Going Abroad for Higher Studies…?
You might be asked to write a personal essay at some point of processing of your application by the university you apply for. Here is a very simple sample to assist you in this regard.
Personal Essay: Write an essay about yourself that will assist the Selection Committee in judging what sort of person you are. Please include statements about your education and upbringing, your most significant achievements, and the experiences and persons that have affected your personal, academic, and professional growth.
Answer
Originally I come all the way from a far-flung village in the northwestern part of Nepal called Mareng Ward No: 05 which is about 345 kilometers northwest of Nepal from the capital city, Kathmandu in the district of Argrakhanchi. I belong to a traditional middle-class family where discipline is always placed atop. My father is a school teacher and my mother a housewife. I have four siblings; an elder brother who owns his own transport business and an elder sister who is already married and two younger brothers along with me. My first younger brother is doing an undergraduate course in Microbiology at Tribhuvan University, Nepal and the other is working as a security officer in Dubai.
I was brought up in the same village where I did my schooling up to the SLC . (School Leaving Certificate) At school, I was one of the average students. I hardly stood first or second in all the grade examinations. English has always remained my favourite subject. Frankly speaking, I was one of the least favourite students of my teachers. However, they not only taught but also inspired me to do better in all examinations that came in my way.
Besides teaching and learning, my English teacher, Mrs. Minu Bhujel would help me understand and solve some practical problems of life like; adjusting myself to family, a new community and away from home in case it just needed. This later helped me live and study alone and stay away from home, here in Kathmandu. I also learned the tricks of frugality, some communication skills, and a little bit of decision-making. Now I am an amicable and candid person. Also, I have a good sense of humour. I do not know how, but I can easily get along with people and make them friends no matter what country or community they come from.
My mother still regales me with the incidents of my school days. Once, I had invited friends for lunch but I had forgotten to remind my parents that some of my friends would be visiting for lunch. When it was time for lunch, my parents were shocked to see the unexpected guests sitting to dine with me. My father exploded at me and nearly broke my back (extremely angry). Mother had to prepare additional food items for my friends-- mothers are indeed caring and loving.
In the village, we were given little freedom to make choices. All depended on our parents—particularly, father. My bringing up was a strict one. Yet the company of my teachers particularly Mrs. Bhujel made it possible for me to speak the truth.
Right after my SLC in 1990, I shifted to the nearest town called Butwal to further my studies since the village school did not provide Proficiency Certificate Level. There I did my Intermediate in Arts majoring in English and Political Science in 1992. I was lucky enough to score better than others in the university examination, as it still ran intermediate levels in Nepal then. But I again had to leave for the capital city, Kathmandu to pursue my Bachelor’s Degree in English as the town did not run English at Bachelor’s Level. Here in Kathmandu, I joined the Campus of Humanities and Social Sciences-Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus, Exhibition Road, and completed this undergraduate course (a three years course) majoring in the same subject in 1996.
I was very much elated to get the results of my BA. I thought, now I could join some government services. I also prepared and sat for the tests but luck was not on my palm as the competitions were fierce. There were around 40,000 candidates vying for 30 seats. Then I gave up the idea of public service. In the end, I decided to join a postgraduate degree in English, MA at Tribhuvan University. I completed it in the year 1999 despite several turbulences and turmoil in the socio-political milieu of Nepal. Since then I am teaching English at the Secondary Level at a private school called Thames International School, Kathmandu (‘TISK’) owned by Mr. Chunilal Hirachan, a permanent resident of Jomsom, Mustang, in Nepal
Bluntly speaking, I had started teaching right after my SLC to support my studies, and also that I loved doing this as I already stated above that I was inspired by my father and teachers. I would attend morning classes at colleges and during the day I would find myself teaching small children at a private boarding school in Butwal and the grown-up now, here in Kathmandu .
Truly speaking, completion of the postgraduate degree itself is one of the most significant achievements of my life so far apart from teaching English at various levels. So far, I have collected a teaching experience of around 29 years at various levels ranging from Kindergarten to Grade -12. After having penetrated so long in teaching and learning I am now very keen to pursue my career in the ELT itself because ours needs a number of ELT experts who can visit remote areas like the place I was born and brought up. Although higher degrees are available in Nepal when it comes to the necessary research techniques; trainers, tools, and capitals, the dream billows away like the smoke. Moreover, my professor Mr. Shreedhar Lohani ELT from Dickenson University USA
To put it otherwise, I have not made any noticeable difference in my career yet. I know I have to go a long way ahead before I can say WOW! I have achieved something.
Side Note: Please do not give up in the pretense of anything; nothing should be an excuse for not trying, what Barrack Obama says.
Narayan Bhusal, June 2001
