Third SOP

cranking them out... if you're reading these, just make sure that there are no typos or sentences that are repeating. obviously I'm surgically stitching some things together and some places the stitches show.


Fall 2010 Applicant for MALD
Personal Statement

(600 to 800 words. Times New Roman, 12 point font)
F’s Committee on Admissions seeks to ensure that there is a good match between each admitted student and the School. Please tell us your goals for graduate study at F and for your career. Why is TfS the right place to pursue your academic objectives and to prepare you to meet your professional goals? Why have you selected the degree program to which you’re applying? If you are planning to pursue a joint degree, please be sure to address this interest in your personal statement.


For six years, my fantastic international lifestyle meant unforgettable experiences, unbelievable privilege and hard work. Working onboard C Cruises, I traveled the globe in luxury, visited almost every port on this earth on three world cruises.

It wasn't enough.

As much as I love my theatre and ship life, I want to make a more tangible contribution. Throughout my travels, I witnessed environmental crises requiring urgent action and observed how different societies tackle environmental issues. My ambitious quest makes the most effective use of my energy and talents. Improving the local community isn't enough; I hope to transform the environmental policies of the world's most challenging country: China.

My American education and Chinese-American upbringing, augmented by last year's study in Taiwan, give me a competitive edge in tackling the world's environmental issues through China, where tiny reforms are magnified billion-fold. China is making huge investments in clean energy technology in response to this decade's dramatic environmental decline. They are receptive to educated professionals who can assist them in their goals in a diplomatic manner that prevent locals from "losing face". This is where I see the most positive change taking place in the next twenty years.

China-oriented non-profits here in the US would be my ideal post-graduation assignment. I have observed NGOs such as Juice leveraging their finite resources to effect real change at the ground level. I feel smaller organizations are more flexible and focused compared to larger government bodies, and where an individual like me can make the greatest difference.

I admit it: I'm a do-gooder, as your Dr. Mw would say. However, I'm also currently working on bring my science background up to speed. These last few months I have been taking pre-requisites in preparation for my graduate studies, Statistics, Economics, Chemistry, Biology. Exercising my rusty brain again has served as a reminder of how much I enjoy the classroom setting. Visiting Dr. Lee's United States and East Asia class last fall whetted my appetite for the academic rigor of a T education, and gave me an appreciation for the intimate class sizes for debate and discussion. Though, as my own professors would attest, I am never shy to participate even in larger classes! In my biology lab, my professor commended our table for making certain even the weaker students had a firm understanding of the details before moving on. I especially made a point of preventing our quicker partners from barreling full speed ahead when I could see someone was still struggling with the current concept.

The School's Student Council also offers a range of committees that students can serve on, I expect many of these opportunities directly tie in to my aspirations, such as Energy Efficiency, or the clubs Energy Consortium or GREEN. In my past life, when I worked in entertainment, some of my duties included assisting with enrichment lecture series, both planning and executing. I am interested in finding out where I can do the most good and also gain the best experience for the future.

While researching F, I read at least two senior theses focusing on Energy issues and China, which encourages my belief that the students benefitted from a solid foundation on those issues at T. Additionally, while visiting, I learned from Dr. Wang in the Languages Department that I could continue to develop and improve my Chinese formal and professional advanced language skills.

Last but not least, I admire F's intensive options in their coursework. F seems to have a specific class matching every detail of my interest and future goals, from The Political Economy of China to Elements of International Environmental Policy. The structure and emphasis on International Environment & Resource Policy will guide me to absorbing everything I can about an exhaustive variety of environmental challenges and solutions from around the globe. Additionally, the Pacific Asia Field of Study will educate me further on policies in contemporary China. Finally, a degree of Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy will lend me the credibility and foundation useful for negotiating with Asian cultures that value higher education. My future aim is to use these tools to engage in an effective dialogue with local Chinese leaders toward quantifiable benefits. I strongly believe that I will be an enthusiastic asset to The School and a credit to T in my future endeavors.



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Supplemental Essay
Choose one of the following essay topics to tell the Admissions Committee something about you that does not fit elsewhere in the application
(500 words (maximum). Times New Roman, 12 point font)

1. Share something about yourself to help the Admissions Committee develop a more complete picture of who you are.
or
2. Tell us more about how you first became interested in international affairs, or in pursuing an international career.
or
3. Describe the elements of your personal, professional, and/or academic background that have prepared you for your chosen career path.


Share something about yourself to help the Admissions Committee develop a more complete picture of who you are.

My work ethic was forged while traveling the world in the lap of luxury.

