Studying Abroad: Personal Statement

The Excitement and Anxiety of Studying Abroad

The opportunity to study abroad fills me with excitement because it feels like a tremendous change in the direction of my life. Yet, I am still anxious about the shift. I have spent the more significant part of my life in China and never would have seen myself traveling to this country a couple of years ago. Although it is quite challenging to pinpoint the exact thing that led me this much closer to my dreams, the series of small decisions I have made coupled with my healthy support system have contributed most substantially. It has not been a smooth journey, though. In the past, I have involved myself in activities that were eventually unsuccessful. Somehow, I have responded to such failure quite well, a skill that I have honed to date. One of the most instrumental figures in modern history, Winston Churchill, once said, "Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts." By falling and rising back up, I have achieved a semblance of success, part of which is the privilege to join ASU.

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Pursuit of Knowledge and Academic Excellence

My pursuit of knowledge has remained unceasing, more so as I have grown older. The motivation to explore new realms of academic development and innovation stems from my ability to grasp new concepts fast. Even with seemingly complicated ones, I have much less trouble compared to most of my peers. Anything that sparks my interest is worth conducting further research to understand it more deeply, a trait that has spurred my academic accomplishments thus far. Therefore, in addition to growing academically, I believe that in the course of my studies at ASU, I will make a positive contribution to the institution's reputation.

Beyond academics, I enjoy traveling in addition to playing games and engaging in fitness activities. I fancy computer games, my favorite being PUBG. It has only been a short while since I started playing it, but my proficiency has grown incredibly fast. I started playing the game a few years ago when I watched a Chinese team known as OMG participating and subsequently winning the global championship. Their achievement - a winning score of 3,425 - was the highest in the competition yet. As I would later learn, however, learning the tricks of the game is extremely difficult. Nonetheless, through relentless efforts, I studied the techniques and applied them to the game, sometimes with disastrous consequences. In the end, I scored the highest among my teammates during a spring vacation we held that year. Of course, there are many aspects of growing skills. However, the game has taught me resilience and to never give up, irrespective of the hurdles I may experience.

Life Lessons From Gaming

I like to compare studying abroad to the experiences I have had with, say, playing games because they share certain similarities. For instance, the game I described above has taught me the necessary skills to employ when faced with a seemingly harsh experience. The same way that I studied the game carefully until I mastered it is not different from my intentions with the new institution and country. I plan to observe the cultural variances between my home country and the US and, hopefully, adapt accordingly. What remains constant is my undying need for success in new environments, irrespective of the immensity of the threats I may encounter. I hope that ASU will be the place to enhance both my academic and personal life.