KGSP-U personal statement

Hello,

I am Nora and I want to apply for the Korean government scholarship programme.

these are the prompt for writing a personal statement:

-Motivations with which you apply for this program
- Family and Education background
- Significant experiences you have had; risks you have taken and achievements you have made, persons or events that have had a significant influence on you
- Extracurricular activities such as club activities, community service activities or work experiences
- If applicable, describe awards you have received, publications you have made, or skills you have acquired, etc

English is not my mother language and it is my first time to write a personal statement, therefore I need your helpful advice and correction.

Thank you so much!

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(Personal Statement)

Animation has always mesmerized me ever since I was a little child. I remember the days that my family and I had lived in a remote area because my father had transferred as a bank clerk there. I didn't have friends the same age as me in that neighborhood. Therefore my father bought me some classical animation DVDs and we watched them together. He encouraged me to draw the rest of the story of the show from where it had ended based on my imagination. Drawing my favorite 2D characters enthusiastically and telling the stories for my mother who is a housewife and a good listener for her children, filled my childhood.

I had been known for my storytelling skill and the love that I had for painting in the primary school along being one of the Top students. In the 5th grade, I took the National Organization for the development of exceptional talents (NODET) exam. Admission to NODET schools is selective and based on a comprehensive nationwide entrance examination procedure and I passed it successfully.

As an extracurricular activity in the first grade of high school, I made an experimental short movie combined with animation and attended a national student film competition and surprisingly I ranked top in that contest. I found out that I was not interested in the science major anymore, therefore transferred from NODET to a Public Exemplary Art School to study my desired major, animation.

I tried to grasp every opportunity to participate in various competition since I liked to challenge myself and make animation content. In addition, I achieved top ranks in national contests such as healthy teen, art competitions top talented student, scientific-practical olympiad, and international Roshd festival. Due to my achievements as a young filmmaker, I became a member of the Iranian youth cinema society which led me to know amazing people in the filmmaking industry. I was totally immersed in the love that I have for making animation.

In the last year of high school, the year that Iranian students take their national university entrance exam, I ranked second in the animation and third in Graphic among thousands of other students. I moved to the capital city of Iran, Tehran, living independently at the age of 17 to get my animation associate degree in the biggest woman's college in the middle east, Shariati woman's Technical college.

Moving to Tehran gave me the opportunity to join AIESEC which is the world's largest non-profit youth-run organization that provides young people with leadership development, cross-cultural global internships, and volunteer exchange experiences across the globe. I became a volunteer member of the social marketing team in the local committee of AIESEC in the Amirkabir University of Technology. My achievements as an AIESECer are 3 documentaries which were released at an event in Tehran University of Art and some motion graphics to promote our events in other universities.

My First encounter with South Korea was through an event that was held in the house of South Korea ambassador, Mr. Park Jae-Hyun in Tehran. It was mainly about Korean universities and the scholarships that they offered. I found out that South Korea is renowned for its universities which all have excellent reputations. In that event, I met new friends who were fond of Korean culture and language and I start learning more about Korea from them. Therefore, I proceed to develop an interest in Korean rich traditions and Hangul. the way the culture and history perfectly blend with technology and modernization caught my attention. We tried our Best to attend every Korean event that the embassy held on specific occasions.

The reason that I found South Korea the perfect place to study animation/media interaction design was due to the global popularity Korean entertainment industry. The phenomenal growth of Korean culture from music, movies, animations and online games convinced me that Korea is one of the best platforms to continue my studies and learn more about their successful methods to approach to this global popularity.

unfortunately, I can not continue my studies in animation in my own country even though I ranked first in the national university entrance exam because there is no bachelor's degree for this major in Iran. Currently, I am studying painting instead of animation and I find my currents university approach to education unsatisfactory.

As I initially grew up in a middle-class family getting this scholarship will help to lift a huge burden off my parents' backs. Also, studying in a country with a powerful entertainment industry would allow me to learn more about media and how I can use my abilities effectively. I believe Attending a Korean university will inspire me to work hard and compete with students at the top of my major and gives me the opportunity to enhance my Korean language skill.