Conforme o combinado, vim aqui hoje pra dividir com vocês meu personal statement. Depois de dias trabalhando nele, de ter reescrito tudo três vezes, cheguei nessa versão que foi a final e que mandei na inscrição no UCAS. Fiquei um tanto satisfeita com ele, apesar de achar (sempre) que podia fazer bem melhor. Culpa da criatividade que sumiu na hora. Lembrando que:
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| só pra constar. |
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Science has been my passion since I was a child. Because of the great teachers I had along my school years, I could find myself deeply in love with everything related to the nature and the living organisms; however, what fascinated me the most were the little things I couldn’t see with naked eyes. As I got older, that love grew stronger, just like the need to know more and more about the subject. My curiosity about how life would develop and its mechanisms to keep spreading and surviving in different kinds of situations led me to the Biological Sciences course when I got into the University.
As soon as my high school years were finished, I entered the Federal University of Pernambuco. I’ve been working with Genetics right from my first year, when I got the chance to do a voluntary internship at the Laboratory of Experimentation in Drosophila. Now, I’ve been working for 11 months at the Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Biology under the guidance of Professor Valdir de Queiroz Balbino, and that’s where I got involved with molecular genetics, bioinformatics and population genetics, the fields in Biology I have become particularly interested. Besides helping my laboratory colleagues on their theses, I have my own research project concerning the protozoan that causes the visceral leishmaniasis, one of the main endemic diseases in Brazil. During this time of research, I got familiar with some molecular biology techniques, such as PCR and electrophoresis, and developed a strong sense of independence and problem solving skills.
Also, during these almost three years as an undergraduate student, I worked for one year and a half as a tutor of Cell Biology, helping the teacher with the practical classes of five courses: Biological Sciences, Biomedicine, Environmental Sciences, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. It taught me a lot about commitment and responsibility, apart from improving my communication skills. To expand my field of knowledge, I went to workshops on Forensic Entomology, Diversity, Science and Biotechnology and to the International Congress of Experimental Pathology.
In my spare time, I like reading from astronomy magazines to fiction books. It is something I really enjoy because I like the feeling of being amazed by a good story. I am also a photography lover, because it allows me to see the world from a different perspective. Playing volleyball, swimming, drawing and spending some quality time with my friends and family are a few other things I enjoy as well. Outside the university, I volunteered at IBAMA and helped the staff at feeding lots of boxes with baby parrots that were rescued from illegal trade. That was both the saddest and the most rewarding experience I have had so far.
When I first heard about the Science Without Borders program, I saw a perfect chance to live my dream of studying in the United Kingdom for a year. I admire not only its stunning landscapes and wildlife, but also its rich culture and, mainly, the importance given to education there. UK’s traditional history of great universities, with high-quality teaching and outstanding progress in research lines, made me eagerly want to be a part of their community. If I get this opportunity, you can be sure I will do my best to surpass your University’s expectations.
This year abroad will certainly add a valuable background for my career in the near future. I intend to learn as much as I can, so I can use the knowledge I am going to acquire to help my country to improve in my area of expertise in the following years. I have this great ambition to become someone who will make a positive difference in the world and this is my chance to start doing something about it. I am absolutely ready for all the experiences and challenges this new journey will bring me.
Yours faithfully,
Fernanda Yukie Uchoa Okuyama
Awesome, right? (hahaha!) Well, depois dessa etapa da inscrição no UCAS, só resta esperar até o período de 12 a 19 de novembro, quando as universidades começarão a enviar suas offers de vagas aos estudantes e quando o CNPq vai divulgar o resultado das bolsas.
Só espero que a University of Birmingham me ame. ♥
As soon as my high school years were finished, I entered the Federal University of Pernambuco. I’ve been working with Genetics right from my first year, when I got the chance to do a voluntary internship at the Laboratory of Experimentation in Drosophila. Now, I’ve been working for 11 months at the Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Biology under the guidance of Professor Valdir de Queiroz Balbino, and that’s where I got involved with molecular genetics, bioinformatics and population genetics, the fields in Biology I have become particularly interested. Besides helping my laboratory colleagues on their theses, I have my own research project concerning the protozoan that causes the visceral leishmaniasis, one of the main endemic diseases in Brazil. During this time of research, I got familiar with some molecular biology techniques, such as PCR and electrophoresis, and developed a strong sense of independence and problem solving skills.
Also, during these almost three years as an undergraduate student, I worked for one year and a half as a tutor of Cell Biology, helping the teacher with the practical classes of five courses: Biological Sciences, Biomedicine, Environmental Sciences, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. It taught me a lot about commitment and responsibility, apart from improving my communication skills. To expand my field of knowledge, I went to workshops on Forensic Entomology, Diversity, Science and Biotechnology and to the International Congress of Experimental Pathology.
In my spare time, I like reading from astronomy magazines to fiction books. It is something I really enjoy because I like the feeling of being amazed by a good story. I am also a photography lover, because it allows me to see the world from a different perspective. Playing volleyball, swimming, drawing and spending some quality time with my friends and family are a few other things I enjoy as well. Outside the university, I volunteered at IBAMA and helped the staff at feeding lots of boxes with baby parrots that were rescued from illegal trade. That was both the saddest and the most rewarding experience I have had so far.
When I first heard about the Science Without Borders program, I saw a perfect chance to live my dream of studying in the United Kingdom for a year. I admire not only its stunning landscapes and wildlife, but also its rich culture and, mainly, the importance given to education there. UK’s traditional history of great universities, with high-quality teaching and outstanding progress in research lines, made me eagerly want to be a part of their community. If I get this opportunity, you can be sure I will do my best to surpass your University’s expectations.
This year abroad will certainly add a valuable background for my career in the near future. I intend to learn as much as I can, so I can use the knowledge I am going to acquire to help my country to improve in my area of expertise in the following years. I have this great ambition to become someone who will make a positive difference in the world and this is my chance to start doing something about it. I am absolutely ready for all the experiences and challenges this new journey will bring me.
Yours faithfully,
Fernanda Yukie Uchoa Okuyama
Awesome, right? (hahaha!) Well, depois dessa etapa da inscrição no UCAS, só resta esperar até o período de 12 a 19 de novembro, quando as universidades começarão a enviar suas offers de vagas aos estudantes e quando o CNPq vai divulgar o resultado das bolsas.
Só espero que a University of Birmingham me ame. ♥
