Personal Statement
For as long as I can remember, conversations around the dinner table have revolved around my father’s work in finance and my mother’s role in aviation, and it is these activities which have fuelled my interest in business and travel.
Having gained first-hand experience of the demands, impact and application required by my father, whose career has spanned from Regional Manager for Lloyds Bank Plc to running the financial arm of a modern micro business. I have learned the importance of planning, organisation, and people, together with fundamentals of profit and Loss, tax management and compliance. Combined with my mother's career with British Airways, I have been fortunate to travel extensively around the world and alongside the enjoyment, I have grown to appreciate and become fascinated by the world of business and difference in cultures. From the professionalism in the large hotels of New York and Dubai to the unstructured, informal bartering in the street markets of Hong Kong. All with the same aim of conducting their businesses profitably.
Alongside my interests in business and travel, I have a passion for the USA, spending much of my time there visiting friends and family. I have many other hobbies and pursuits that keep me active, including football, karate and music which have all taught me the importance of working effectively in a team and with others, but also to have the confidence in my own judgement.
My main passion is football. From the age of 12 to 17, I was identified by English Championship side, Reading Football Club as a future talent and invited to play as part of their, Development, Advanced and Elite squads. This involved weekly structured coaching and training sessions plus matches under the supervision of Football Association qualified coaches which taught me discipline and the importance of being prepared. Some of my highlights include representing Reading in inter club competitions and playing at the Majdeski Stadium against Wycombe Wanderers. As well as this I have been a part of my local club, Burghfield FC. Last year as U17’s we played in the U18’s league, finishing 4th and reaching the cup Final. This year sadly finished early due to the Covid virus, at which point we were in contention for the title.
My other discipline and dedication is Karate in which I have reached the Grade of Black belt, 1st Dan. I have successfully competed and achieved medal positions in both Regional and National Tournaments and represented my club in the last three UK hosted World Cup Finals.
I am also a keen musician both, playing 5 instruments including: Piano, Cello, Clarinet and Voice where I have achieved advanced level gradings with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). Last year this interest inspired me to complete a research based Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) titled ‘Under the Influence of Music’ for which I was awarded a B Grade. With this, I gained first-hand experience of university-style study whilst developing great self-discipline, project management and independent research skills.
During the past four years I have dedicated a lot of my free time working towards and achieving my Duke of Edinburgh Award, a youth awards programme in the UK. The award programmes are at three progressive levels which, if successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver and Gold Award where I was required to demonstrate, commitment in the Skills, Physical and Volunteering elements, alongside the Expedition requirement. In addition to the actual success of the achievement and the skills and confidence I now possess, I consider this programme also helped to develop and enhance my ‘soft skills’ such as communication, commitment, leadership and teamwork. I also completed the Outward-Bound Skills for Life Award as part of a 19-day Summer 2018 adventure in Ullswater in the Lake District in the North of England. A very different challenge to the DofE with specific outcomes for me: developing my self-confidence, focussing on self-management, problem solving and developing my resilience by stepping outside of my comfort zone.
I am proud of all these achievements exploring my talents, challenging myself gaining confidence to realise my ambitions and achieve my goals.
I am a highly motivated individual for whom travel, finance and sport, along with physical activities, have formed my character. These traits that I have developed, combined with my keen interest in business and the USA, I consider make me an ideal candidate for your University.
