I am …, and I would like to apply for university's distinctive Philosophy, Politics, and Economics program. Having the skills and knowledge to understand the world has always fascinated me. My fascination with the "philosophy of money," as described by my economics teacher, led me to explore the dynamics of a capitalist society. Thanks to my understanding of the supply and demand determinants, I acquired new ways of thinking, learning that many economic situations are looked at by categorizing and evaluating causation and correlation between factors. Introducing this new approach to my daily life, I applied it to gain deeper insights into complex problems such as the Russia-Ukraine war or the conflict trap in Sierra Leone. Through these problems, I recognized the interconnectedness of Economics and Politics, being compelled to explore this evolving science further and contribute to its discourse, attaining its thinking mannerisms.
The PPE program at university is a unique opportunity to delve into the evolving and interconnectedness of the social sciences. Together, Economics and Politics in the gravity field of philosophy contain a solid foundation of the dynamics of the world. Courses like Contemporary Political Philosophy and Moral Philosophy and Value Theory promised to provoke questions about human nature, fulfilling one of my primary objectives in joining this program: to question the dynamics of the world.
The program will allow me to learn to tackle many situations with more experienced and insightful lenses. The interdisciplinary nature of the courses, combined with the diversity of perspectives in individual seminars, aligns perfectly with my eagerness to listen and learn from various cultural backgrounds. Diversity is something I'm looking for with the freedom the course brings. Throughout my academic journey, independence has been crucial because I can identify what works for me and what doesn't as a student and, most importantly, as a life-long learner. The hands-on experience opportunities and choice for the specialization in the last semesters would help me obtain my desired NGO job.
Regarding my profile, one of the traits that characterizes me is my ambition. When I was young, I gained a scholarship to study at my current high school because of my excellent academic grades, behavior, and stand-out singing. I still recall, when applying, my excitement and determination to give my best no matter what came my way, and that never changed. Moreover, as part of Enseña Perú (an NGO that works for quality education), I joined the Student Leader Advisory Council of Teach For All, the international network, because I wanted to impact the world positively, no matter my age. In my community, Aprender Para CreSER, a school club run by two other students and me, was able to represent the school in the AMISA Global Citizenship competition due to our strong potential for continuing to make a difference in the lives of others. I am very thankful for those experiences and look forward to having more like these. I like to challenge myself and learn new things, and with these traits, I can satisfactorily master the PPE program because I have personal purposes in my learning that will only drive me forward. Similarly, I've attained academic skills that make me a suitable candidate for the program. These would help me evaluate how the social sciences, directly and indirectly, relate to society's economic and cultural life. For example, I solidified my analysis skills through "La Señorita Julia" by August Strindberg or "Persépolis" by Marjane Satrapi by reflecting on the character's actions/motives and cultural context. Then, critical thinking is a skill I've been molding when writing academic papers like consumerism in contemporary society. Not only that, but I've trained my interpretation of data with my World Studies Extended Essay when focusing on the Dowry System. To gauge the situation's complexity accurately, I asked critical questions to create strong arguments. Plus, the overall experience sparked my curiosity for similar topics, no matter the hours spent drafting the paper. PPE would require me to research and analyze different issues, so academic experiences like these have provided me with a strong foundation for my future studies.
In addition, my communication, teamwork skills, and meticulousness can also contribute to my
preparation. When co-leading a webinar to interview the CEO of a company, the interviewee was impressed by my performance. On the other hand, through volleyball and dance, I have learned to see myself as part of a community, especially in competitions, where we work towards the same goal. And at the same time, dancing has taught me about attention to detail. My desire to do it flawlessly has helped me and my team get second place in the All Dance Peru competition.
To achieve my goals, PPE is the best choice. It would allow me to help communities more effectively than I could without learning essential matters from the program. I'm thrilled by the breadth of elective courses, such as the Practice of Neoliberalism and International Trade and Global Business. As a Peruvian, I know the potential we have as a country to increase economic growth and development. Despite political instability, we have kept foreign investment and a stable currency. Yet, I know many challenges still promote scarcity for families in vulnerable situations, and I want to change that.
Moreover, I'm willing to contribute to the university's community through extracurricular
opportunities, as I have been doing throughout high school. My curiosity and joyful attitude would contribute to the learning experience of the social sciences. It reminds me of the potential of humanity, and therefore would work hard to comprehend it better.
In conclusion, I am eager to enroll in the PPE program at university to deepen my
understanding of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. I am excited about the prospect of contributing to and learning from this engaged academic community while pursuing my passion for the social sciences.
