Personal Statement

As a 10 year old Anza excitedly flipped through the pages of Stephen

Hawkings A Brief History of Time, he thought to himself, I dont get any of
this. This child was not some prodigy, who knew everything there was to
know about Black Holes at the age of ten. But, as he sat there, there was a
feeling swelling in him much more powerful than his confusion: curiosity. I
am not that confused boy anymore but have only grown more curious about
the mysteries of this universe over time. This drive brought me to the realm
of Physics, where I dived into a world so small its very laws differed from my
own, and explored another world so large that I felt insignificant in its
comparison. This excitement and sense of wonder are what compel me to
pursue Physics.
My suitability for this programme is evident, firstly, from my academic
record. I have attended two institutions to date (Froebels and Roots) and
have received honours for outstanding academic performance from both. I
have consistently performed well in Physics and Math, working hard for A*s
in both the fields. I not only continued this performance during my A levels
but also performed well in my Physics and Math SAT Subject tests.
Furthermore, I have always had a very conceptual approach to Physics,
engaging in spirited debates with my class fellows who felt that an A was all
that mattered and blindly solved past papers. While they memorized marking
schemes, I revised concepts and eventually outperformed my peers, with my
ideals intact.
In this day and age, the mark of a true intellectual is his ability to combine
knowledge from across disciplines and form an educated opinion taking into
account many perspectives. This interdisciplinary approach is a great asset
to a student of any field, especially Physics as it requires constant
qualification and innovation for it to progress. I believe I can fill these giant
shoes. Along with my science subjects, I have studied and excelled in
subjects such as Literature, Language, Psychology and Sociology. My mastery
over such a variety of subjects is evident from a distinction alongside my
AICE Diploma. This, thus, not only proves my holism as a student, but also
shows that I will be able to bring a fresh and innovative perspective to my
study of Physics.
In and out of school, I have always worked my hardest to apply my
theoretical knowledge in practical situations and develop skills that are
essential to becoming a scientist. During my A Levels, I organized a

competition called A Wrinkle in Time, in which participants were asked

questions based on logic, physics, math and astronomy. Through this event, I
managed to show a lot of students the importance of Physics in our daily
lives and encouraged those in attendance to just forget about the trivialities
of life and admire the grandeur of the universe we live in. Through my 5th to
9th grades, I regularly participated in Interschool Math competitions. The
rivalry between sister branches of Froebels in Rawalpindi and Islamabad was
so intense that being team leader in these inter-branch competitions was a
great honour. However, I feel my biggest assets are the skills I have gained
through my work experience. As a Physicist, qualities such as leadership and
communication are necessary if one wants to bring any sort of change. I
developed these virtues in me during my time with Brand Pakistan, an NGO
aimed to rectify misconceptions about Pakistan. I interacted with members
from all walks of society, conducted interviews and wrote articles on their
inspiring experiences. I even took this cause to Turkey as Brand Ambassador,
continuing my interviews and attempting to alter the misconceived
perception of my country. My communication skills were further developed
when I attended MUNIST, an international Model United Nations conference
in Istanbul. Thus, these leadership and social skills will contribute greatly to
my study of Physics as I will be able to work better outside the classroom,
candidly interact with other great minds, conduct sessions and eventually, I
aim, further our understanding of our universe.
In conclusion, a UK degree will aid me in my exploration of this mysterious
and uncharted universe and will satisfy my intellectual search for knowledge.
Armed with an educated and enlightened mind, I hope to return to my home
country and use my, by then further enhanced, skills of leadership and
communication to raise awareness on key issues, stress the importance of
intellectual growth, and broaden the minds of the Pakistani youth. I also hope
to contribute to pressing matters such as the energy crisis, pollution and the
lack of efficiency of our mechanization.