Sop For Grad University Personal Statement

One of the proudest accomplishments of my life was earning my associates degree, despite the fact that my family history pointed in the opposite direction. Most of my family members did not even graduate high school, let alone considered going to college. Throughout my life my family was considered “working poor,” and I never thought I would get the chance to participate in the academic community. Because of my absolute commitment toward earning my degree, I worked the ominously named graveyard shift as a restaurant cleaner almost every night, which enabled me to acquire my degree while supporting myself financially.

Enrolled at the local community college, I experienced a different world. Inspired by the atmosphere and dedicated to finding

I have succeeded in those classes, and I am more determined now than ever. A course in particular on Lucretius, a philosophical poet in the first century BCE who wrote a work discussing the nature of the universe, made me realize where I want to focus my studies. His exposition on the ethics and physics of Epicureanism made me realize that I wanted to study the progression of scientific thought, beginning with early Greek philosophers. I realized I could combine my passion of science and philosophy by returning to the University at Buffalo to receive my BS in Mathematical Physics and my PhD in Classics. I am excited to return to the University at Buffalo because I can continue being a part of the academic community that I have spent four years being an active member through leadership roles.

Truthfully, I never viewed myself as a leader. When I consider what qualities would make a good leader, I imagine someone who believes in themselves and inspires other, someone who is quick and decisive, and someone who can solve any problem with a their creative and organization skills. Many people have different notions of what being a leader actually means; I think most people, like myself, when they begin to imagine the qualities one needs for leadership, focus more on the awesome qualities the person should embody rather than their role in the

As the President of the Classics Department Club, I was given great opportunities to involve both my classmates and students from other departments: Classics at UB, an event we made in order to invite those from other departments to meet and learn more about our department; Greek and Latin Roots: GRE Prep, we made in order to help non-majors with the verbal section of the GRE, and also to promote the Classics department to other students; NJCL Certamen, is an event that we are currently working on which we will invite around 300 high school students to the University at Buffalo campus to visit and participate in a Latin-styled jeopardy game. These events provide a space for students from my department and other departments to meet each other and even become involved themselves. In addition, my role as the College of Arts and Sciences Ambassador for the Classics Department provided me ample occasions to work for the University at Buffalo