My great grandparents were originally from Dresden, Germany; not even Jewish, they saw a firestorm brewing in their country in the late 1930s and escaped to America just in time. Most of their relatives would die a few years later in the firebombing. One could say that the study of international affairs is in my blood. However, I trace the launch of my own political and international sensibilities to September 11th, 2001. Watching the attack and its aftermath made me try to rush adulthood so that I could participate politically and help my country. Since that time, I have immersed myself with the greatest enthusiasm in the study of global history; my heart is trained on the dream, the vision, the goal of becoming a diplomat and representing my country abroad. XXU is my first choice for graduate study not only because of the rigor of your program, but its location at the very heart of international affairs and diplomacy.
The conflux of international affairs, national security, and human rights represent the apex of my professional interest and passion. My dream is to contribute to society by helping to keep our country safe from terrorism and struggling to safeguard what are seen as inalienable human rights domestically as well as internationally. I want to be a professional communicator on a diplomatic level, helping to create safer environments for Americans overseas by working to solve political and diplomatic issues. As a diplomat it would be my duty to respond to challenges, ultimately laboring to create a safer environment for everyone involved through long term, sustainable diplomatic initiatives.
I would love to work for the UN, the State Department, a non-governmental organization, or anywhere that I might fully immerse myself in international affairs, national security, and the quest for greater levels of recognition and enforcement of human rights. The greatest level of success that I could possibly imagine would be to become the next Hillary Clinton. In order to achieve my goals, I have already committed myself to tasks that will further my knowledge and experience in international relations. I am currently taking classes in International Relations at XXXX University in Scotland as part of a study abroad program for one semester. I have interned with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC) in Washington, D.C., a non-profit organization focused on promoting leadership in executive and legislative branches of our government. In this position, I learned how to think much more creatively about how to generate innovative solutions to current national challenges while at the same time developing a deep appreciation for the preservation of the historic memory of the Presidency. Whatever I end up doing professionally, I will continue to study history in an attempt to better understand the successes and failures of American leadership.
I am incredibly competitive and hard-working. There is no harder worker out there than me. Furthermore, I catch on very quickly and I get things done in a very efficient manner. My greatest honor during my internship was being selected to write a research paper for the staff of CSPC.
I will be graduating with honors—after only 3 years—from XXXX University in May 2013. In addition to the courses I am currently taking at St. Andrews, I have also taken several other highly relevant courses such as Transnational Issues and US Foreign Policy. My main interests are national security and human rights. Furthermore, I have always been passionate about women's rights both internationally and domestically and I am a strong advocate for educating and empowering women.
I learned a great deal about myself while volunteering for a month in a rural town in Costa Rica in July of 2010, teaching basic English and math to underprivileged children aged 5-11. Having been raised in South Texas and exposed to Spanish since childhood, I was able to communicate with the children well. I also organized and participated in extra-curricular activities with the kids. I learned that I am comfortable living, working, and thinking in a foreign language. Thankfully I can communicate very well in Spanish, since this will greatly facilitate the acquisition of a third language, probably Arabic. Further volunteer experience includes co-founding a tennis camp called Summer Smashers in 2006, teaching underprivileged children from a nearby trailer park and group home the basics of how to play tennis. I have played tennis my entire life and planned on getting a scholarship to play in college until a severe ankle injury forced me into retirement.
The Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress was founded by a former NATO Ambassador, Dr. XXXX. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to work alongside experienced policymakers and former government officials. I conducted extensive research and churned out an enormous amount of policy analysis in support of the Center’s projects. I also helped to organize meetings with public officials, the media, Presidential scholars, and the leaders of NGOs. I assisted with conferences, publications, and public relations outreach. Since the staff knew that my primary interest was in international relations and foreign policy, I went to many conferences and meetings concerning international affairs to take notes and represent the Center on their behalf. Of singular importance to me was my fifteen-page research paper about the politicization of the intelligence community, which focused primarily on the failed intelligence practices of the Bush Administration and the CIA prior to invading Iraq in 2003. It is my experience with the Center that makes me especially confident that I will be able to excel in your rigorous program. I want to thank you for considering my application.
I aspire to join the long list of distinguished public servants who have completed their graduate studies in International Affairs at the center of the world: XXU. There is simply no other place that compares with what you have to offer. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your consideration of my application.
