Please read the instructions carefully.

Please provide ONE personal statement (maximum length 4,000 characters) regarding your academic
achievements and career goals AND addressing the issues specific to the particular scholarship(s) you
are applying for:

PSU Laurels Graduate Tuition Remission Program: If appropriate, comment on how this opportunity
would contribute to the diversification of the graduate student population at Portland State University,
including increasing the number of underrepresented minority and women students at the graduate
level in your field.

Please begin your personal statement by stating specifically which of the above scholarships you are
applying for.

Maximum length: 600 words.

I put a hundred percent of my efforts in everything I do. Thats why Im very pleased I received the
highest accumulative GPA for the last term (4.0). Although Im still thinking about whether I should
pursue higher education (PhD) or find a job to apply and enrich my business knowledge after finish the
MBA program, I think either option will require me make the most out of the MBA program. Therefore,
Im really serious with my study as PSU.

If I am awarded the PSU Laurels Graduate Tuition Remission, it will be an honor to me personally and to
Vietnamese student community at PSU as well. It is because I am currently the only Vietnamese student
in the MBA Full-time cohort. Therefore, I believe the award will inspire other Vietnamese students (and
International students in general) to keep trying and improving themselves.

Being an international student, especially from a different educational system, I realize that Vietnamese
students and other Asian students (from Thailand, India, Japan, etc.) might find it really hard to adjust to
US educational system. One of the biggest issues is in-class participation. Most of international students
are really shy and uncomfortable with public speaking due to the nature of their cultures. As an introvert
with social anxiety, I was struggling with this particular problem. However, I am blessed with a
wonderful cohort and amazing instructors/professors during the first term. They were constantly
encouraging and creating opportunities for me to speak up and take part in class activities. Without
their helps, I doubt that I could achieve the GPA of 4.0. Thats why I always believe giving back is one of
my core value. In fact, when I took the class of Leadership Development and Assessment (instructed by
Brian McCarthy), I had the chance to develop my leadership statement and I have made giving back as
part of my statement:

To find and sustain passion and happiness in life and work;

To always be positive and empathic;
To inspire and be inspired.
This award will give me a more influent voice to others, to inspire other international students to help
and seek for help whenever they need.
=======================================

Diversity Essay Question

At Portland State University we are committed to building an educational community with students of
diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What do you as an individual bring to our
school community?

Maximum length: 300 words.

Being the only Vietnamese Full-time MBA candidate, I think I myself is contributing to the diversity of
the MBA program. Also, being an international student, especially from a different educational system, I
realize that Vietnamese students and other Asian students (from Thailand, India, Japan, etc.) found it
really hard to adjust to US educational system. One of the biggest issues is in-class participation. Most of
international students are really shy and uncomfortable with public speaking due to the nature of their
cultures. As an introvert with social anxiety, I was struggling with this particular problem. Fortunately, I
am blessed with a wonderful cohort and amazing instructors/professors during the first term. They were
constantly encouraging and creating opportunities for me to speak up and take part in class activities.
Without their helps, I doubt that I could achieve the GPA of 4.0. That's why I always believe giving back
is one of my core value. In fact, when I took the class of Leadership Development and Assessment
(instructed by Brian McCarthy), I had the chance to develop my leadership statement and I have made
"giving back" as part of my statement:

"To find and sustain passion and happiness in life and work;

To always be positive and empathic;

To inspire and be inspired."

It's really important for me to inspire other international students to help and seek for help whenever
they need.

========================================

Please complete the following essay in 600 words or less:

Tell us why you are specifically seeking the opportunity to become a peer mentor for the University
Studies program. What kind of impact can being a peer mentor have for PSU students in the University
Studies program based on your lived understanding of this kind of opportunity? Please offer specific
details about the kinds of relevant life, community-based, leadership, and/or professional work
experiences that you have had related to mentoring or being mentored.

Maximum length: 600 words.

During my first term at PSU, I took Foundation of Strategy class which was instructed by Dave Garten. At
the beginning of this class, I was freak out because I realized in-class participation was counted toward
my final grade. Being an introvert with social anxiety, public speaking was a serious problem to me. And
I had been struggling with it for the first two weeks of the term. I had been completely quiet in the class,
to the point that I almost considered not trying anymore. Fortunately, instructor Garten noticed my
problem, and my team members did too. At the beginning of the third week, Garten emailed me saying
he noticed I was quiet in the class and offering his help. My team members also said the same thing and
they advised me a lot on how I could overcome my shyness and become more comfortable speaking up
in class. After reading the email, along with my cohorts advice, I realized that although I didnt
participate in class discussion, I wasnt invisible in the class. And that was when I wanted to make a
change of myself. Toward the end of the term, I had been able to participate enough to get an A for
every class. But the grades were not my greatest achievement during this term, the improvement I
made was, thanks to my amazing instructors and cohort.

I am still uncomfortable with public speaking, but it is no longer a dreadful obligation to me. This
experience has reshaped my thought on mentoring. I used to think mentoring was just providing
academic helps, but it is actually more than that. Mentoring is taking care of our mentees, paying
attention to the struggles they are experiencing and guiding them through the tough times. Also, I
believe that mentorship doesnt end from one mentor to one mentee, but continues from this mentee
to other mentees as well. Thats why Im applying for the Peer Mentor Program, to be able to help each
other grow in this community.

Finally, I think joining this program, I dont lose anything and gain everything. The program will provide a
lot of opportunities for me to nurture and strengthen my competencies. It also helps me reducing my
gaps and potential weaknesses that I can only figure out if I step out of my comfort zone. Its a Win-Win
situation for both mentors and mentees.

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General Graduate Business Student Essay (all graduate business majors)

How have you demonstrated dedication to the community and ethical business practices? How do you
plan to continue this throughout your career?
Maximum length: 300 words.

During last term, I took Leadership Development and Assessment class (instructed by Brian McCarthy)
and I had the chance to develop my mission statement. Part of my statement is To inspire and be
inspired and this is how I want to give back to the community. From my perspective, everything begins
with inspiration from which we are able to grow passion and thats the only way for us to achieve
greatness in everything we do.

For years, Ive been wondering how I can inspire other people when I havent accomplished significant
achievements. I used to think that in other to inspire and influence people around me, I have to be at
the top so that everybody can look up to me as a model. However, thanks to Brian McCarthys class, I
realize that small actions, even when we dont recognize them, can make big impacts on others as well.
And this applies in almost every aspect of both personal and professional life. For example, just an
acknowledgement from the director can make employees feel valuable and in turn encourage them to
work better. Or a compliment on a students assignment from a professor can make that student more
confident and try harder for the next assignments.

I know that many of us used to or are having a misconception of inspiration. Thats why Im trying to
make positive impacts on people around and I believe the positive energy will spread out quickly,
making working / academic environment become better for everybody.

========================================

Write an essay demonstrating your dedication to gender diversity in your field of study, including how
you are a role model for other professionals.

Maximum length: 300 words.

Is there any girl/woman in your MBA class?

This is the question Im usually asked from people I know in my country. Many people often think that
business administration is a male-dominated field of study and business. Surprisingly, there are more
females in my MBA cohort and I think this is wonderful for the following reasons:

First, having a mixed gender cohort means that for every discussion, there will be more different ideas
and its always amazing to me to hear people share their ideas and opinions. I dont want to be stuck
with just a single perspective or point of view.
Also, the benefit of gender diversity in academic environment is that it provides a preparation for real-
life events. It is because we will definitely have to interact with all types of people in a professional
environment.

Finally, I believe that any human being has their own right to study and work in any field and industry
regardless of gender. The only merit that should be taken into account is their skills and competencies.

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