution to our society. MSW Personal Purpose Statement Homelessness Addictions

I was born in Mexico and raised there until the age of seven, when the family moved to the US. My major subject for my bachelor's degree was Child Development with a minor in Spanish. My goal in applying is to acquire the skills and knowledge to enable me to practice as a social worker helping children and especially those from poor Hispanic families to minimize the effects of the challenges that such children face. I am proud to have been the first member of my family to go to college, especially as I did so in the face of determined parental opposition. I was responsible, from the age of ten, for providing the sole care for my younger siblings while my parents worked. I took these duties seriously and performed them well but did not then consider this experience to be the basis for a career choice; that connection came later. Although my B.A. major was in Child Development, most of my working life has been spent in charity and medical administration. I have found this to be a well-rewarded and satisfying career path. However, in the course of my work, I have met many members of the ‘caring professions’, including social workers, and have found myself envying the degree of satisfaction that their work clearly provides to them. My current work does enable me to offer some help to people who are unclear as to their health insurance status and I find this aspect of my work particularly satisfying and wish to extend it. I am also a volunteer in the Medical Reserve Corps training to assist in the event of disasters and with immunization. I might never have sought this career change but two years ago my 15-year-old sister became pregnant. Fortunately, I had acquired some knowledge about resources available to teenage mothers. My father had just lost a job he had held for 30 years with family medical benefits, but I was able to assist my sister in acquiring WIC benefits and in initiating pre-natal care at the community health clinic where I worked. I was also able to provide my sister with information about various agencies that help teenage mothers. Finally, I successfully encouraged her to continue her education and gave her practical assistance to enable her to do so. During the process of helping my sister with her emotional, economic, insurance, volunteer support and educational challenges, it began to occur to me that I might have what it takes to help others directly and full time as a social worker and began my research into this area of work. This application is not based on a whim but on two years' careful consideration of my suitability for such a vital role and what makes an excellent social worker. I am aware of the social work ‘core values’ which I wholeheartedly support. I realize that competence is the main requirement of a social worker and is the value upon which the effective exercise of others depends. I have always been competent in my professional roles to the extent that I am trusted to supervise a team of five. I realize that effective social work depends upon teamwork, I am an effective team worker and leader; I understand that a good team is capable of much more than the individuals comprising it. As someone who came from a family that was financially challenged, I know the feelings of children from such families and the pressures that financial difficulties bring to family relationships. I am also aware that it is important to be sensitive to non-verbal signals when communicating with distressed people, especially children, I have some experience when working with children and of recognizing and responding to such signals. I would seek to hone this important skill within the program. While competence and communication skills are essential in a social worker, I understand that the main characteristic required, empathy, cannot be taught. My background has given me a genuine empathy for those who face difficulties and challenges in their lives, as I have myself. I will have experienced many of the problems being suffered by poor Hispanic children who will, I hope, be my future clients and this will be of great advantage to me in reaching out to them. I also appreciate that a social worker must be determined in helping clients. I am a person who has overcome many obstacles to obtaining a degree and will apply the same determination in helping my clients to achieve optimum outcomes in their lives. I know that the caring professions can attract people with an unrealistic and ‘starry eyed’ attitude. I realize that the social worker is seeking the optimum outcome available and that this will rarely be what might be considered the perfect one. Attaining the optimum outcome might also require encouraging clients to go beyond what they initially feel that they might be capable of achieving. I am fully aware that social work requires a remarkably high degree of cultural and social sensitivity. I am constantly required to demonstrate this sensitivity in my current work in a community health clinic. I ensure that I treat everyone with the respect that I should expect to be given. I am bi-lingual in English and Spanish and, having lived in Mexico, have a good understanding of the culture of Hispanic immigrant families. I love Mexico and use to work in the vineyards during my spare time to enable me to travel there each summer. I know that there will be many qualified applicants for the program. I consider myself to be an excellent candidate. I hold a degree in a discipline that has some direct application to the study of social work; my career to date has involved assisting people from the populations with whom I would mainly deal as a social worker; I have undertaken substantial informal study of the basics of the subject especially as it relates to Hispanic people living in the US; I have met and overcome major difficulties and obstacles in my own life and will have many shared experiences with my future clients. But my main recommendation is a passionate and deeply held ambition to help children achieve their maximum potential in terms of happiness and academic attainment and especially those from financially challenged, Hispanic families. MSW Social Work Bicultural Mexican Woman

