Public Policy Personal Statement

What do working in a jail, knee surgery, and obtaining a local government job in Davidson County have in common? For me, each has played a role in the journey of my career. My journey has led me to a juncture, where in order to reach my potential, I plan to pursue an advanced degree. After outlining my career to date, I will explain my rationale behind the pursuit of an MPA degree, and discuss why Appalachian State’s program, specifically, appeals to me.

Because utilitarians exclusively analyze consequences, a utilitarian approach would employ a utility-based calculus, wherein utility is defined—as per class discussion and most common usage—as the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people.

For me, Education is indelibly linked with public service. Penn embodies this ideal. My plans are concrete and the framework is established. The university’s resources and faculty will help me optimize their impact. The Netter Center, Pennovation Center, and CURF will enable me to finish what I have started: to make a difference—to see a need and fill the

Naturally made to be more controversial, resolutions regarding the implementation of the Right to be Forgotten, or a living wage fostered true discussions about the impact we, as policy makers can make on the world. Debating at the national level allowed me to see first hand how individuals around the country interpret the topic, what resonates with them, and how they can communicate it to the community at large.

I was born the fourth of December 1991 in Cranbrook British Columbia. I lived there for 18 years. Before joining the military I worked as a fry cook at a Burger King for three years and held part time jobs working for the College of the Rockies summer camp programs during the summer. My parents are currently living together in Cranbrook BC. My father works outside the province testing railway tracks for two months at a time, then returns home for two to three weeks. My mother acts as the main contact point of the family, she works as a financial clerk. I have a 22 year old sister who will be attending university in Calgary this September. I attended Mount Baker Secondary School in Cranbrook and graduated in 2009

I decide to strive toward the political science field. One of my first career goals is to receive a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Having a bachelor’s degree, I will emphasis in being a Legislative Field Representative and assists a government member with helping constituents with any issue involving city services and quality of life. I Also plan to pursue a master’s degree in Public Policy that will further my career, possibly be a diplomat in residence, providing guidance and advice on careers, and fellowships to students and professionals in the communities they serve.

Experience in, or the ability to acquire specific knowledge of, the health and human services and government relations and policy development

There are few certainties of what one will encounter during life. A common joke names two: death and

Growing up, my parents instilled the value of service in me. For this reason, I pursued a degree in Education in order to serve my community with the best skillset. However, it was until serving as an AmeriCorps member that I developed a more critical lens to what public service means. Before my term of service, I thought serving was just a matter of showing up and completing a task. While this is partially true, I learned that in order to maximize change, it is important to involve who we are serving. At times, we focus more on quantity rather than quality and end up doing a disservice to communities who need the most help. I want to serve with The Peace Corps to facilitate change and to empower communities through education.

In addition to witnessing the issues our system of implementation faces from my own perspective, I discussed the system with fifteen other fellows and two program directors who experienced public service from all conceivable backgrounds- each adding voices previously diminished in government along categories of race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, and class. The fellowship also established the comprehensive framework I was looking for; it illuminated different aspects of public service and politics: speaking with department heads, politicians, non-profits, lobbyists, and bureaucrats all along the hierarchy gave a full picture of each moving part. Learning the variation within an institution that is all too often conflated to a single word was fascinating and highlighted where the issues

Pursing a career as a medical doctor is an opportunity for me to mentor youth in underserved populations. As a child, I was raised in the low income, urban community of Roxbury, MA. Although not as notorious today, the neighborhood had garnered negative attention for its high crime rates. My mother emigrated from Haiti and raised me as a single parent. Due to our financial circumstance, Roxbury became our permanent residence. I have always felt there was something lacking in Roxbury in comparison to other towns I visited. My teenage years were largely spent in the suburban town of Stoneham where I attended high school. There was a literal difference in air quality and a psychology contrast in future prospects. While native students of

In our lives, we have to make important choices, and sometimes our choices determine our happiness or sadness. As a Filipino, our families tell us to do well in school and to not make bad choices because they want us to be successful and to have ethical morals. Growing up as a Catholic, I was taught to be obedient and respectful to my family which has shaped who I am today. Yet, I too made some mistakes, and I learned from the consequences. From my failures, I learned to not belittle myself, but to grow.

Sitting in a classroom during the first course for my Administrative Credential, I still clearly recall the moment when I first heard that quote. I had been a classroom teacher for over ten years and yet I had not necessarily thought of or articulated teaching and learning through this lens. This quote and the ensuing discussion I engaged in with my colleagues that evening, resonated with me so strongly that it forever changed and guided my vision of education.

I have a wide range of skills and knowledge that I have acquired throughout my personal and professional life. I can communicate with different types of people regardless of age, race or class. I have accessed a huge range of courses that have enabled me to develop interpersonal skills including negotiation and dealing with different types of people and personalities. I also have the knowledge, drive and enthusiasm to work alone when required as I am self-motivated and can meet targets and deadlines. I believe that challenges are best met positively by developing and improving knowledge and skills and through professional reflective dialogue that leads to change. I am very hard-working and reliable. I work well under pressure achieving a high standard of work. I have practical and organisational skills and I can find solutions to problems and face challenges confidently.

“What goes around comes around” is a popular saying worldwide bad deeds never go unpunished. Everything we do or say determine on what’s going to happen to us in the future. Whether we act honestly, dishonestly, help or hurt others. Karma can be divided into good or bad. I believe that if you do something good something good will happen to you. if you do something bad then something bad will happen to you. karma is not something I believe in because of stories told by friends, but because of personal experiences.