STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it- Peter Pan

It is this self-belief that gave me strength to stand on my decision to sail away from my mental and physical boundaries. I
am Sejal Singh, born in the city of Indore, India ready to explore the possibilities within all my reach. I was born to parents
who redeemed themselves from the commonality of family traditions, my father belonging to a less literate family and
mother to a family of engineers, and did something anew. This family history gave me more strength to look out of my
common window of perception.

Though I was engaged in different activities, I was unknowingly drawn to economics since my childhood. From the time
my grandfather opened me a recurring bank account, I was the most excited to go with him monthly to deposit the sum.
With growing age, this interest was just not limited to banking aspect of economics. I became an active participant in
economic news related discussions, monopoly, monthly budget creation with my mother, economics class discussions,
and my family’s banking and investment plans.

So when it came for me to decide my stream after class 10th, I naturally took commerce- accounts, economics, and
business studies- as my stream and entrepreneurship as my optional. Though I was inclined in studies from the time I
stepped my foot in school and received 8 merit badges throughout my school life, I seldom got satisfaction and academic
excellence as I got in class 11 and 12. I received a certificate of excellence in class 12 for securing highest in economics
99/100 and accountancy 97/100 which I think I got without toiling for long hours. Also, I was constantly at first rank among
150 students throughout the exams in these two years.

Apart from the studies, since I was 7 I always searched for the ways to express myself. I was well able to achieve that
through singing, painting, reading and oration. I received training in Indian classical music as well as in water to oil-based
painting each for 3 years. Along with it, I have been an avid reader of historical and nonfiction books. Apart from all these,
my school played a key role in developing oration qualities in me by providing opportunities to me to speak in front of
people- as Republic Day Commander, School Deputy Head Girl, Annual Function Anchor or by providing National Cadet
Corps. These were just not hobbies for me; these activities developed my personality by providing confidence, ability to
self-assess and learn from my mistakes, developing perseverance and still stay calm, humble and determined at the time
of negatives. Most importantly these developed that preciseness required to study economics.

An important phase of my learning was during the gap year I took. It provided me with the opportunity to gain real-world
experience and explore subjects beyond my curriculum. I took an internship at Utkarsh NGO and worked as donation and
fund collector and manager. By working in a real organization, I was able to put till learned knowledge into real life
situations. I understood the difference between theoretical definitions & real life definitions and I was surprised by the
exposure. This experience made me hungrier for more knowledge and my aspirations solidify. I also enrolled in online
courses on game theory, understanding the Federal Reserve and fundamentals of market structure among which I found
game theory an intriguing topic. What this experience left in my hand was patience, practicality, and self-discipline so as
to work without any structured schedule of school or classes and stay committed to your plan. Most importantly it left me
with many doubts and questions of which I aspire to gain answers through my undergraduate studies and overseas
exposure.

During all these time from my first exposure to the word till today, the horizons of economics have just broadened for me.
First just looking it as concerned to banking, now it is in my perception present in every form of nature. From birds to crop
system to humans every activity taking place in a social environment is woven into some economic principle or other. This
experience has triggered in me a curiosity to check the vastness of the subject and explore different aspects of it. Also, I
have been inherited an interest towards human psychology from my mother and ability to observe, analyze and interpret
precisely from my father making economics a subject parallel to my traits and qualities.
When my father saw my deep interest in Economics, he suggested me to pursue it as a career option which I readily agreed
to. I started searching for the best options available worldwide and came to a conclusion that the USA is the most virtuous
place to start my professional life with. I searched for ways to be a part of the USA education system and began achieving
all that was required. With a SAT score of 1420 and an ACT of 31 along with the TOEFL of 105, I am applying for an
admission at your university with high hopes.

What better place to pursue a degree in social science than a country that inhabits a diversity of thoughts, culture, and
languages operating in a global system – The United States of America. The country holds the perception of this social
science far beyond the theoretical knowledge and occupies far more opportunities to work knowledge to solve real life
problems which I found absent in the courses provided in my country. For me, it is the best lab to work in. I encountered
on my way difference in language, upbringing, financial status, and culture and it all taught me somehow to adjust and be
flexible. Such combination of various traits provided me with vast opportunities to grow and learn. Moreover, this
multiplicity is my other motivation to advance my steps towards global diversity.

I’m sure this bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University would prove to be the apex of my learning as the opportunity
pool is so vast to craft the mind. Collaborative spaces like The Hub would be a great platform for me to showcase my
creativity as well as the Greek life would provide a home-like social environment. Also, my interest in history is triggered
by knowing the fact that the faculty member recreates antiquities destroyed by ISIS. Besides, the principles on which I’m
raised like leadership and equality are parallel with the base ideals of student involvement- leadership development and
gender equity center. And what more to crave if I get access to a good student library, Spartan bookstore and an
opportunity to contribute to thecollegejuice.com.

San Jose, on the other hand, is a lively place where people can explore trails, ranges, and parks or discover art and artifacts.
Since I am in love with history and its profoundness, I would love to stroll around the Museums of the city.

Pursuing Bachelors in Economics will not only make me & my fathers’ dream come true but will also give my career an
outstanding debut. Being an economist, I need to understand a special way of thinking which I would be able to develop
in the world’s greatest economy. After coming back with a fine degree in Economics, I would like to work in my country
as an investment analyst in some multinational and would like to incorporate my knowledge in the real world.

I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity and assessing my application.

Regards,

Sejal Singh