Something to Share

“Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” – Proverbs 4:7

My purpose for applying to graduate school is to allow me to attain a higher level of understanding in and undertake an in-depth study on the particular field I am very much interested in, which I then can turn it into a thesis. To me, there is no better way to improve the skills of life-long learning by writing a thesis. Long after I leave college, I will continue learning about the world and its vast complexities.

I am a Philippine-born and Hong Kong-raised half Filipino-Chinese. My father is a Chinese and my mother is a Filipino, as a result, I am proficient in English, Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, and Filipino. Moreover, I have earned a total of 12 units (72 hours) from studying Japanese language. I had my primary and secondary education in Hong Kong, and am going to finish my tertiary studies in the Philippines by this September. Due to my special ethnic background, I have always been interested in international relations matters. My parents are engaged in businesses that are related to diplomatic relations, thus I decided to take my bachelor’s degree in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs.

At heart, I have always wanted to pursue a master’s degree in international political economy, as I would like to work in any sector of the economy in Europe and in Asia, from international economic institution to small business, for which the knowledge and understanding of politics and economics as well as international relations are essential. In addition, I could be able to assist and support my parents’ businesses with the transferable knowledge I would have gained in IPE.

I am currently working in Manila as a part-time assistant supervisor in my mother’s own employment agency that deals with recruitment and deployment of Filipino workers. This job requires substantial knowledge about government and state, domestic and global economy, and operations of consulates and embassies. Apart from it, I learned how to work under pressure, manage my time, and develop my interpersonal skills.

Last year, I was encouraged by a South African Economist and a former Philippine Ambassador to several European countries to study in Europe, for it would be a good chance to see the world with a different perspective. The UK was a former colonizer of Hong Kong and has remained its significant role after the handover; hence, it would be a perfect place to do my master’s degree. The reasons I wish to study at xxx are its outstanding academic reputation and excellent facilities for research. Its Department of Political Science and International Studies has even been rated as one of the best in UK. Furthermore, the modules it offers are focused upon the economics of the EU, as well as East Asia and Europe, which are highly relevant and crucial to both my interests and future career.

Additionally, I am writing a thesis now entitled ‘the Implications of Sino-EU Trading Partnership to the US and Japan’. My passion for studying the ‘big-four’ in the contemporary world can then be fully satisfied when doing my research. I am motivated, hard-working and persistent; I believe these qualities would make me a good researcher.

The disadvantage I feel I have is the fact that I have not obtained a grade of 3.0 in many major subjects and thus offer a difficult path for any university to accept me. I failed to master in those important subjects because I had not absorbed and digested completely the core of them. Therefore, in order to do better in my remaining subjects, I would consult my professors more about the issues or topics that are not yet clear to me.

Providing with the facts and objectives mentioned above, I am confident to become a good postgraduate at your school.

I look forward to your advices and thank you for your consideration.

Hannah Chan