My unusual career on a cruise ship provided invaluable training. As a six-star experience, C Cruises guests demanded and received the very best. Our motto was "exceeding expectations," and I put in many extra hours to ensure that everything was perfect. After leaving C, I am baffled by people who don't contribute their best work. As the only Production Manager onboard, my job required an independent initiative, a great deal of creative problem solving and thinking outside my comfort zone. It was also my privilege to work with people from around the world, fully appreciating for the first time that my values were not globally homogeneous.

Leaving that life was a decision that required much reflection. Ultimately my travels led to my desire to restore our environment.

Visiting China last summer, I quizzed many Shanghai locals on what they felt were environmental issues. I discovered a recurring need: creating awareness of why and how changes need to be implemented. I read about a Chinese attitude that environmental protection was a first world problem, for people already warm and well fed. "Is your stomach too full?" How can we begrudge rural China the coal they use to stay warm? Were we in their shoes, would we choose to "save the environment" or would we choose to not freeze?

Two years ago, I experienced first-hand challenges faced by small, self-sustaining organic farms while volunteering on one in Queensland. We ate off the land, consuming primarily what we produced or traded: milk, wheat, honey, etc. Kitchen waste was routinely composted-- transporting waste away was difficult and costly. Living there showed me that, while possible, it takes sacrifice in this modern age to choose to live a significantly greener lifestyle. Environmental Altruism can only have so many expectations before it becomes unrealistic. Sometimes I wonder if environmentalists only want to save the earth at any cost, and they miss that we need the cooperation of those with human needs and wants.

This brings me to a primary reason why I am seeking a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy-- environmental policy instead of a straight sustainability program. Everyone intends to be green, but faced with a choice of convenience, price and sustainability, the Earth often loses out. From my former career in finance, I understand that long-term benefits may not be readily apparent when weighed against current cost, and people's motivations need to be considered and addressed before they embrace the change. Environmental goals need to be grounded in reality, idealism with practicality. With my diverse background as a resourceful ship theater technician and former sales representative of nyl, my insights on human motivation are well matched with my desire to bring about environmental change at both a policy and social level. I'd like to leverage my talents and energy, and use my education from T to make a tangible difference in the world.

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Additional Information

All other applicants: If needed, use this area to provide answers to questions that did not fit in the application form. Please do not upload writing samples. Uploaded writing samples will NOT be read or considered. Though not required, hard copies of short writing samples or relevant articles may be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions.


I'd like to address two issues which came up during my Interview with Jessica in September. The first is my undergraduate GPA, the other is my background in bohemia.

My GPA during the last two years of undergrad suffered while I threw myself into practical and professional Theatre as encouraged by my program. Unfortunately those contributions are not as easy to translate to a transcript, but they are instrumental to my successful career in theatre after college.

In the decade since then, I have consistently received positive performance reviews in my professional life. My year of intensive language study in Taiwan earned me an Intermediate Level 4 in the Proficiency Mandarin Chinese Hua-yu (Taiwan) as well as an Intermediate Level 7 Huayu Chinese Exam (China).

Additionally, I am enrolled as a full time student to cover my pre-requisites for my graduate application, and my GPA for Fall 2009 was 3.324 in 21 units of primarily science and statistics courses. I am also currently taking MicroEconomics and will take Macro next quarter. I trust my recent record is a better reflection of my strong commitment to further study, and I will be similarly focused in my studies at University next year.


Also, you may have noticed from my resume and my essays that I speak of a wide myriad of experiences. Part of this comes from my desire to do it all, and my faith that it can all be done. In college mentors encouraged me to choose a specialty field such as stage management or light design. I persisted in taking all the different tech and design classes that were offered, even including "Arts Administration" which focused on the business side of show business.

Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I was employed in several fields, from children's musical theatre to nyl. Part of this was the mercurial nature of theatre freelancing. However, I also knew what I was waiting for. When the right opportunity came knocking, one that offered travel and salaries in return for my skills and love of tech theatre, I was packed and ready, and did the job happily for six years, seven days a week, seventy plus hours a week. Not only that, but my solid foundation in all things theatre turned out to be a great benefit because as one of only two entertainment tech staff on board, I had to draw upon all of those different disciplines.

Since leaving that job, I've been waiting for the next opportunity, the next career. I know what it is. I haven't committed to any long term job, but I have been preparing, taking classes, reading and meeting people, all with my end goal in mind. Red China becoming Green China. Mother Earth breathing again. A job with meaning, purpose, contribution. When those pieces fall into place, you'll find that I will once again, commit all my time and energy for my next career.