Admission essay for a master's program

Personal Statement

To succeed in the world of international commerce and to deal effectively with multinational entities demands more than business skills. An entrepreneur must also be a diplomat, fluent in the culture and languages of the region with which he is dealing. I have worked as a government and market researcher specializing in the politics and economy of the Pacific Rim. I also have experience in purchasing, logistics and strategizing market development and entry. I believe that I am the sort of person who can truly 'make a difference' and make a lasting contribution to developing Australia's increasingly vital relationship with the Asia-Pacific region.

I seek to gain my master's degree in Asia-Pacific studies to give my life experience an additional theoretical context. I desire to expand upon what I have learned from my work and personal experiences. I am particularly interested in how Australia's relationship will be defined over the course of the next decades in relation to China, and of the desire to balance our nation's commitment to human rights with our need to do business with this great international economic powerhouse. My fusion of interests in politics and economics is also why I intend to take a six-month special course in diplomacy as well as pursue graduate study on the master's level in Australia. I think that after completing my studies I will possess the necessary qualifications to seek out potential new markets and to deal with government entities involved in Australian-Far East trade. At the end of my coursework, I intend to become an Australian citizen and use my academic and personal knowledge in service of Australian foreign relations and commerce.

I have had the privilege of traveling, living, studying and working in a wide range of nations over the course of my life. Born in Hong Kong, I have attended school in Canada and the United States. I have travelled through China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and India and, most recently, Australia. My work experience has been grounded in political and economic research and practice. My most recent research project for Arjan Interfax involved researching Australia-Chinese relations and how to approach human rights concerns while still maintaining a profitable relationship with China. I have also researched Indian foreign policy and its impact upon the current market environment. Contextualizing market research and logistics analysis in light of the Pacific Rim's unique cultural environment is essential when doing business with the region.

I have also worked for the international logistic consultant SCF Containers International Pty Ltd. (Australia), liaising with international freight forwarders to relocate containers in Australia as well as with factories in China. Through my work, I have become experienced in the intersection of political and regulatory matters, including negotiating with the Australian government to receive traffic concession for accommodation containers.