I have always been allured by the ability of writers to manipulate the
English language to express
a greater message; one that if conveyed effectively can influence the world.
Their words
transport our imaginations to foreign settings that encourage us to consider a
world beyond our
own. I believe that the study of English, coupled with another humanities
subject, will allow me
to enhance my writing and fulfill my desire to articulately relay the stories of
others while
pursuing my passion for language.
I enjoy the works of C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde mainly for the wit
they employ as
well as their mastery of the language. I count Markus Zusak, a contemporary
author, a writer to
rival the precision of the language of his predecessors. One of his works, The
Book Thief, is an
abstract piece of literature narrated by death and conveyed through figurative
language that sets a
flawless literary gem on every page of the book. Zusak's novels are powerful
because they relay
the human experience through unrestrained emotion. His work has been extremely
poignant in
my readings as it defines one human experience and attests to the idea that
English itself is a
reflection of the human journey.
Though I have had the opportunity to study a myriad of subjects, I chose to seek
advanced
learning in United States History, Spanish, Literature and Language because
these have lent
significantly to my study of English. History always informs the narrative and
my United States
history course set the context for the political and social setting of the
American literature I
studied as a junior. Setting has played a sizable part in literary movements
that an understanding
of its role is critical. My composition course has allowed me to write to any
style while my
literature class has prepared me to think critically and communicate my ideas
orally. I chose to
study Spanish to better understand my own culture and the human experience, as
language has
nothing to chronicle if humanity does not endure some kind of journey. All of
these classes have
taught me the importance of expression and have helped me to formulate and
present my own
ideology, therefore strengthening the cognitive skills essential for an English
major.
My desire to write creatively led me to join Journalism when I entered high
school. Although I
began as a staff writer, I also served as technology editor, managing editor,
and finally editor-in-
chief which inspired me to participate in an internship at a local newspaper to
better myself as a
journalist. I not only had the chance to attend seminars and workshops given by
renowned
American journalists but I also interviewed people from all walks of life and
wrote feature pieces
on their unique stories. I learned that every brand of sincere writing is
centered on one integral
idea: everyone has a story that they are waiting to tell. I come from a
multiracial family whose
immigrant experience not only sparked my fascination with foreign culture, but
also reinforced
the idea that an experience can outlast any fleeting product of human invention.
As a writer, I am
the vehicle by which peoples' voices are magnified and I have a passion for the
stories they are
yearning to tell. I want to study one humanity subject as well as English that
will allow me to
understand the world I desire to affect through the narratives I am bound to
relay.
I feel that studying in Britain would provide me with an opportunity to broaden
my cultural
perspectives and provide me with a fresh environment from which I can draw
inspiration. I am
wholly committed to my passions and am not only excited to pursue them but am
confident that I
can succeed at university.