motivation letter for MS in project management

Dear all,
For my application for a MS program I am required to answer several questions concerning my motivation and extraprofessional activities. This is my first attempt to apply in the foreign University, English being a foreign language I would highly appreciate your help to improve grammar and style of my answers.

Why did you choose this program?
I am applying to your Specialised Master program of "International Project Management" at ESCP Europe (Paris) starting in September 2015 because through my career path I developed a strong interest in management of projects with international dimension.
I got bachelor degree in management in 2005 from Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO). My average grade was above 90% and put me in the top ten of my year. Having decided to pursue my studies, I applied for a double master program in management, and graduated in 2007 with a master degree in management from MGIMO and ICN Ecole de commerce (Nancy, France). With ‘excellent’ and ‘very good’ grades representing respectively 82% and 18% in my overall grade distribution I got a diploma with honours. Benefitting from the broad nature of management, from the one side, and the general orientation of MGIMO towards international issues, from the other side, during my studies I have been exposed to a wide range of subjects from management, marketing, and human resources to world economy, diplomacy, and international law.
After graduation I joined a small company distributing cosmetics products under its private label. My main assignment to form and manage a team of promoting consultants enabled me to strengthen my interpersonal and communications skills. I got as well aware of my ability to radiate enthusiasm and motivate people to believe in themselves and overcome difficulties. Due to a small size of the company and limited staff, I was partially involved in accounting and custom clearance procedures. That broadening experience gave me an opportunity to touch in practice different management aspects and throw into sharp relief the tremendous role that strategic outlook or its neglect might have for a business even a small one.
On the next step of my professional career I found myself in the middle of activities of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Russian Federation. That was a truly enriching experience. First of all, the role of Ambassador’s assistant gave me the chance to discover a new culture and improve my intercultural skills. Second, I learnt about the ways how diplomacy could channel commercial interests and support business projects in emerging countries. Finally, being involved in the opening of a direct flight connection between Morocco and Russia, I have realized that behind an accomplishment of any project there are a lot of details and nuances to be taken into consideration and dealt with. Thus, the very first flight of the aircraft from Casablanca to Moscow was close to failure just because of a plain visa issue for Moroccan pilots.
Having developed an interest in project management I started to work for a Moscow based Russian company. In two and a half years I worked on numerous projects mostly in event field. In some projects I acted as a team member, in others – as a responsible. I like the feeling of planning a project, managing its execution, and in the end, delivering the result. Through that experience, I gained a breadth of skills. At the same time I realized that in order to spur my international career I need to obtain theoretical knowledge and problem-solving skills related to project management.
I believe that the MS International project management at ESCP will equip me to achieve my career goals. First of all, the long successful history and feedback gathered from your students, endorse the high quality of the offered programs and their business orientation. Furthermore, the curriculum of the program provides students with the opportunity to obtain professional certificate awarded by Project Management Institute and thus join world’s leading membership association for the project management professionals. Finally, your program focuses on international aspects of business and projects, inter alia comprehends an international seminar in Asia. To sum up, that program allows me to combine both my interest in project management and in developing international projects.

Extraprofessional activities. What did you learn from them?
During my studies at the University, I was an active member of the student community. I felt natural to help foreign students coming under the auspices of the exchange program to familiarize themselves with Russian traditions and daily habits. That enabled me to find and overcome barriers between backgrounds and cultures.
In addition, being a promotion team member I participated on several occasions in education forums and expos. Being involved in interacting with hundred people per day improved my representation and communication skills.
My first exposure to event organization is related to my involvement in the historical and ballroom dance community where together with two other members we organized the first open to public university ball that gathered three hundred guests.
Moreover, having excellent grades I always enjoyed tutoring my classmates in various subjects from out curriculum. Later I started as well teach private lessons of French for Russians and of Russian for foreigners residing in Moscow. That experience developed my skills to present any information in a clear, comprehensible for the audience way.
Equally important are me sport activities. Having picked up aikido during my first year of studies I learned a balanced approach to decision taking and resilience. My present endeavours to prepare myself for half-marathon race demonstrate my ability to consistently pursue my goals.

Professional project

My ultimate career objective is to become a confident PMP capable to lead intercultural teams in working in international projects.