hello,

I have written a motivational letter for VU Amsterdam Fellowship Program

As English is not my First Language there will be my grammar mistakes. Will you please kindly review it and provide your valuable feedback.

Dear sir or madam,

With this letter I will like to show my motivation for securing the VU Fellowship for the 2014-15 academic years.

Mathematics has fascinated me from an early childhood. This was in contrast to what my peers perceived about the subject. Whereas they made jokes out of Algebra I was busy working vigilantly in churning out solution. Sighting this I set upon to build a career in something quantitative. I wanted to do something that was enjoyable and infused me with satisfaction and prestige. Equipped with these notions I choose Accounting and Economics in my high school. Further, I pursued the ACCA professional degree, which was considered a jewel in the financial circles of Pakistan. It helped me enhance my knowledge of Accounting, Finance and Financial Management. The Masters in Business Administration-Financial Management from VU University Amsterdam will help me build on my existing knowledge and provide a solid rung to achieve my goals of becoming a Finance Executive.

However, my journey has not been a bed of roses and I have faced challenges. My performance dipped in the second year and my school summoned my parents to warn them that they will end their association with me if this persisted. Overcome with guilt and embarrassment I took it upon myself to change the situation. I was rewarded with straight A’s for my perseverance and the same school offered me a 100% scholarship to continue to be their student. I was also bestowed with a gold medal for my outstanding performances.

I took that same resolve to my further studies and passed out with First Class Honors from Oxford Brookes University, UK. Similarly, I have one of the best averages in the ACCA professional examinations. At the same time I participated in sporting and social events organized by our school. Further, I volunteered to manage funds and donations at our locality in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake that jolted Pakistan.

I have spent two months in Netherlands. It was an amazing experience, I learned about the Dutch culture, people and way of life. While I have also had the opportunity to travel the rest of Europe, I feel that Netherlands is naturally the most beautiful country and homely, and a chance to study at VU University Amsterdam will allow me to learn and experience this culture more closely. I found Netherlands to be tourist friendly, where English is widely spoken and understood, unlike its other European counterparts. It’s a place where I can communicate openly without any barriers. Furthermore, adding Dutch to my language skills will be a huge asset.

UV University Amsterdam is based in Amsterdam, one of the top European financial centres and home to the world oldest stock exchange. Prospects of gaining diverse international financial and business knowledge and experience here will complement my professional and career goals.

Securing the VUFP Scholarship will turn the black and white of this letter into a reality. High quality education demands financially sound background. My family has always supported me through thick and thin but belonging to the middle class has its limitations. Reminding myself repeatedly of this fact I had taken it upon myself to carve my own path. With unwavering dedication and persistence I was able to win full scholarship in my high school. I am highly focused towards my life’s ambitions and I will leave no stone unturned for its actualization. My results are a glowing evidence of this trait. This scholarship will extinguish my financial concerns enabling me fully concentrate towards becoming a productive member of the class. I will bring Pakistan to the university by becoming its cultural ambassador. Sharing my knowledge and experiences of Pakistani business realm will provide my peers with fresh perspectives while at the same instance I appreciate theirs.
While Pakistan’s economy is undergoing a gradual transition towards development, there is a need for well qualified and ethical business professionals to instil confidence and satisfaction among different stakeholders. The VU University Amsterdam’s education will not only help me realize my own potential but provide me the ability to serve Pakistani interest as well.

I deserve this scholarship due to my sound educational background, academic achievements, skills and experiences and above all my determination and commitment to succeed and serve my community. It goes without saying that if I am unable to keep satisfactory performances at UV University Amsterdam, I will gladly give up the scholarship.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.