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Personal Statement:Political Science and PhilosophyTSR Wiki > University > Applying to University > Personal Statement Library > Political Science and Philosophy
Political Science and Philosophy Personal StatementMost academics, when asked "Where did your passion come from?" might respond by recalling a subject teacher they found fascinating as a child; or by describing an inspiring novel they once read. Well mine, as unorthodox as it may seem, descended from a video game; 'Metal Gear Solid'. As a child, it was the first time the concept of a 'Nuclear Weapon' had been infused in my mind, and I can still remember the surreal feelings of awe and unease I experienced as I came to terms with the gravity of such a power. Along with these feelings, however, accompanied inspiration; I wanted to know more. From that day, it became a great desire of mine to explore the inner workings of our world and to understand how the people 'in charge' of our world came to be; how and why society has formed into what it is today -- politically and philosophically. As I became older I started to explore these concepts. Noam Chomsky's 'Imperial Ambitions' gave me insight into why political agendas could differ from their respective official accounts, and how government predisposed media could be used to manipulate the masses; such as the 'Hitler Youth' recruitment efforts during WW2. I became intrigued with the nature of power struggles between nations, and the reasons behind potentially catastrophic consequences of administrative actions, such as the war in Iraq; which naturally led me to enquire into the philosophical nature of man. Susan Blackmore's 'The Meme Machine' and her theories on 'memetics' opened up my mind to revolutionary concepts; such as the illusions of one's very nature of 'self' and 'free will' being the by-product of self-replicating memes; triggering within me a yearning for a deeper understanding into the evolution of culture and ideology. Historical sociology has captivated me too; specifically post civil war America and the differences in which individual state governments handled issues of raised public awareness regarding the philosophical values that the country was founded on; such as freedom and democracy; and how these values began to influence and shape political trends (i.e. abolishing slavery). Associating these changes in relationship to the effects of the economy gave me a deeper understanding into The South's new misshapen ideologies favouring segregation (i.e. 'Jim Crow'), inspired by shortages of cheap labour. This inter-relating of disciplines via 'cause and effect' had aided me in developing my analytical skills, giving me an 'eye' for researching situations from alternative perspectives. Currently, outside college, I work as a manager's assistant within a local News Agents. I'm tasked with introducing 14-17 year olds to newspaper rounds while monitoring their prolonged efforts. Initiating a professional rapport with young teenagers while displaying firm leadership qualities is mandatory, which can be reasonably daunting for some; however, over the years I have naturally developed my confidence to now flourish when working amongst others towards a common goal. In my free time, I enjoy reading magazines like 'Focus' and 'New Scientist', while respected newspapers and T.V programmes such as 'The Independent' and 'Question Time' keep me up to date with global affairs. I also play Jazz Piano to a Grade 7 standard; however, I find most of my enjoyment playing 'freestyle' -- ironically, allowing the mind to 'freely wander' this way takes focused discipline to master; a mannerism in which I feel I would be able to take with me, to University. Whilst looking forward to the challenges that higher education has to offer, I also look forward to being given the opportunity to learn, and eventually even impart, new ideas amongst academics. The notion of 'feeding' off of the minds of those who share a similar enthusiasm to me feels like an adventurous prospect that fills me with great excitement, and great determination. Universities Applied to:
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