I have earned a great deal through maturity, accumulating finely honed professional skills built upon solid experience. Graduate studies in public administration, for me, is the fruition of a lengthy process of building my professional and interdisciplinary, creative experience. I was born and raised in Central Taiwan. I earned two undergraduate degrees at Hung Kuang Nursing College, complimenting my undergraduate degree in Nursing with a second undergraduate diploma in Public Administration (1992-1995). My first choice for graduate study is at the University of XXXX. I have lived here in XXXX now for many years and it is my new home that I have very much come to love. I am looking forward to contributing to diversity among the graduate students in your program. Since I have the deepest respect and admiration for the Public Administration Program at XXXX University, it does not seem appropriate for me to apply anywhere else. I have always followed my heart in these matters, and I trust that this is by far the best choice that I could make. My greatest gift in life is my profound compassion for others. I am a very tender and caring woman who bleeds for those around me who are in distress or in need of assistance. Still, I long increasingly to turn my remarkably elevated level of passion more directly towards the pursuit of academic excellence. I am especially excited about the prospect of doing graduate work in Public Policy, especially Health Policy, obtaining a state-of-the-art graduate education and earning my M.A. Degree in Public Administration. 10 years from now I would like to be working for an organization where I could have direct input on policy decisions. For me, the principal attraction of a career in public administration is that it will allow me to play highly active and creative roles as a member of teams that build a new future for our society and generations to come. I am fluent in Mandarin as well as English. Since I lived in Montreal for two years, I also took full advantage of the terrific opportunity to learn French. My language skills strengthen my application for the Public Administration Program, and I ask that you take them into consideration in the evaluation of my application for both admission and financial aid. Furthermore, my professional credentials are also bolstered by seven years of work experience in nursing. I am a person of diverse interests and I have also benefited professionally from my employment experiences outside of the area of Health Care. Recently, for example, I worked for the Canada Revenue Agency as a Testing Clerk for 5 months. The strongest aspect of my application is my enormous enthusiasm for the cause of public service, helping to resolve numerous, complicated health care issues that surround our chronic, global wide shortage of healthcare workers. I am a cosmopolitan woman that has traveled frequently to Australia, Singapore, and China. Over the years, I have come to more greatly appreciate the way that public policy, economics, and social issues all come together to play pivotal roles in the formation of government policies and societal initiatives for our self-improvement, especially caring for the disadvantaged among us. I thank you from the bottom of my big heart for your consideration of my application. MA Public Administration Personal Purpose Example

The Master's in Social Work Program at the University of XXXX is my first choice for a variety of reasons. Your College of Social Work is well known for its national and international leadership in social work education, and I appreciate how it is ranked among the top programs in the South. Originally from California, I am a young African American, bilingual Spanish/English man born and raised in California who has made South Carolina his home after completing my undergraduate studies at XXXX College. I am in love with XXXX, the dynamics of diversity, our politics, tensions, resources, and beauty, human and natural. Earning the MSW will provide me with the essential knowledge, skills, and values that I need to practice effectively as a social work professional, ethically, and collaboratively, to promote social justice and well-being, especially for vulnerable populations. Several of my professors at XXXX suggested that I would be a great fit with your program at the University of XXXX because it is especially rigorous and challenging, exactly what I seek. I look forward to contributing to the diversity of your program as an African American man from the West Coast who is fluent in Spanish and well-traveled, having made frequent trips to Latin America for extensive periods of time, most of it connected to my volunteer activities. I like to pride myself on my open-mindedness and critical thinking skills. At XXXX College, I felt immersed in Black ideas, Black culture, Black people, and politics. I needed that engagement, not just with XXXX College but with the historical South in general. I see immense value in Blackness and Black spaces. On a historically Black college campus, one does not need a Black Culture Center or a club since the entire campus is both. Now, I seek to expand on what I learned at XXXX in many ways, to broaden my horizons, and to contribute to multiethnic and international discussions as a well-trained Black voice seeking sophistication and progress in my ideas and their expression. Growing up in California, Spanish-speaking culture was all around me from the time that I was a small child forward. This was especially true of the area in which I lived and the schools that I attended, where most of my friends