Gloria, International Finance, Georgetown University
Personal Statement
A top student of Finance in Shanghai Jiao Tong University, one of China's best, I have long been interested in economics. After 4 years study and research work in the field, together with a great many practical experiences, it is now my most ardent wish to undertake further studies in your Masters program to scale higher intellectual heights.
Economics caught my attention when I was in high school, during which time an incident that could be called a turning point in my life took place. Thanks to my good English, I was once offered an opportunity to work as an interpreter for a Foreign Investment and Business Promotion Fair held in Tangshan. I gladly accepted it as an honor, yet I didn't realize how challenging it would be until I had to cram a heap of books into my brain just a few days before the fair, almost knowing nothing about economics and business. Though I was terribly worried at first, I was surprised to find that as I went on, a strong interest was gradually rising in me. I began to expect success when half way through the books. I did make it to the fair. I dealt successfully with all those terms and made my contribution to the final agreement. I was enthusiastic with the gaming and tactics in the negotiations and my mind was filled with questions concerning the current economic policies of the Chinese government. I became so fascinated with the discipline that I re-read all the books to find answers to my many questions. It was a surprise to my teachers and friends when later I chose Finance as my major in college as natural science, such as Mathematics and Physics, was considered most likely to be my choice. I was a member of a class especially arranged for students who are considered talented in natural science and I was the winner of many prizes in national competitions in mathematics. I never regretted my decision after my experience with the fair, it was only super clear to me where my true interest lay and what was to become the subject of the career for my life, and of course, that is economics.
I acquired a solid academic background in economics and finance in my college years, exposed systematically to concepts and theories of economies and finance. It was brought home to me how mathematics is critically important in modern economics, as some modern theories of economics are demonstrated by pure mathematical induction. In the National Competition of Mathematics Modeling, which is usually the field of CS and Maths majors, the team I was on won the second prize. I was awarded Excellent Scholarship in 1997 and 1999.
The interest in economics and finance drove me to study more. I gradually came to realize how much I did and could benefit from the experience. Knowledge is the treasure, but practice is the key to it. While keeping an outstanding academic record, I never stopped my research into economics "in action" -- I've been keen in obtaining hands-on experience.
In 1997, I had a richly rewarding working experience with the Beijing International Trade Institute, which challenged my capabilities and potentials to the extreme. The opportunity to work with the institute, which was one of the most important in China, was tempting to every economic major and extremely difficult to obtain for a freshman like me. I tried very hard and was finally offered a position as an assistant for my outstanding mathematic abilities. My job was gathering and analyzing data for the institute. And how hard I worked to make the best of myself! With my successes in solving problems with my own mathematic models, I acquired a better understanding of the key role math plays in economics. While growing more confident in myself, I was increasingly discontented with my undergraduate math studies and determined to learn more. The team spirit was another fruit gained by the experience. Seeing my data and analyses joining with those of my professional colleagues and advancing towards wonderful results of a successful project, I learned to respect other people's labor and to value the collective work. Fully motivated, I worked beyond myself. I spent all my holidays at work and some weekends even on the train between Shanghai and Beijing. When a project I participated in won the highest prize for social sciences in Beijing, when professionals recognized my work, when I scored the highest in statistics and my term paper (for being well trained and prepared by the Beijing experience), I felt all my pains paid off.
Through my above and other experiences, I am enriched with a profound understanding of the economic situation in China and its urgent need for personnel highly specialized in relevant fields. A Finance major during undergraduate studies, I am always fascinated by the strict and charming reasoning of economics as a subject. By joining you in your program, I hope I can further my studies and make more achievements. This would make it important for me to come back to China and make my own contributions to its development, which is to be, I dare'say, the career goal of my life.
Due to my constant study and practice, I have acquired a good command of reading and speaking abilities in English. I read many economic canons in English when in college, from the Wealth of the Nation by Adam Smith to books by Samuelson. I have little difficulty in communicating with English natives. Because of my contribution to the friendship between New Orleans and Tangshan, I was honored by the Mayor of New Orleans with "Certificate of Merit" in 1999. I helped build relations between an American company, Alexander & Hamilton, and the Shanghai local government and business chamber, when the company was setting up a representative office in Shanghai. My American friends and I still keep in touch and the friendship is well cherished.
Your institution, with a highly qualified faculty and nurturing academic atmosphere, is the university I've long admired. Therefore I sincerely ask you to make serious consideration to my application.
I'm confident that, under your seasoned guidance, I can give full play to my potential and realize my career goal with economics.
