Personal Statement

I believe there is a fair chance for everyone, either for success or failure. Maybe I am still too young to say this. But experience has taught me that on the journey of human life, one step, or misstep, could make a world of difference. And it is often the willpower, more than anything else, which pushes one to take the crucial step. As Thomas Edison says, a strong will is a hallmark of greatness. It was the strong willpower that helped me pull through my undergraduate education despite all personal and financial difficulties. It is again a strong desire to truly excel that prompts me to pursue an advanced degree abroad, in my chosen field of Economics.

There is a great urgency for China‘s economists to learn from their colleagues in Western countries, as the rapid economic growth has spawned a host of new issues calling for close inspection and careful research. In spite of all efforts, the efficiency of state-owned enterprises remains low. The economy is still struggling to attain its rational balance. While market demand falls short, deflation ensues. Especially in the structural aspect of the economy, much needs be done to address the imbalance in the distribution of industrial development, products, government funding, and financial investment. The "double-track pricing system," the developmental gap between urban and rural regions, the empowerment of provincial authorities to intervene with economic affairs, and the government budget control mechanism remain obstacles to China‘s advancement towards a market-oriented economy. Though much improvement has been made, the private sector continues to suffer from coded restriction and unfair taxation at all levels. Meanwhile, China has become a player in world economy. With its accession into the WTO virtually certain now, it is also entering into an age of unprecedented possibilities and challenges. Its internal economic transformation and its international trade status will both be upgraded to an entirely new level. This intense economic situation often makes me ponder over the profound impact it will exert on our country‘s future. It is a historic opportunity we cannot afford to lose.

In the West, Economics is already a mature science. It is an edifice of theories and logics built on systematic research on a well-developed market economy for over 200 years. This is a source of knowledge and experience that China must absorb, if it were to find its way to a mature market economy. This is why I have decided to pursue an advanced degree in Economics in the United States-it will allow me to make my ultimate contribution to China‘s economic construction. The challenge will be great, even daunting, but it is a challenge I will be happy to meet. I have no doubt that my diligence and willpower will carry me to my final destination. As Christopher Columbus says, the world belongs to the brave.

I have a keen interest in Economics. It is an area of study that demands extensive learning, sensitive observation, and penetrating research. It is also a science that affects our everyday life, exciting and inspiring us with its insights and vision. It is a science about the accumulation of wealth, about human desires and their satisfaction or compensation, and about the rational distribution and application of natural and human resources. Furthermore, it is a science about human relations, examining the ways in which human desires condition human behavior. It appeals to the intellect, and it arouses emotion as well. It seems increasingly tinged with a humanistic spirit, while its practical value could be enormous. In every way, Economics befits me perfectly.

My academic records show a superior performance with the course work. As a major in International Trade and Economy, I did well in the courses on Accounting, International Finance, and Trade Procedures, which built for me a solid theoretic foundation for future development. Since the institution where I studied has excellent programs in science and technology in general, I was able to branch out into other areas of interest with optional courses. Mathematics, with its strict logic and fascinating complexity, became my favorite. Finance is, of course, a necessary groundwork for any economic research, to which I devoted much time and effort. Philosophy taught me how to look at things with a broad view of their backgrounds, possibilities, and interrelations. The pleasure and benefit I derived from these courses were immense.

In a class of about 50 students, my grades were outstanding, with a GPA of 3.5, among the top 10%. I was also the only student in the class who had won a scholarship for 6 consecutive times. I played an active role in student activities, elected as "student monitor" for the class, and "minister of academic affairs" in the student government of the college. I was also once involved with organizing a "Managerial Speech Contest."

I have long admired your university for its advanced educational system, excellent research environment, and first-rate faculty and facilities. It is an ideal place to further my education, from which I will be equipped with the knowledge, training, and vision far more than anything a Chinese university system can offer. And it is such an education that will allow me to play an important role in China‘s economic development in the future, as I have always wished to do. Human life is a process of continual pursuit, and will lose its meaning when the pursuit is given up. In my part, I will never give up, and will always live in the hope of overcoming obstacles, and overcoming myself.