Food. It is and will forever be a necessity. It is basically the wonders of that thing called food that has inspired me during my college years to take up bachelor of arts in culinary arts at the Art Institute of California in San Diego. And, it is also going to be my motivation as I move on to pursue a master’s degree in food science, majoring in food processing at the University of California as a company scholar.
My passion for food began as a kid whose only companion at home is my mom and a younger sister. My dad died early, that is why mom had to work 18 hours per week to make ends meet, most especially since my sister has an inborn gastrointestinal disorder that meant costs in medicines, consultations, and regular check-up with the family doctor. My sister’s disorder also meant the necessity of always serving nutritious food at the dining table. But nutritious food, as most people know it, are often boring, bland, and dull tasting. Being the one left most of the time to attend to household chores, one of which is cooking our meals, I was forced to leaf through pages of cookbooks for nutritious yet tasty and hearty menus. I was able to find some, mostly from Asian recipe books. The challenge for me then was to find less costly alternatives, because Asian ingredients in the United States can be pretty expensive. I was also able to create my own healthy yet tasty meal innovations, which consisted mostly of veggie barbecues, fruit and white meat salads, and seafood pasta or rice dishes.
My entry to the Art Institute of California came as a proverbial gift from the heavens by a councilor who discovered my talent for cooking at a dinner party in which I was one of those hired to whip up the menu. Studying culinary arts at the Art Institute has been, for me, the grandest learning experience I’ve ever had. I got to practice the skills I already have and at the same time acquire new skills. The best thing that happened to me then was when one of my dishes won first place at a food exposition in Hollywood. The dish was my own simple rendition of Salisbury steak with macaroni and cheese. The only difference is, I used my own recipe for vegetable patties to make the steak. I had to go through a lot of research and trial cooking before I came up with the dish. This was to make sure that I will be able to come up with the right mix of nutrients, tastes, and holding time once I present it.
Right now, I am currently working for a Hollywood restaurant as sous chef. My graduate studies in food processing will be of great help for my research skills especially now that our restaurant is planning on expanding our job descriptions as well as the menu. My masters education will also help when I start training the apprentices.
Photo Credit : waffler
I am a senior banking officer working for a state government owned financial institution based in Boston, Massachusetts. I am currently holding a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance from Boston University, and I aim to get my master in science degree, majoring in banking and finance services management from the same University.
What sparked my interest in pursuing graduate studies in banking and finance services management? Basically, having served as banking officer for three years in a private banking firm and ten years at my current company, my superiors advised me to start aiming for the status of “a bigger frog in a bigger pond”–that is, gaining sound academic credentials and further research experience for executive bank managerial positions. Thus said, I re-present myself to my Alma Mater as a scholar of my company, hoping to gain and contribute to the finance industry in the same way that the University has inspired me to do so when I was still a college student years back.
So, how did my preoccupation in financial matters start? It actually began when I was still in grade school. As early as second grade, my parents, who happen to be business people and owners of a local supermarket, already instilled in me, their only child, the importance of “saving for the rainy days.” They taught me how to drop in my piggy bank at least a percentage of my allowance every week so that I can have spare money to buy my favorite stuff with. But they also told me to not empty the contents of my piggy bank all at once, so that I will still have savings. True enough, come third grade, I already have enough collections to open my first ever bank account with U. S. Bank. I remember how proud I was way back when my parents accompanied me during my kiddie bank application with U. S. Bank. Thinking that I was already able to save up that much money at a very tender age somehow filled me with pride, because I knew then that I can be responsible enough in handling my life in the future. But little did I know then that it was my first encounter with the bank that will influence what I am going to become in the future.
It also helped that, ever since I started schooling, my favorite course has always been arithmetic and everything else that is related to numbers, formulae, and figures. When we first had accounting during seventh grade, I was hooked. By then, my savings in the bank soared to five digits, and my younger brothers and sister are following suit. It was then that I decided that I want to work in a bank when I grow up.
Having gone to Boston University for my bachelor’s degree and to my current place of work are blessings that I will eternally be grateful for. As I move on to another chapter of my life, that is, pursuing a master’s in management degree, I am confident that I will be just as competent and able as a graduate school student as I have been when I was still a little boy setting aside cents and dollar coins in my piggy bank.
Photo Credit : tylerc083
Our home in Florida was just really tiny, but when you go inside, you’ll definitely want to stay. That’s because of my mother’s magic touch–she has this knack for making everything so wonderfully organized and designed, that even in our little bungalow, we were able to squeeze in a 50 by 50 inch flat screen TV set, three bedrooms partitioned by aesthetic wooden dividers, and an indoor garden, to name some, and still have some extra space left! She was my inspiration when I took up my bachelor in fine arts course at the Ringling College of Art and Design, majoring in interior design.
