It took us quite some time to find a Burmese boater who would take us into an area not frequented by tourists. My travel companion, a photographer, was determined to capture images of the long-necked women of the Padaung tribe. We had purchased enough Kyat on the black market to entice a young man with a motorboat to take us closer to the tribe. After some time, our guide neared the riverbank and motioned toward the village. We had just spotted a small house raised high off the ground on wooden stilts when a yelling woman came quickly around the corner. I was stilled by the sight of a native woman whose neck was encircled by glistening bronze coils. Suddenly, a uniformed soldier stepped from behind the trees and struck the woman with the butt of his gun.

Hiding in the forest, we heard the gunshots and desperate calls now common among the minority tribes of Myanmar during this nation’s civil war. The lives of these minorities, I learned, had suffered from the implementation of the horrific forced minority labor policy. The feelings of compassion welling up inside of me marked the burgeoning of my interest in international affairs.

I have since learned much about the problems facing Myanmar as well as other developing nations. Upon returning to school, I shifted my focus within my anthropology major to study the medical challenges of impoverished populations. I researched topics from pharmaceutical dumping in underdeveloped countries to the health practices of illegal Mexican aliens in the United States. Through traveling abroad, I developed a more focused interest in the health concerns of displaced populations and low-income settlements.

Even after graduation, I continued to seek an understanding of health on physiological, societal and cultural levels by taking undergraduate courses that were not required for my diploma. Now, working in the legal division of Pfizer, I am gaining a comprehensive understanding of the role that large pharmaceutical companies play in helping attain and sustain adequate health standards in developing nations.

My experiences have now brought me to the realization that my ultimate goals of establishing and maintaining proper health administration and policy are best fostered under the umbrella of international public affairs. I would like to bring my first-hand understanding and education to fruition under the discipline of The New School’s Master of Arts in International Affairs. My substantial knowledge of all of development’s challenges will provide a solid foundation to support my healthcare focus. Your program will provide for me not just the coursework necessary to obtain this knowledge, but a platform from which I can pursue my passion for improving the lives of people in developing nations. With the resources available in your program, I will be equipped not only to support current relief efforts, but also to instigate further changes addressing the needs of today’s -- and tomorrow's -- populations.