personal statement2

Essay 1: Describe an event or episode that either gave you a chance to use a personal strength, or revealed a personal weakness. Then explain specifically how the MPP (or overall curriculum for Non-Degree applicants) at HKS would leverage your distinctive abilities and/or fill gaps in your skill set as you equip yourself for your career goals. (600 word limit)

Last year, I attended a national conference for college students. Its topic was to inspire youth talent and make use of it in public welfare field. During the three days, we attended powerful speeches, listened to brilliant ideas of non-profit organizers, and exchanged our own thoughts toward innovation in social welfare projects.

One of the tasks in this conference was to design a project that fits the reality of your own community within 45 minutes. The winning project would be funded by several foundations and CSR(company social responsibility department) in enterprises. The projects had to align with 17 Sustainable Development Goals that the UN put forward in 2015.

At that time, I was running a college public-welfare organization and I had four projects in design stage. The issues included quality education, gender equality, organic agriculture, and the care of autistic children. In order to win the prize, I evaluated these four  topics and realized that the project focused on gender equality would have the biggest chance to win, given that half of the jury was involved in the women’s empowerment program.

After deciding to focus on this topic, our group listed all the elements included in the project design: name, theme, form, target group, timeline, budget, related events and potential sponsors. We discussed these 8 parts in proper order. We decided upon “Sexual assault” as our main theme and primary school students as the target group according to gender education reports by UN. Then we searched on the internet to find successful examples used to teach primary school students. After 45-minutes of  preparation, I presented our project in front of the jury and was excited to hear our group’s name announced for the first prize.

And although, we won the prize, when we put the project into operation it became hard to control. I had to admit something we hadn’t thought about when we designed it, (like the sponsor resources, the society recognition, the less school cooperation and the less professional volunteers…. Though the project was completed,  I did not think it was finished perfectly and I had much to learn.

That’s why I want to join your program. I believe HKS can provide me with the long-term thinking element and all the experience I would need in my future career path in the NGO field. The theory and opportunities to practice should help students like me to think more profoundly and practically. For my strengths, I think HKS values students have systematic thinking also the break-the-usual bravery.  I believe sincerely that I can benefit from the HKS program and hope I am afforded the chance to be admitted in the degree program in the area of public policy (MPP) offered by your school for the Academic Year 2018-2020.