As a college interior design student, I took joy in finding not just beauty but art in every nook and cranny in the house–in the rooms, in the corners, the doors, the floors, the walls, the ceilings, everything. I would always draw plate after plate of interior home and office designs, construct dioramas, do showcases, and do actual interior designing projects in school buildings, private homes, and business establishments. I would also be tasked to conduct research on the trends in interior designing, both during the past and at present, and from this data draft my own forecasts on the possible future trends in the field of interior designing. My favorite interior designing project in college was an international interior design showcasing event which was held in Milan, Italy. I headed a group of five students and prior to the event, we had to do research on a particular indoor structure in society that we think needed sound interior designing. Inspired by my mother’s ideas, I settled for toilets, because based on data we garnered from our survey, it actually came out as the most important yet most neglected indoor structure in society. Then, we had to canvas for items to use in our toilet interior designing showcase, and do more research to enable us to come up with our own future trend in toilet interior designing. Our showcase won the gold medal in that event and landed me a junior designer job in a prestigious interior design firm based in Milan after graduation. My job enabled me to travel to various countries to learn about their interior designing preferences. The most interesting so far were mostly from Asia, particularly the feng shui influences in China and the ikebana flower arrangements of Japan. In fact, during the course of my job I was able to design a young executive’s office using a mixture of Chinese, Japanese, Italian, and Latin American concepts.
Right now, I am aspiring for a Master’s degree in interior designing from Florida State University. A Master’s degree will enable me to advance in my job, do more research in my field, and come up with more new concepts.
Photo Credit : decor8
Knowledge is power and can help in healing. And I’ve always believed that there is no limit to what we can learn. The only limits are what we set for ourselves. Yet, in my field of study, knowledge must be paired with compassion. In delving in the psychology of people, one must be open to the myriad of emotions and be able to penetrate the defensive walls that people place around feelings, while keeping aware of academic knowledge. I believe that I have this capacity, and I am looking forward to developing my skills and knowledge through graduate education.
I am a native of the Philippines and my family moved to the United States just ten years ago. This change was overwhelming at first, but the similarities in our cultures helped me quickly adjust. I adapted to the way of life and was able to graduate with honors at the University of _____, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.
I returned to the Philippines and became a Human Resources manager for a big telecommunications company. The position carried with it huge responsibilities; however, I found my work immensely enjoyable and appreciated the interactions I had with a diverse group of professionals. After a few months though I realized that corporate work wasn’t for me and how I longed to do clinical Psychology work.
I went back to America to pursue my Master’s in Education. I thought this would be good grounding towards family counseling work that I intended to do. My graduate studies in Education gave me a better understanding of the many factors that affect a child’s development. Again, I worked in Human Resources to support myself through my studies.
In time, I was able to focus on Psychological Counseling. I again took up graduate studies in the field and was able to graduate with a Highest Distinction award from the Psychology Department. I then worked as an intern at the ____ College. I was student counselor and then research assistant, which gave me invaluable knowledge on the subjective and the objective. My hands-on counseling allowed me to know and help individuals with their struggles; while statistical research work gave me insight on commonalities and trends in the field.
As I delved deeper into Psychological counseling work, I began to focus on my key interests. I am particularly concerned about helping the immigrant community address its psychological issues. I currently volunteer with the local outreach program that extends counseling help to Asians
Ultimately, I want to work as both researcher and practitioner. The field of psychology is continually evolving and yet there is so much left to do in terms of changing societal attitudes towards mental illness. I intend to do research on preventive treatments for mental illnesses. Doctoral studies will me attain my goals, as well as improve my service to others.
Photo Credit : Rich Anderson
In a changed culture where fast and easy are key words, there has been a shift in attention and appreciation from the written word. Yet, for me, literature remains timeless treasures. Each book offers a reservoir of knowledge, emotions and passions. Each book is a treasure that should be guarded with care and reverence. My pursuit of a degree in Library Science will allow me to fuse my passion for books in both my personal and professional lives.
I believe that we become truly successful in things we are passionate about. There should not be a gap between what we do to put food on the table and what we do out of love. I am a mother of two and an active community volunteer. As such, I’ve always believed that what I do should make a difference in the lives of the people I care about the most. I hope that in going into Library Science, I can practice in an academic setting where I can influence young people in taking interests in books.
I’ve worked several jobs, most of which had something to do with writing. While in a sales and marketing company, I drafted presentations and advertising materials. I wrote out words that I knew would add value to the product and influence how people thought of it. Later on, I worked for a print magazine, for which I wrote articles and blurbs, and helped plan content. I loved my work, and it became natural to me to write out ideas and share my thoughts.
Like many writers, I believe that I can only be good at my craft if I kept on reading. So I have read my fair share of books and truly enjoyed them. This type of exposure helps me hone my talent.
