Purdue University education and personal professional goal achievement

Personal Statement

Since 1874, Purdue University has garnered a reputation of high academic integrity and achievement. Pursuing an education at Purdue University has always been a dream. Since completing my high school education in 2011, I felt that my purpose was to make a difference in the lives of others. With such a challenging childhood, my desire to persevere is fueled by circumstances. Such life events have yielded a strong desire to learn more and to give more. Furthering my education builds upon knowledge and experience by teaching important leadership skills necessary for today's complex workplace. Insomuch, a quality education will help achieve personal and professional goals that may add value by enriching the lives of others.

Reason for Pursuit

My mother who had her personal life's challenges precipitates my higher educational pursuit. Perhaps her sorrow fueled her alcoholism. During one particularly bad incident, after I rushed to the drugstore to buy medication to ease her sickness, she struggled against it so desperately that she broke a glass. When my mother recovered, we gave each other a big smile and she promised, "Only once, it will never happen again." Whenever I see my mother's painful struggle for life, an inner strength appears in me. Almost without realizing it, she has inspired me; I am imbued by her strength. The will to live and fight for life is strong inside me. It wasn't always so strong. When I was in the hospital, suffering from heart disease, there were times I felt like giving up. I didn't cooperate with the doctors. My mother told me stories about good times with my father before he had schizophrenia. I asked her why she never gave up on him. She said we should be grateful and tolerant, and that although he wasn't able to give her much, the things he did give her never left her heart. Suddenly, I understood why she overcame every difficulty she encountered. I realized that as long as my heart is full of love, my heart is bright with hope. Afterwards, I tried to follow her example by summoning my strength in an effort to recover quickly. I adopted her positive attitude, smiling at every doctor and patient as

I walked along the hallways. Even in my condition, I tried to help others in need.

My desire to learn also comes from my mother. When I was young, she taught me

English, music and Chinese. At first, I was uninterested in English and music, and unwilling to work on writing. Patiently, she persisted, lulling me to sleep by reading to me. She helped me master English pronunciation and decipher unfamiliar words I did not understand. She encouraged my passions and interests. In this way, she hoped that I would gradually fall in love with learning. I did.

I also share my mother's love of poetry, but while I was in the hospital, she did not allow me to read books for fear that reading would have a negative effect on my recovery because it might drain my energy. One morning, I could not restrain my eagerness to read, so I implored her to let me have a book. She consented, and when I was too tired to hold it up any longer, I asked her to read to me. I still recall the story in The Book of Songs • Xiaoya • Heming, "Cranes cry in deep pools, but their sounds could be heard in the sky. If you behave yourself, you will succeed." When I asked her about the meaning of those words, she told me, "Although you are nobody right now, you will be somebody in the future as long as you ceaselessly control yourself. You must bear it in mind." Nodding my head, I smiled and repeated what she had once said to me: "OK, only once, not again!"

Once I recovered, I followed the example of my mother's perseverance and courage, summoning my strength to go forward with my life. I had three years of school to make up. I knew that my destiny was in my own hands; I couldn't let anything stand in the way of my goals. Bravely, with love and optimism in my heart -- like my mother -- I am going forward in pursuit of an education so that I can achieve my dreams.

Value-Added Strengths