Personal Statement
The fact that I am a polyglot is what creates interest in me for history. Other than Spanish, which is my mother’s language, I am conversant with other languages such as Portuguese, Italian, English, French, Croatian, Danish, and Swedish. Portuguese is my first learned foreign language. I found it easier to learn because it is mutually intelligible to Spanish, and they both share many common vocabularies and expressions. Therefore, even without prior familiarity, I could understand a person speaking in Portuguese. For instance, even the language from a completely different world such as Croatian, there are common expressions to the Spanish language. This fact leaves me wondering what formed it like this, and that draws my interest in history.
Personally, I am not passionate about history because even my history courses rank 10 per cent in the university, although I study from one of the famous universities in Spain which offer the best quality education. Furthermore, I won the merit student in 2020, but I have never been interested in it from the beginning. My enthusiasm from polyglot did not last for long. In the university, I chose history as my major regardless of prior, although I am a sport and extrovert person. I am not that kind of nerd to fully engage myself in text and reading all day as it is the characteristic of history students. I usually spend most of my time in practice because I am the key member of school women football team. I am still striving to achieve a level 1 football coach license in due course. I really struggle to balance the time for history study and football because football seems more interesting and attractive to me.
I usually do not perform well in history when it is time for the midterm presentation. I am much worried and lost because I go to stage blank; hence I score quite a bad mark. To make my grade better, I find my professor of the Greek myth to help me out. When I visit his office, he does not do anything constructive to provide a solution to my concern. I realize that he can bake delicious biscuits. However, the learning material is tough. I fancy with the biscuit. Still, I have to finish all contents and prepare something to say during his office hour to get the biscuit. Fortunately, I am the only person in his office hour in most cases; thus, we normally grab a coffee and freely discuss some history stuff.
One day, the professor told me that the student who charged the Greek history reading was away, and so inquired if I would like to take the position. He thought I had great communication skills, but honestly, that was not the reality. I was still much worried for my history major grade at that time. It was a rare idea in my mind. He insisted that if I wanted to really understand a concept, I should be able and ready to talk or teach the same to others. So I decided to give it a trial. On the first day of the week, everything was horrible. I did not understand the material and had nothing to talk. It was a very discouraging moment for me. I decided to read the material and carefully do more research before each week’s reading group. That strategy would ensure I was more equipped with some knowledge of the material and courage to face the group confidently. I also practised keeping an eye on everyone’s idea, critically-thinking, and giving a brief conclusion and comparison, or relationship. Truly, my second week’s speech was a disaster, but it was great fun. Everything went smoothly right after, and at the end of the semester, after organized 10 times of the reading group, my professor suggested if I would like to give a big presentation on the same Greek topic in the city centre. The speech was to be delivered for 500 citizens. Amazingly, I did it very successfully. I could not imagine it beforehand. I was much touched as there was a listener who wrote a long email to talk about the topic with me. That experience made me feel so nice because I developed other people’s interest.
Nowadays, I have a particular interest in medieval Europe, the Renaissance and Empire stuff, but broadly with interest in any fields of cultural history. With my clear career plan as a history scholar, I have the potential and motive to materialize my imagination by accumulating theoretical knowledge, academic insights, practical skills, international exposures, and immersive professional experiences. My ambitions and goals are not only focused on the Master’s degree but also the education afterwards. XXX is my university of choice that attracts me with its top ranking worldwide in academic resources endowment. I believe it would help me to fulfil my goals quickly and comprehensively following its various exchange programs and internship opportunities. These endowments would help me proceed faster and better in the future to realize my dreams.
Generally, I was not meant to be a history person, but gradually found my interest in it. I can testify that it is the best thing in the world. Anybody can give it a trial.