Apart from improving my craft, I also learned a lot from my work experience. As a web writer for a start-up company, I realized the value of technology and how we need to promote it. As magazine contributor, I researched on different civic and legal procedures that affect my community. As volunteer for the Montessori School, I found out about alternative-education systems that aid in facilitating further learning. It was here in the school setting where I was inspired to take my graduate studies and improve my skills.
I want to do work that effect change. This is something that’s always been true about myself, which I realize through active involvements with various civic organizations like the American Red Cross and the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. In becoming a librarian, I feel that I will be able to make a positive contribution to the lives of young intellectuals. It is an opportunity for me to share my love and passion for the written word. Hopefully, I will be able to immeasurably enrich children’s lives and make them learned readers.
Photo Credit : victoriapeckham
The one real mistake we can make in life is to not learn from missteps and challenges that come our way. In fact, it is in the missteps and challenges where we learn the fullest and become better persons. I believe that with all my experience and training, I am best in helping people know themselves, and understand and learn from their vulnerabilities. And, for me, there’s no better field to be at than community counseling.
I had a middle-class upbringing, with both parents in civil service careers. My mother was a schoolteacher while my father was a county supervisor. This imbibed in me the ideals of hard work and civic duty. I believed that we should all give back to our communities, whenever we get the chance.
Early in my life, I was already working to support myself and others. From high school to college, I took on part-time jobs like grocery store clerk and office assistant in the university’s athletic department. I volunteered for home building and renovation projects, and participated in charity events like fundraisings.
I worked as psychotherapist in a few community clinics after college. On my free time, I volunteered at the local high school and worked as guidance counselor. I found several successes through this period, working with troubled individuals, and these strengthened my conviction that I am in the right field.
I have begun work as drug and alcohol counselor at a local counseling center. I teach people to begin rebuilding their lives by owning up to mistakes and starting over. The hardest part in this work is instilling in people that there is nothing to be ashamed about, and that they should not let frustrations overpower their commitment to change.
With my involvements, I have come to realize how our legal and social care system needs to change as well. Drug offenders are imprisoned and then released without rehabilitation alternatives. Recidivism is high among these individuals and thus, creates bigger social and criminal problems. The conservative attitude of punishing offenders turns a blind eye to real emotional and psychological problems that can be addressed and can help curb drug abuse. As counselor, one of my goals is to seek legislative reform for drug-related criminal offenses.
I want to pursue graduate studies as the next step to becoming an active clinician and candidate for doctoral work. My focus will remain in community counseling as there is still so much work to do, particularly in economically depressed areas. I feel that the lack of support and proper education in these areas. My long-term goal is to become an educator, and train people to become counselors. I expect that things won’t come easy – there may be no financial rewards ahead and this type of work can tax even the toughest hearts. Yet, I envision the health and success of my community. I look forward to further educating myself and improving my capacity to help. There is no greater duty for me than to be an advocate for my patients.
Photo Credit : Double Feature
The strong among us would run the distance to capture that elusive dream. I learned early on that this is the only way dreams are realized – that is, we envision, work, and love what we’re doing while at it. Although it takes time and a lot of hard work to get to our goals, this is the only way towards our greatest victory. We overcome life’s natural obstacles, learn, heal, and, in my case, teach people how to heal. I am look forward to graduate studies as the next step in my journey.
I got my Associate Degree before earning my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from ______ University. Through this, I supported myself working as a Certified Lifeguard, day care center assistant and eventually as a volunteer at the local child welfare services office. I worked since I was in high school, juggling thirty to forty hour workweeks.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved working with children. I found it greatly rewarding to teach and take care of children when I was in the day care center. It gave me satisfaction knowing that in small ways, I was contributing to their future. As volunteer for child welfare services, I tutored autistic bi-polar children. It was heartbreaking and challenging to teach mentally disabled children, yet I ploughed through. I was a natural with what I did and I am proud of the impact I have in their lives.
Later on, I became a case manager for the child welfare services office. This was the time when my life took a different turn. I learned to provide crisis intervention for children and their families. I investigated cases of child abuse, neglect and abandonment. Likewise, I became a children’s advocate, oftentimes representing them in court hearings and making sure that our public welfare system took care of them.
In time, I took on a supervisory role in the child welfare services office. I have been in this position for two years now, and I still find great fulfillment whenever I’ve somehow improved the lives of children and families. In recent victories, I was able to bring a child and her mother back together, after an abduction by the father.
My interest in Marriage and Family therapy has been brought about by my experiences. And while my learnings from my work in the child welfare services office are invaluable, I recognize the need to educate myself further. There have been much advancement in clinical diagnosis and treatment, which can help me improve in my functions and future endeavors.
My long-term goal is to have my own Marriage and Family therapy practice. A degree in MFT will help me realize this goal; as well as improve my dealings with children and families. I believe that my life experiences provide me with a solid foundation to take on graduate study, and I am ready for the next steps.
Photo Credit : Fr Antunes