were always Latinos and speaking Spanish was as natural to us as speaking English. Just like any Latino child, I grew up speaking a mixture of Spanish and English. I even have family members that are from Acapulco, Mexico which has a lot of Afro-Mexicans. Teaching English in Latin America on several extended trips south of the border – most recently going to Colombia to distribute clothes - has helped me to grow enormously as a citizen of the world with a profound appreciation for multicultural dialogue. I am an especially good fit for your MSW Program at the University of XXXX because of your strong emphasis on the importance of diversity, social justice, and cultural sensitivity. I also keenly look forward to enrolling in the STEM Program and giving it my all since the social issues facing and surrounding minority males are particularly near and dear to my heart as a young man who happens to be black; and, thus, simply by virtue of this fact alone, is very lucky to be in college rather than prison. At a historically Black institution like XXXX, one is always learning things that are relevant to one’s identity as a Black American, inside, and outside of the classroom. From discussing African- American and continental African history, to talking about current events that are relevant to the Black American experience, to holding conversations with my peers about ‘colorism’ or the appropriation of Black culture by White artists, I always feel like I was learning about me. This was especially important to my identity construction since in California I had little exposure in school to Black issues. I distinguished myself as a volunteer with an organization called Y-Lead from June of 2012 through August of 2013, in XXXX, CA, working with young people, organizing fun and educational games and field trips, crafts, songs, snacks, etc. My second major experience that I feel strongly has prepared me for someday assuming a leadership role as an MSW Professional was from January through April of 2013 when I completed an internship as a clerk with the XXXX County Public Defender’s Office in XXXX. I provided attorneys, paralegals, and staff with assistance as needed, performing administrative tasks, and investigating legal topics using Internet resources. My visits to the University of XXXX have convinced me that it would be an excellent location to learn from and to interact with so many diverse, cultural elements of expression. Your campus is full of life and always has interesting events going on. I especially enjoyed the career fair that I attended on campus. My Internet review of your faculty left me enormously inspired by their research and how they incorporate that into their teaching. Going to a bigger school will provide me with great social networking opportunities that I can carry with me well beyond graduate school. By completing my MSW Degree at a major, leading program like the University of XXXX, my education will be more rigorous, and I feel up to the challenge. My degree will also carry more weight. I chose to pursue a career in Social Work because I wanted to contribute to the unsolved mysteries concerning issues of inequality, especially social justice for young juveniles. I am convinced that your program is the best place to do this. During my research training, I have become aware of how easy it is to become consumed in history that one forgets to think about the bigger perspective. I aspire to a career in social work because this is the best field for me to make my mark in the future as an agent of social change. My goal is to become a Social Worker inside of juvenile correctional facilities. I feel like I have a lot to offer as an African American who speaks Spanish, since both groups are so overrepresented in the justice system. Despite being rejected by several programs; I was awarded a presidential academic scholarship to XXXX College. God defiantly works in mysterious ways. I moved into Stuart Hall two months later. What a mind-blowing experience. Not only did I immediately have to become acclimated to a diverse population of students, but I had to develop an understanding of an unknown culture attending college in the south, a culture quite different from California. I looked to the University of XXXX as a beacon of hope for myself and other minorities. I feel extremely comfortable on your campus. Attending is convenient for me at this point of time in my life, also in terms of location and social network. I have worked extremely hard to build a solid social and professional foundation here in XXXX with a vast network of like-minded people here. I may go back home to California at some point in time but I long to establish myself professionally here in XXXX. I just want to get my start here in XX and build my way up. I currently work for the XXXX Department of Juvenile Justice as a Juvenile Specialist/Juvenile Correctional Officer so I'm really learning a lot and getting hands-on experience dealing with juveniles. I would like to keep my state job with benefits and attend school at the same time. This is my first professional position with the system, and I am immensely proud and happy with the progress that I am making. Considering my experience in Criminal Justice and my experiences abroad in Latin America, I hope to have creative things to contribute to class discussions. I seek a deeper grasp of many areas related to social justice as well as social work. The Honors Program at XXXX College introduced me to research beyond the classroom environment that has also helped to prepare me for your program. My first research project was concentrated on studying in Colombia, South America at the Universidad of La Guajira, with a focus on three sub-groups in particular: Afro- Colombians, Indigenous, and Mestizos. As a result, I gained depth and understanding. Following the completion of my experience abroad for two months, I presented it at XXXX College Research Symposium and at the Office of the International Program in October and November of 2014 as well. My passion for Social Work has grown exponentially throughout my collegiate journey; my professors have facilitated my understanding and research has grounded my focus. I thank you for considering my application to earn the MSW at the University of XXXX, MSW Degree Black Latina/Hispanic California

