Attending Blinn College and Hope to Soon

¶ … attending Blinn College and hope to soon transfer to Texas A&M University's school of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Sciences. There, I believe I will be able to expand my knowledge in my chosen field of interest: resort and hotel management. My academic and personal history has prepared me for this transfer, as I have come to realize that narrowing my focus can help me achieve my goals. I already understand what the rigors of attaining a college degree entail, and I feel confident that I can meet the challenges of immersing myself in a highly specialized program such as the one offered at Texas A&M.

Although I haven't experienced any truly catastrophic events in my life from which I can draw strength and drive me forward in my education, I bring with me the gratitude for having a supportive family and base of friends. In fact, my motivation for graduating from college comes mainly from my family. Although they are successful in their areas of business, my parents recognize the extra work they encountered along the way because of their lack of college degrees. Because of the hardships they endured, they always taught my siblings and me the value of a higher education, not only to improve our prospects on the job market but also to increase our exposure to different fields of study and to different people. Having a solid foundation on which to turn to in times of need is fundamental to achieving the goals I have set for myself; this support base will continue throughout my years at A&M. My main responsibilities at home have always been succeed in school, and to push myself to learn more, do more, and achieve more. Because of this system of core values and beliefs, my older brother, my younger sister, and I are all pursuing higher educations.

Although I have always tried hard in school, only recently have I gained the insight and knowledge that the tourism industry is where my passions lie. I am not applying to Texas A&M to receive an arbitrary higher degree. Rather, I intend to receive a degree in a field I am genuinely interested, a degree from a school that is recognized for its dedication to its students and curriculum. I will probably attend a few football games or midnight yells at A&M; part of the appeal of the school lies with its social life and subcultures. However, academics are what motivate me to apply to this school in particular, as few schools I am interested in offer a degree program in the travel industry.

While at A&M, I plan on building a concrete foundation for my career, so that I will have a firm understanding of various aspects of the tourism industry. While I do know for certain that I am headed toward a career in this area, I do not yet know for sure whether I will want to examine options in hotel management, parks development, or travel consultation. En route to discovering my unique strengths, talents, and interests, I hope to challenge myself and take advantage of the resources available at the university.