Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What are your career goals?
Internationalism and social responsibility embody my professional goals and are critical components not only to business but also to my career. I really respect and believe in the concept of a double bottom line, or the potential for all projects to generate both a financial and a social return. My background affords me an understanding of the value of technology and its potential to impact economies, regardless of scale. In the short run, I would like to consult abroad in the field of technology. While serving as an international business consultant, I will be able to improve my general management skills and gain hands-on-experience in the international business community. In the long run, I would like to lead a technical enterprise in a developing country in the not-for-profit sector. Ultimately, I would like to serve as the head of a not-for-profit governing board within a developing economy. I plan to collaborate with other professionals in my field who are also committed to fostering global entrepreneurship. My experiences in the field of information technologies began at Sony Electronics, where I was introduced to e-business infrastructures and their need for constant improvements in today's competitive and growing marketplace. Assisting in detailed training and organizational efforts to assure 'go-lives' went smoothly, I learned that such efforts translate to all businesses; for instance, implementations in a developing country will require like strategies to ensure that the technology is suitable for its users. My experiences at Accenture were even more valuable to my career and sparked a passion that I was unaware I possessed, that of consulting. Following my MBA, I will contribute my acquired knowledge to developing countries that can truly benefit from the work of those with such a passion. Such tangible experiences in the business community where founded upon my previous leadership experiences. As the Student Body President of my college, I learned how to effectively manage large groups of people with diverse backgrounds. During my undergraduate studies, I also served as the President of the Chancellor's Association of Allied Students, attending many fundraising events to speak on behalf of the university. In these public speaking roles, I learned to market the school and solicit funds in a strategic and enthusiastic manner. Similarly, furthering an enterprise in a developing country will assuredly require such skills as financial investments play a primary role in any start-up. I recently transitioned to an environment where I can use my technical knowledge to benefit others on a global scale. In December of 2003, I began a full-time position with Nur University, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, as an International Web Marketing Specialist. My work is very different from my work at Accenture in that it is unpaid, yet the two capacities parallel each other. Both require an understanding of technical infrastructure and an ability to identify areas for improvement. Nur University is a private, non-profit development-oriented university serving over 4,000 students in various programs. For over twenty years, the school has predicated its teachings on the culture of ethical leadership, a topic I am very interested in. It is very rewarding to contribute my knowledge in information technologies to assist in the delivery of distance education and development programs in rural and poor urban Bolivian communities, while working with international agencies to secure scholarship funds for potential students. This position lends me a short but valuable experience in developing technical plans for a not-for-profit organization. I detail these professional experiences to describe the steps in a path that encouraged my career goals and decision to pursue a MBA. My professional experiences in the field of information technology have made me acutely aware of technology's power to both build and sustain a competitive advantage. This awareness has been a factor to my growth and a tremendous influence on my pursuit of an MBA. Since I began leading organizations in college, I have thought of attending MBA school, but what was imperative to this thought process was the factor of timing. Following my experiences, I am now at the level where I know I can contribute to the class as well as seize the opportunities presented to me in business school. My portfolio is enhanced by my consulting and international experiences, but will be increasingly enriched by the invaluable skills I can take into the marketplace following an MBA. The MBA will allow me to make a smooth career transition from consulting on a corporate basis to consulting in developing countries on a not-for-profit basis. Applicable in the field of development in emerging economies, the MBA will serve as a stamp for others to know the professional skills I am capable of, and will make me competitive worldwide. The School is a great fit, to say the least, for my professional and personal goals. First, I am very excited about the immense resources available to those studying within the Business and Public Policy curriculum. I see it as a champion in this area, and would love to be part of a program of such caliber. With academic concentrations in international development and strategic management of non-profits, the School will give me access to countless opportunities in the field of social impact management. Second, I am looking forward to complementing my undergraduate curriculum and work experience with a top-tier program in general management. The School does not just provide a small component of management classes but a rigorous core of management experiences that I feel will challenge me on many levels. From a small agricultural cooperative in Argentina to a multinational corporation, it is all about managing organizations, and I look forward to learning from world-renowned leaders with backgrounds on such diverse topics. Third, I respect the level of concern and attention the School lends to its global initiatives. I was excited to learn of the student-generated Global Immersion Programa tool that will be vital in my career development and increased exposure to international ventures. Through the global consulting practicum, I can learn more about the relationship between consulting and developing economies. Together, the Business and Public Policy curriculum and Global Management program mirror both my short and long-term aspirations; not surprisingly, they serve as another reason why I know the School can help me reach my goals. Finally, I seek to attend the School for its emphasis on global participation and community. The School attracts students from rich backgrounds, creating a collaborative environment filled with motivated, and aggressive, yet social, students. As many students come from an international background, it will be incredibly valuable to me to contribute my own experiences to the classroom and gain knowledge from diverse classmates. All the while, the School will cultivate my inherent leadership qualities. I am very excited at the prospect of forming relationships with other students who have a love for learning and members of the incredible alumni base who share similar career goals.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Give an example of a group failure and what you learned from it.