I hope very much to be selected to earn the master's degree in nutrition and dietetics at XXXX University. I currently earn my living in management and sales and the excellence of my work has been recognized by being chosen to participate in JPMorgan’s ASCEND Program, geared to facilitate the promotion of top performers in corporate management. This is not, however, where my heart is. Since adolescence, I have had a great passion for nutrition and health, reading widely in this area for a long time, especially over the course of the last several years. Born and raised in Venezuela, I landed in Miami at the age of seventeen and by twenty-five I had realized my dream of moving to New York City. I remain close by in New Jersey where I live with my children and a supportive husband. I take pride in my celebration of diversity, and I am confident that it will help me to excel as a nutrition professional. I have explored much of Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and especially Brazil, along with my Brazilian husband. I have also visited the Caribbean, Central America, Canada, parts of Western Europe, and Southeast Asia. XXXX is my first choice among graduate programs in Nutrition for a variety of reasons; the sheer excellence of your program and the fact that your location is ideal, allowing me to give my all to graduate school without having to neglect my family or professional responsibilities. Also fluent in Portuguese because of marrying a Brazilian man, I thrive on the diversity for which XXXX is noted. As my reading in Nutrition and health broadens and my understanding deepens, I find myself learning increasingly about the basic sciences and the theoretical and applied aspects of nutrition and dietetics; as well as the critical need to educate the public on appropriate food and lifestyle choices that optimize health and prevent disease. Most relevant to my plans for the future is the fact that I also work as a life coach on my website (www.xxxx.com), helping “on-the-go” professional women to take control of their health and regain confidence and energy through lifestyle changes, especially the transformation of their diet to heal and maintain the highest possible level of functioning of the digestive system. I especially look forward to obtaining clinical experience through supervised practice in the program at XXXX University, leading to eligibility for the CDR exam to become a registered dietitian. In this way I will be able to complete my transition from businessperson to full-time nutrition professional, giving my all to the science of diet 24/7 - for the balance of my professional lifetime. Eventually, I look forward to starting my own practice in Nutrition/RD geared towards my long-term mission of helping to reduce obesity and all the health maladies that accompany that scourge on our society. I want to help reduce obesity in teenagers from undeserved communities through nutrition education and lifestyle change. I see the creation and promotion of my web site as a permanent, lifetime endeavor, and within time I look forward to travelling broadly, building solidary and raising consciousness in all my languages about Nutrition, lifestyle choices, and diet – networking in all these areas. I will continue to cultivate a special focus on the implementation of nutrition education programs devoted to helping obese teenagers to reduce, by partnering with farmers, food banks and other NGOs, and government intuitions. Earning my master's will help me to make Little by Little (www.xxxx.com) a top choice for "on-the-go" women seeking to heal their digestive maladies - little by little. I want to provide women with full, holistic perspectives concerning their health needs and challenges, partnering with doctors and other practitioners, changing the way our current health system works, implementing lasting and sustainable change for my clients. Volunteer work has always been central to my life. An active member of the Police Athlete League, I give presentations as a “Woman of Inspiration” for the Girl Talk Program on health and lifestyle, mostly to teenage girls from undeserved communities. I also volunteer with Achilles International – helping to find running partners for people with disabilities. Thank you for considering my application to the master's in nutrition and Dietetics Program at XXXX. Master's Degree Nutrition and Dietetics Personal Statement

I have been able to apply many of the concepts I have been introduced to as part of my undergraduate Applied Developmental Psychology program, creating a foundation of theory that has translated into clinical skills that have aided me in my work, especially combined with my understanding of successful program design and evaluation, knowledge and aptitude in research methods has also been invaluable. Even before graduating, I was introduced to several professional issues, particularly policy issues, which I have since encountered and been prepared to handle in the course of my work. Furthermore, my program of study focused on several areas, such as family and play interventions, group versus family support, and others, which has helped me solidify my certainty of the age group and support situations I want to be involved in throughout my career. “You were meant to do this kind of work…you really need to go back to school and finish up.” Those words, spoken by a woman I totally respect as a professional school counselor at the Alternative Bancroft School, have stayed with me; words