Personal Statement:Ancient History and Spanish 1

TSR Wiki > University > Applying to University > Personal Statement Library > Ancient History and Spanish 1

Ancient History and Spanish Personal Statement

For me, the most interesting area of study has always been people and the societies they build for themselves. Things such as the politics, culture and history of a civilisation have been a source of fascination for me, beginning with learning about Victorian Britain in primary school. The ancient communities of Rome, Athens and Sparta are of particular interest to me, as they show the successes of three distinctly different political systems. They also clearly demonstrate the necessity of adaptation for survival. As part of the Ancient History course last year I read Herodotus' The Histories, Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, and parts of Plutarch's Parallel Lives for an in depth look at ancient Greek history. This year I aim to read through the works of Suetonius and Tacitus, and have already read Augustus' Res Gestae.

I travelled to Rome with my Ancient History A-level class in April '08 to get a feel for the monuments built during their 'Golden Age', and the experience has fuelled my interest in the former capital of the western world. This year much of what we saw is relevant to the course, and I feel the trip was a success both academically and inspirationally, and has led me to realise that the history is as much a part of any location as its current events.

I have also found language and linguistics an enthralling topic since starting foreign languages at the start of secondary school. The wording of a speech can be a powerful tool, from swaying the public to support you in any democratic settlement, to university applications today. I love the different dialects, accents and mannerisms of foreign languages. Therefore, while not being a very mainstream choice, I feel my decision to take on both Spanish and French at A-level was perfect for me. I find the links between these two languages, combined with English and Latin, to be a captivating study, as the movement of people and customs are laid bare to see through their similarities and differences.

I also enjoy studying the cultures of Spain and France, as both have had a rich history and during their best years have been major world superpowers. Spanish history I find to be particularly interesting as through time we see them go from being the pioneers of the Americas, to being controlled under an oppressive dictator. Despite this, today they are a European hotspot for tourists.

I have been employed by xxxxxx since June 2007, and work there as a customer assistant. The work on the tills has given me much greater confidence in facing new people from all walks of life. During my reviews there I have been commended on my punctuality, attendance and self-presentation.

My attendance in school has been first-rate. Most terms in my time at xxxxxx School have seen my attendance maintain 100%. I spent three years as a representative for my form for the year group, and one year representing my year in the school council. At our year 11 prom, staff voted me as 'most likely to become a millionaire'. While not being an official award, I still take pride in knowing that those who have taught me feel I can make a success of myself, and I draw a lot of inspiration from this.

I am a keen supporter of local and national sport, and in my spare time enjoy playing the keyboard, to which I have currently reached a Grade 3 level. I also pay attention to current affairs, as I know that the goings on of today can and will shape my future.

In the future I hope to join the police force. I hope that from my choices of degree course I have the ability to both help people from overseas while in Britain requiring someone to speak with them in their own language, and also holiday makers, sports fans and expatriates having difficulties abroad. I also hope that through the degree I have a better understanding of people and society, which is an invaluable skill when dealing with all the different aspects of modern communities.

Comments

General Comments:

Comments on the statement: