Help with motivation letter for tomorrow...

Hi, I am applying to a masters in earth and space physics engineering in Denmark. I need to present a motivation letter for tomorrow and I can't seem to be able to wrap up, polish it and finish it. Is there anyone that could help me? Thanks in advance, Sonia.

I would like to apply to the Masters Program in Earth and Space Physics Engineering, offered at Danmarks Teknisk Universitet for the 2013 Fall semester.

I graduated top of my class in 2006 at Universidad de Palermo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as Informations Systems Engineer with a specialization in e-commerce and business. In order to conclude my undergraduate studies, I had to write and present a paper after doing research in a field. The title of my final project was “Decision trees: a comparison among classification algorithms”.

I achieved an excellent professional experience as a young adult, mainly working at multinational companies: one year in Oracle as analyst and developer; five years in Accenture as consultant in CRM systems; and one year in Wunderman as database marketing manager. However, and even though I was involved in volunteer work, and was committed to helping others both inside and out of my work by donating my personal time and effort (ie. Tutoring my collaborators and helping them plan their careers; volunteering in housing programs on the weekends), I realized that these achievements were not fulfilling for me and I needed to give more through my work than just performing to generate better business results or opportunities.

I decided to make change happen and contribute in some way with what I knew what to do best, and introduced myself into the world of non-profits and NGOs. It was a radical change and as such, a challenge. Through other volunteer work, I learned about a non-profit organization called Wingu that was implementing CRM systems for other non-profits. I took the task and did a consulting job for them on how to run eleven clients simultaneously while building a small work team. The experience was successful but nevertheless not rewarding enough. I knew then, as I know now that nothing would substitute my original drive and desire to dedicate my life to science.

After moving to Denmark, I began learning the Danish language at Studieskolen and took a job as assistant at the Embassy of Argentina. At the moment, I am nearly over with my preparation to take my Danish exam PD3 and I find myself ready to embrace my future in my new country of residence that allows me to have a temporary residence permit with a possibility of permanent residence in Denmark.

Already living in Copenhagen, my interest in DTU and this program was sparked when I learnt that Denmark is strongly investing in the European Space Agency. I was at the moment contemplating my next career and professional steps, and it was determining information for my decision making. As you will learn in the following pages, this is not a new goal for me, but finally the opportunity to embrace it. I want to be part of the development in advanced technology research and innovation that will take place in Denmark over the coming years and for which DTU Space plays the most important role. I believe that my solid technical knowledge with the incorporation of scientific methods will allow me to fulfil my desire to contribute in the development of solutions to the challenges of our society. I strongly believe that my educational background and motivational traits will enable me to make a solid contribution to the program and the institution.

This program would enable me to work in research applied to projects such as advanced data processing and interpretation like in the SWARM mission or helping to implement projects to better understand the history of our Universe like in JWST project. It is the merging of both my area of expertise with the field of science in the most exciting and exhilarating way I could aspire.

Further pursuing my studies in Denmark, will enable me to integrate to the Danish culture and, in turn, bring added value through my acquired knowledge of different countries through leisure and work travelling and short stays (for example in Argentina, Colombia, Spain, USA) because I firmly believe in the cultural wealth that is obtained through diversity.

I have always been fascinated and interested in understanding what is beyond our planet and our sky; what space is, the role of black holes, the mysteries of galaxies, and the origin of it all from a scientific viewpoint. At a very young age and not yet knowing how to read or write I was already looking for answers. I asked my family to read out loud Cosmos by Carl Sagan instead of bedtime stories. My interest kept growing and at sixteen I took a few astronomy courses and volunteered as visitor’s guide and information resource in English at the Planetarium Galileo Galilei in Buenos Aires. A year later I was taking the Intermediate Space Academy Program in Huntsville, Alabama. I am most likely to be the only Argentine in Denmark that has been to NASA that you will ever meet.

Along with my interest in space and the universe, came the ability to use electronics, repair them and understand computers. I was eight years old when I developed my first game in BASIC language, based on instinct. My aptitude to “communicate” or understand how to use or program machines can be easily seen in daily life and my work environment, as a natural skill that has been enhanced by studying and which I expect to keep fueling. Since then, it is this ability to use logic and creative thinking simultaneously that characterizes me.

While in middle school I realized that the school I was attending was too comfortable for me and I needed to learn more and face other challenges. Therefore, I decided to change to the most challenging type of school available in my country, to achieve an international high school education in English and in Spanish. In order to do this, I had to take a very difficult exam which I passed and also adapt to a completely new education system, not only because in the previous school English was just a basic subject and the new school was full time and bilingual, but as the Headmaster of the school warned my parents with an excellent analogy, “your daughter will not be going to another planet, but to another galaxy”. And he was right. It was another galaxy but pulling myself to the limit and more to acquire further knowledge gave me true happiness and satisfaction. It felt and was right. I was awarded for being second GPA of my class and won the computer studies prize.

I face problems with a positive attitude and move forward trying to find the best solution. When I was going to start my undergraduate studies in astrophysics, in the United States of America, my parents got divorced and for economic reasons, I couldn’t fulfill my desire. It was a hard moment and the alternative in Argentina did not suit me. I changed my major, to systems information engineering in order to take advantage of my programming skills and desire to learn physics and mathematics. I could not afford to continue studying without working and that is why I also had to change to a University that would allow me to work at the same time I was studying. When there are stones on the road, I go around them and keep going, even if at some point it may seem I’m going on a different direction. (problem solving - attitude towards life).

I have usually tended to be involved in leadership roles. In University I would comfortably take role as referent and coordinator of diverse project assignments, a quality that has helped me along my professional career as well. Through this experience, I learned to manage my time effectively and improved planning and decision making skills. I also learnt the importance and value of staying open to different inputs and points of view.

Thank you for your time and kind consideration. I look forward to receiving your acceptance.

Yours faithfully,