that have helped quell any self-doubt, and bolstered my confidence and efficacy. Moreover, this has confirmed to me that I really can attain my lifelong dream and realize my goal of helping those most in need, and at all costs. In the most practical terms, her words have helped me realize that I will quickly exhaust every path of opportunity and challenge at my current level of education. A graduate degree in Advanced Developmental Psychology (ADP) is not where my future lies, and it would not bring me as much personal or professional satisfaction as Social Work. While ADP is highly relevant in addressing social issues, I do not envision delving deeper into behavioral science or the psychological changes in our mind over time. My work with teens these past seven years has convinced me that my abilities are better suited to a more direct, hands-on approach to bringing peace and a sense of worth to people’s lives. Considering the School of Social Work’s mission statement concerning social justice, it is high time we put action behind the words, “equal opportunity”, embracing a broader definition of at-risk populations. Children that are or have been psychologically, emotionally, physically, and sexually abused carry with them a weight thrust upon them that they are simply not equipped to deal with. Given their stage of life, they have a two-fold, full-time task ahead of them: to become contributing members of society and the fight to be whole. Many times, they simply do not even realize or are aware that their past – and sometimes present – circumstances are exactly what are preventing them from attending to their lives right now, and to be in the moment. This is wrong, and it is the Social Worker’s role and responsibility to ensure that all have an equal chance at life. Furthermore, the MSW program speaks to “the commitment to have and build a diverse society while enhancing opportunities for human wellbeing.” I feel this can be taken a step further. On an individual level, the Social Worker seeks to empower individuals to be active participants in the improvement of their lives, to be the facilitators of peace in their lives, a peace that they deserve. Working within XXXX Public Schools introduced me to working within multidisciplinary teams. It was here that I embraced that while we may have had our professional differences, having the input of all was critically important to our effectiveness as a team. From conducting functional behavioral assessments, to staff and team meetings, or simply processing a situation with an upset child, teamwork and each having an equally important voice, allowed the children in our program to understand structure, and to feel safe. One of my greatest strengths is my having walked more than a mile in the shoes of many of the people that I have helped. As a child, I endured physical and mental abuse at the hands of my own parents. I determined that the cycle of abuse would end with me, and while I struggled to find viable strategies for being, I would not change a thing. The events I endured will never have been in vain if I can help shape my future clients’ lives for the better, putting them in touch with the help they need and the resources they deserve. Giving people a chance at lasting, productive lives is all the recompense I need. Secondly, I feel that by being an understanding, empathetic and genuine I can provide a positive male role model for those that have been hurt by their fathers, dominant or threatening males in their lives. Being able to relate on the same level is a strength that cannot be taught in a lecture hall but must be learned as I have in practical circumstances, such as my residential treatment and behavior intervention settings. Skills such as a non-threatening demeanor, soft-voice and truly listening aid in the recovery process of others, and often lead to rewards of life-changing results for the people we are trying to help. Simply being genuine with people, irrespective of their race, creed, or socioeconomic background, and making them feel accepted, relevant, and important, all contribute to forming a trusting relationship. These things come naturally to me, making me approachable, something I constantly strive to be in my work. Additionally, coupled with my strong work ethic is my unswerving commitment to maintaining integrity and the understanding that all people need to maintain and keep their dignity intact, irrespective of their issues. In terms of my abilities as a student, I bring with me to the student body not just my maturity, but my many professional experiences and solid foundation in Advanced Developmental Psychology. My education thus far has given me remarkable insights into how we act and think at various stages of life. Lastly, I bring with me a desire to share and learn from an accomplished student body, and remarkable faculty, and an MSW program with an exceptional reputation in an atmosphere that is aligned with my own values, thoughts, and goals. Thank you for your time and consideration. Masters Social Work Personal Statement MSW Child Abuse #children #psychology #socialwork #msw #developmental

Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, a suffering country, I have long been deeply troubled by the way that so many so often suffer from the lack of adequate health care. Both in my native country as well as Dubai, where I live currently, I have come to a conclusion based on the careful observation that our health care systems could significantly be improved as a contribution to the diversity of Walden, and I feel strongly that one of the most vital aspects but French as well. I am confident that my multi-cultural capacity and multi-lingual abilities are a diverse woman of forty who has seen much of the world, living in Europe, for example, for extended periods. Throughout my life, I have had a deep concern for the issue of medical malpractice. Having friends and close associates who were victims of malpractice helped to fuel my interest in this area. Thus, I am especially interested in graduate work in health quality management to avoid medical malpractice. And I would very much like to someday oversee quality control at an institution that I manage as the director of a medical department. My long-term goal is to serve as a medical administrator. I am highly confident, driven, very highly motivated, and an extremely hard worker. I am also distinguished by my elevated level of organizational skills, which I have constantly refined over the years with great diligence. Being an administrator comes naturally to me, and I enjoy it. In my current position, for example, I process required documentation and information from a variety of sources to support ongoing business activities for the company that I work for and our associates. Some of my primary duties are collating, extracting, and summarizing data and producing standard reports, schedules, summaries, and business letters in the correct format and style. I have also established myself as a genuine people person with excellent communication skills. I have long had the opportunity to practice daily through liaisons with internal customers and external agencies on the telephone and in writing, clarify facts, and resolve issues, queries, and problems. Much of my experience has been in organizing, attending, and minute meetings as required to support the effective functioning of decision-making forums. I schedule appointments, coordinate complex travel and accommodation arrangements, and produce itineraries as needed, optimizing management time. Thank you for your consideration of my application. MHA Healthcare Administration Personal Purpose Statement

Originally from Egypt, I have made Canada my new permanent home. I have now spent 17 years working in the operations of the banking and investment industries. During the last 10 years of my work, my efforts have been directed exclusively towards the creation and implementation of new policies designed to streamline our operations. As a result of this extensive professional experience, I am now very well educated in the areas of risk and performance analysis as well as the implementation of GIPS standards. I have also learned a great deal about economics and become accomplished at quantitative research, financial analysis, and accounting. It is time for me to earn my master's degree and my background provides me with something to offer your distinguished Public Administration and Public Policy Master’s Program at XXXX University. Your program is my first choice for graduate school because of your unique blend of public administration and public policy, my two principal intellectual interests. Your location is also ideal since we have made our home in Montreal. As an immigrant from Egypt, I was surprised at times, with how well Canada’s immigration system worked; on other occasions, I came up with creative ideas as to how it could work much better than it currently does, ideas which I would love to explore as a graduate student doing research in your MPPPA Program. In fact, in addition to excelling in all of your core material, I look forward to developing a research base in the area of immigration and public policy and spending the balance of my life studying realistic, practical, and effective measures that might be put into place so as to streamline the process, making it more fair and inclusive as well as faster and more generally efficient. I am especially interested in the cases of women who have had difficulties in the immigration system and how the special concerns of women might be better addressed in the future. I am very much inspired by one of the success stories on your web site, that of ____ who currently works as a policy advisor in immigration to Canada’s Ministry of Citizenship. Like ____r I hope to launch a new career for myself by writing a master's thesis that has gender as a central focus. S____ notes how choosing the thesis option helped her to sharpen her research skills which she sees as central to her success. My interest in public affairs took off early on, primarily because my eldest sister worked for the Egyptian Civil Registry Office and she knew that I loved to listen to her stories of corruption, mismanagement, etc. Some of those tales were so stark that I was quite relieved to find employment in the private sector. At least, employees in the private sector seem to work harder than their counterparts in the public sector; policies seem clearer from my perspective, with more effective implementation. I have been a member of the Egyptian Red Crescent for several years and in Canada I volunteer with two different charitable organizations. I have spent a lot of time working with an active listening program for older residents, telaide.org and I also advise recent immigrants to Canada through Project Genesis (www.genese.qc.ca), explaining the rights that they have in Canada and helping to coordinate their needs with a variety of institutions both public and private according to the issues that they face. The greatest weakness of my application to XXXX is the fact that my undergraduate GPA in Egypt, French Literature (1990-1994), does not meet your minimum requirement. Thus, I am asking for special consideration in this regard. I have now completed 6 courses at XXXX University and will soon complete my Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance. I currently have a 3.2 GPA which is on the rise as I gain familiarity with the system. It is my hope that you will see this as evidence of my ability to perform well as a graduate student in public policy and administration, taking my professional experience into account, because I very much have my heart set on attending your distinguished and especially creative MPPPA Program at XXXX. MPAPP Public Policy Statement of Purpose Examples