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Personal Statement:History and American Studies 1TSR Wiki > University > Applying to University > Personal Statement Library > History and American Studies 1
History and American Studies Personal StatementI have a deep interest in how history has shaped the way in which modern society lives and how the USA has become one of the most powerful countries in the world, both economically and socially. This has been nurtured by various visits to museums and historical sites, with the First World War Battlefields tour of France and Belgium being one of my favourites. The realisation of the scale of grief and loss felt all over the world was humbling and triggered my curiosity in historical events that have significantly affected society. I discovered my interest in America shortly after the events of 9/11. Although I was only nine years old at the time, the tragedy left me wondering why the USA was targeted in such a brutal way, leading me to follow American politics very closely as I got older. Studying history at GCSE and A-Level has helped me to develop my leadership and teamwork skills, as I have regularly organised and delegated work when undertaking group work in my lessons. One unit that I have particularly enjoyed studying is The USA and the Cold War in Asia. This included such tasks as creating a presentation in groups to examine the reasons why the USA lost the Vietnam War and role-play to show how Chiang Kai-Shek’s leadership influenced the actions of the Kuomintang in the Chinese Civil War. Activities such as these have helped me to put across my ideas more clearly, both orally and in writing. Another unit that I am looking forward to studying is Civil Rights in the USA, which will involve examining and quoting from the Black Codes of various states to show how black people were segregated alongside the Jim Crow Laws. My other subjects of politics and media studies have also helped me to develop skills that will help me complete the degree course. Politics has taught me how to consolidate and prioritise facts, while the backing up of these facts with precise examples has been of huge importance. For example, political theory such as ministerial responsibility can be traced to incidents such as the impeachment of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich after he tried to auction the Senate seat left vacant by President Obama in December 2008. Media studies has helped me to improve my organisation skills and time management due to the volume of content that needs to be included in comparison and analysis essays. It has also helped me to learn how to use software such as Adobe Photoshop, which has shown me that I can learn quickly. While I have been completing my studies I have undertaken work experience at a building and renovation firm. As an office junior, I filed and renewed the insurance of companies that worked for my colleagues. This meant that I was responsible for handling personal information. In my free time, I like to keep fit by taking part in aerobics, which takes a considerable amount of commitment and determination but is very enjoyable. I also enjoy travelling, as I am a very independent person who enjoys discovering new things. I am hoping to visit the USA and Canada in particular because of the wide array of cultures within both, for example the large Hispanic sector of society in the USA and the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec. Studying this degree would help me to improve further the skills described above, but would also help me discover where my true interests lie and grow as a person. I am fully committed to studying the past and America in great detail as my passion for both, along with my determination, will help me to succeed on and thoroughly enjoy the course. Universities Applied to:
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