Fiona Personal Statement, Personal Statement Example

Before coming to America, I thought I already knew everything about America and Americans through media and the internet. It didn’t take long for me to realize that there is no substitute to travelling when it comes to an objective understanding of other people and cultures. When I met people from other countries and cultures, I became better aware of my biases and stereotypes and realized that cultures are often more similar than different.

In China, rules are important whether it is in private life or at school and/or workplace. Conformance to rules is a norm in the Chinese society and one of them is to be extremely dedicated to studies because your parents expect you to do so. After coming to America, I realized that success in life doesn’t depend on taking things to extreme but instead having a balanced approach to life. In the beginning, I only studied yet I could not score good grade like my American friends and some other international students who would often hangout on weekends and also actively participate in co-curricular activities on campus. Once I changed my daily schedule, not only my grades improved and my life became more enjoyable, but I also felt significant changes in myself as a person. By successfully managing studies, social life, and co-curricular activities, my self-confidence increased and I vastly improved my soft skills such as communication, leadership, and time management.

I never felt as passionate about making difference in the society in China as I do now after coming to the U.S. This is because in the U.S. your friends and the society continuously support you and remind you that you alone can also make huge difference in the world. In this country, you do things because you want to and not because you are expected to. I have come to the conclusion that people will surprise you if you give them freedom to choose their own path.

When I would visit China, my family would be curious to hear about my experiences in America and would often note my increased self-confidence and enthusiasm about life. I would introduce them to the ideas of liberty, respect for individuals, freedom of speech, and the power of the people to shape the future of their respective countries. Living in America has improved my creative thinking by providing me opportunities to interact with people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. When I look at social issues in China, I often think about the measures taken by other countries to improve public welfare and improve average standards of living.

Coming to America has been the single best decision I have ever made in life. Now I do not only want to have a career that feeds me but also want to make a difference in the society. The whole world is my home now because people everywhere desire most of the same things such as self respect, freedom of speech, opportunity to get education and work, and global peace.