I am a white American man who takes great delight in the celebration of diversity. The intersection of diversity issues and Social Psychology is the best description of the center of my personal and professional interests to date. Yet, I do not seek a professional lifetime of pure academics. My father is a Professor of Political Science at the University of XXXX. We have always been close, so I have a better-than-average understanding of what academic life entails. I do hope to teach at some point in my career, however, but I want it to be combined with industry experience. One of the reasons why the University of XXXX is my first choice for graduate school in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, for example, is that I would very much enjoy spending at least a few years working at XXXX.
“Not another team-building seminar,” I thought to myself, “and on a Saturday no less.” The speaker talked exclusively about a toothpaste factory and, at first, I was thinking about the other things I would have liked to have done with my Saturday. But as he continued to speak, I increasingly felt like a fish being reeled in by forces beyond his control. He told the story of the psychology of the assembly line, what made everyone ‘tick’ the way they did in that industrial context. By the time his presentation was over, I felt like I had just run smack into my vocation—becoming an I/O Psychologist; and I could not have been happier.
I am currently a lead medical assistant for a private practice, managing a team of 3 other medical assistants; I am also in charge of the laboratory. I am most pleased that I attend to many patients who are not proficient in English, enabling me to learn bits and pieces of their language to at least say "Hello, how are you feeling today." I also use my cell phone to translate for patients when they tell me what is wrong with them and convert their 'plan of care' (a summary of what they are supposed to do after the visit) into their native language so that any language barriers do not hinder them with respect to the doctors’ instructions.
Going that extra mile to surmount language barriers, while it often presents a challenge, is well worth it because it facilitates the building of a rapport with the patient. I feel very privileged to be living in fascinating times for my area of chosen professional engagement since new paradigm shifts related to diversity and globalization are emerging, and there are many new, very promising avenues of inquiry.
I am incredibly excited about the possibility of earning an advanced degree from UXX because of the presence in your program of Dr. XXXX since I very much admire his extensive work in intercultural awareness. I too dream of working in this area, studying how we can work with and build on our differences, and seeing them more as unique resources rather than simply a hindrance to communication. I look forward to a long lifetime of research into our understanding of how to promote multicultural appreciation in the workplace. I see no better place to begin than your distinguished I/O Psychology Program at UXX.
UXX is my first choice for graduate school for a variety of factors, including what is for me the most desirable location. I see your program as an excellent platform for networking and collaborating with many NGOs in the future in the areas in which I will develop my particular focus, particularly with respect to volunteer work on behalf of the medically underserved. I find enormous satisfaction in my current work as a manager in a clinical setting, and I look forward to developing a personal and professional focus on medical issues at UXX along with my more general studies in the psychology of human organization and my professional passion for diversity issues.
My colleagues at work often compliment me on my ability to always stay calm and to have a soothing effect on patients. I take pride in my compassion and will continue to work to develop it throughout my lifetime. Volunteer work has helped me to raise my civic consciousness, primarily through my church but also through my participation in animal rescues. A few years back I spent most of my summer nights at the XXXX Marine Aquarium caring for sick creatures.
Thank you for considering my application.
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