Why I Would Like a Degree, Personal Statement Example

I have over twenty years of experience in the painting and construction business. During this time, I have proven myself to be a reliable, enthusiastic, and a dedicated professional by always delivering projects within budgets and given time frames. At the same time, I have also been a committed union member for about twenty four years now. I have strong leadership and problem solving skills and in support of my claim, I once completed a project with a time duration of one and a half years without a single incident of injury. The project in question involved 60,000 labour hours. Just recently, I obtained an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences from Mount West Community College and would like to advance my academic experience by pursuing Bachelors in Labour Safety and Health from the National Labour College. I hope my academic experience at National Labour College will enable me to serve the IUPT Union more efficiently. I am passionate about the Union and its causes because I have personally benefitted from them. I don’t think I would have enjoyed the same workers’ rights had it not for the Union and its years of struggle for its members.

Since 2009 I have been a primary instructor to the Painters Union of Las Vegas, Nevada (Delegate DC15). As you see, I have already been teaching the Union’s members and I believe it is my responsibility towards the Union that I stay up to date with the latest developments that affect the Union and its members. I am also a Trustee to the Delegates DC15 as well as Chairperson of the Trustees to DC15. Similarly, I am a Trustee to Local 159 as well as Chairperson of the Trustees to Local 159. I have been able to make valuable contributions to the Painters Union of Las Vegas, owing to my strong background in Occupational Health and Safety Management within the construction industry. My work keeps me busy but yet I always find time for the Union because I believe in the same causes. I want the next generation of workers to have the same relationship with the Union that I have which is why I try setting personal examples. I often mention my personal experiences with the Union during my lectures and encourage my students to stay committed to the Union if they want to assure equal bargaining power and fair treatment by their employers. I am pursuing further education so that I am able to transfer some of my experience and knowledge to others in the community. I draw huge inspiration from 35^th U.S. President John F Kennedy’s famous quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”.

Since its earliest days, the mission of the Trade Union movement has been to help workers protect their rights and gain access to equal treatment in the workplace by forcing corporations to improve working conditions, pay fair compensation, and enforce health and safety standards. The role of trade unions in improving workers’ rights cannot be overemphasized. I remain committed to these goals of helping workers gain equal bargaining power against the corporations and I believe that by giving back to the community, one also increases his own chances of success in life. Education is an important tool that can help workers become aware of their fair rights and this is why I seek to advance my knowledge by obtaining the Bachelor’s degree in Labour Safety and Health.

I have been a Union instructor for three years now and I have been teaching because I believe that knowledge is supposed to be shared.  I am a modest working class individual with limited means which is why I am seeking financial support from the Union so that I am able to serve Union members even more effectively and educate them regarding the latest developments in labour laws and rights. The fact that I have been teaching continuously for the last two years means that union members find me an effective instructor and it is my duty towards them that I update my knowledge and transfer that knowledge to them. By helping me in pursuing further education, the Union will be investing in its own future because more informed workers would translate to greater negotiating power for the Union.

Between 2006 and 2008, I worked as the Superintendent in charge of the painting contract for a large Las Vegas condominium block. This project was extremely challenging and the Union’s support made a huge difference in the success of the project. The Union provided a benefits package to the workers including health and medical insurance for the entire duration of the project which was 1.5 years. The provision of benefits increased employees’ morale and improved their work performance. As a result, not a single employee incurred any injury but the presence of coverage did provide all fifty-eight crewmembers with a peace of mind that their workers’ rights will be protected. It was during this project that I obtained the Federal Agency Occupational Health and Safety (500) Certificate from the construction industry. This project also made me realize that workers feel empowered when they know Union is behind them and they work better. I owe it to the Union that it doesn’t only take care of me but also my colleagues and subordinates.

I have been a dedicated Union Member of IUPAT since 1988 and have served the Union selflessly. I have spared no energy and personal resources in ensuring that my actions advance the aims and the objectives of UIAT. I have gained huge confidence in my capabilities with my experience and it is this experience that has convinced me to pursue further education in order to keep up with evolving times as well as rapidly changing regulations. I hope you will appreciate my desire to continue to serve the Union with even more effectiveness and my degree from Curtin University will be a huge investment in this regard. I thank you for your time and hope you will extend valuable financial assistance to me. I look forward to many more productive years with IUPAT.