Goals Statement couldn't believe my eyes. After all the wrapping paper lie strewn on the floor, I held in my hands the best present I had ever received. It wasn't a Game Boy or a new CD: it was a book called "Chemistry for Kids," and it came with a small lab set. I wasted no time, and immediately set out to perform my first experiments. I felt high as I gathered ordinary household items and watched them change into new forms of matter. My very first experiment was a success, and a practical one, too: I made my very own toothpaste. No many people can say they made toothpaste when they were ten years old, yet with the help of a simple chemistry set and a few materials I found around the house, I experienced newfound joy in my daily ablutions before school. My homemade toothpaste became a great source of pride for me, and reflects my lifelong passion for chemistry. I don't really know where this passion comes from, as no one else in my family is near being a chemist. As the youngest member of my family, I watched my siblings graduate from university and succeed in their careers due in large part to my mother's support. It's my turn to head to graduate school now, although I have already given my mom reason to be proud of me. Since that fateful day when I made my own toothpaste, I have received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in chemistry, conducted post-graduate research at Beta International, and later became...

However, I moved from Egypt to the United States in the year 2000, and had considerable trouble finding work in my chosen field. Through a friend, I secured a good job with a company that supplied chemicals and other lab materials for industrial and academic use, but as a consultant and assistant manager, not as a scientist as I had hoped. Therefore, I am now applying to George Mason University's (NAME OF DEPARTMENT HERE) so I can build on the already solid foundation I have in the field of chemistry.
Since I have lived in the U.S., I have researched post-graduate institutions in order to discover which schools would best suit my needs and desires as a student. I also want to find a university whose staff inspires me and with whom I fit in. Having learned that George Mason is one the largest universities in the Washington area, I visited the Fairfax Campus to see what kind of resources the school offered and to determine the specialty interests of the faculty. While there, I met Dr. Hussam, who strongly encouraged me to apply after hearing about my prior work and research.

While at Beta International, I performed experiments that were uncannily similar to the one that had sparked my interest in chemistry in the first place: I worked mainly with oils, soapstock, and glycerin materials. While I was a researcher, I learned how to recycle and…