This admission essay recounts the author's personal journey from life under the communist regime of the former USSR to building a new life in the United States. The essay explores the hardships of immigration, the cultural disorientation of adapting to American society, and how these experiences cultivated a deep interest in international affairs and diplomacy. Drawing on firsthand observations of human rights concerns in Brazil and Russia, the author argues that their immigrant background and academic preparation in international business uniquely position them for a career in global diplomacy.
Discovering the United States completely changed my life. Being born and raised in the former USSR, my life before coming to the U.S. could not have been more different from what it is now. Back there, my family's life was limited by a series of hardships: the lack of sufficient food, the lack of sufficient money, and, essentially, the lack of adequate living conditions. However, the thing that hurt the most was the absence of unconditional freedom — a defining consequence of the communist regime at that time.
I was somehow accustomed to that lifestyle, and I did not fully understand what it meant to me until I arrived here. The first few years after our arrival in the U.S. were very difficult for me and my family. I was constantly comparing the two lifestyles — the old one and the American one — finding advantages and disadvantages in both. I was practically confused and completely disoriented, because I missed my old way of life even though I knew it had been harmful to us. I also knew that life in the U.S. would be good for us, but I was having a hard time fitting in and adjusting to these new conditions.
Life for us was not easy at the beginning. I was not used to such a different environment, and I felt lonely, disoriented, helpless, and quite uncomfortable. However, this situation ultimately worked in my favor. I channeled all of these feelings into a positive, driving force that made me realize I had to work hard to succeed, and that directed all of my efforts toward the academic field. Beyond this, I am now able to recognize a series of other advantages granted by my experience as an immigrant. This experience developed certain adaptation skills, as well as the ability to understand different cultures, lifestyles, and individuals, and to work effectively in diverse conditions.
School in the U.S. is also very different from school in the former USSR, where students were taught a little of everything. Here in the U.S., I realized that one must specialize in the academic field in which one excels. For me, that field is international affairs.
For the past few years, my main area of academic interest has been international affairs. The reason behind this interest lies in my strong desire to become a world-renowned diplomat. My fascination with international affairs led me to begin considering a career in diplomacy years ago, as my passion for this field is not a temporary matter.
"Specialization in international affairs and diplomacy goals"
"Firsthand observations of rights issues abroad"
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