As an analyst at Accenture, I worked on a statewide implementation of a new system, which included a highly complicated payroll module. One month prior to our go-live date, I spent much of my time reconciling test paychecks of state employees. By running these paychecks through a simulated payroll test environment, I had the opportunity to validate many components of the payroll calculations. From taxes to deductions, every calculation had to be accurate. I was part of the team assigned to a particular agency within the State, which due to its organizational structure had more complicated rules regarding the frequency of their deductions. As the go-live date drew nearer, we successfully executed several more simulations. I was responsible for a sample population of employees; the twenty other analysts and consultants were also assigned test populations. We were all confident that our test employees returned accurate results and would do the same during go-live. One week prior to our go-live date, we ran the payroll test for a final time, more as a formality than anything else. Unfortunately, the results were not what we expected. Far from accurate, we had incorrectly set up a component to the agency's gross deduction calculation. The disappointing results were immediately communicated by phone to our managers, who had already made it home for the night. They quickly returned to work to meet with our group and decide on the next course of action. Consequentially, we were forced to push the go-live date back for this state agency by more than a week, undoubtedly surprising many members of the client team. I fortunately was able to take away a lot from this experience. Communication was key throughout the process, particularly toward the end, when it was crucial that the client understood our mistake and agreed to our plan of action. Part of our successful communication was honesty, as our clients received an honest explanation to the situation. Just as important was conviction. Our team, following the mistake, still stood confidently behind the new system. One mistake did not cause us to doubt the unquestionable benefits of the module. Follow-up was also imperative in this situation, as both the client and our team wanted to avoid such results in the future. Luckily, I was able to draft a plan that detailed lessons learned and future steps that would be taken to prevent like occurrences. Finally, I was able to learn first-hand an interesting aspect to teamwork. Though we experienced an unintended failure, it was important that we experienced it together, in unity, as a team. Going through the process of failure together made us a more cohesive team and strengthened our professional relationships with one another.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Give us an idea of your background.
My mother, hurrying alongside my father, carried my then seven-month old brother against her chest, silently reciting prayers in her head, hoping that things would go as planned. The Bahrain National Airport was only serving a few flights, as most airport personnel went on strike right before the onset of the Revolution. Days before, friends of the family had notified my father that he could secure airline seats to America by giving up most of his savings. These seats were reserved for American and British businessmen, desperate to leave Iran before the Revolution of 1979 started. Since my parents were Bahais, followers of the largest minority religion in Iran, they were not allowed to leave the country. Yet legality was not the issue here. Days earlier, my grandparents' house had been burnt down due to their religious beliefs. This was an issue of survival and of freedom, as many Bahais were being imprisoned for their beliefs, such as the equality and oneness of all religions and peoples. On one of the last flights out of the country, my parents escaped religious persecution and safely made it to the United States. The month following my parents' escape, all Iranian passports were stamped with ones religious beliefs, thus restricting, to this day, the travel of Bahais to and from Iran. My parents' escape made me aware, at an early age, of the value of American democracy and freedom. I was born in August of 1980, in Chicago, Illinois, the city my parents decided to flee to. They were obviously victims of imperfect information - otherwise, who would choose such cold weather? My father received his Bachelors degree and began a career as a Mechanical Engineer. My mother managed to find a low-paying job as a Nursing Assistant, while attending part-time classes to become a Registered Nurse. I believe that every family has their own difficulties; little did my mother know that she was about to begin two decades of such. Following their immigration to America, my father became emotionally and physically abusive, immersed in paranoid thoughts and actions fueled by a short temper. My mother exhausted all medical and psychological options available to help him. Eventually, my father was diagnosed with schizophrenia and paranoia; at the time, I didnt even know that the latter constituted a disease. Though I remember these unfortunate times, my mothers love and support came to ensure many of my positive childhood memories. I am particularly fond and now appreciative of the lengths my mother went to in her efforts to make sure I was successful. Summer days in Chicago meant children riding their bikes in anticipation of the local ice cream man. My summer days however, were in accompaniment of my older brother and mother to the nearby educational store. Here, my mother purchased several texts and workbooks on subjects ranging from English to mathematics for us to work on, introducing us to the concept of summer school before we were even ten years old! In the winter of 1992, my family moved to San Diego, CA, hoping that the proximity to my father's family in Los Angeles would alleviate the frightening symptoms of his disease. His father owned one of the most popular toy and costume shops in Los Angeles on Hollywood Boulevard. This venture created great wealth for my dad's family, yet my father refused to speak to them, let alone share in this wealth. Today, they continue to benefit immensely from the toy and costume store while many members of my mother's family, who also fled Iran, studied in America to become doctors and nurses. Throughout high school, my mother was very supportive. She never ceased to encourage my brother and me to strive for success in both academic and extracurricular pursuits. In high school, joining one club as a member quickly turned into leading several as the President. I immersed myself in extracurricular activities, enjoying the service to my community as well as the opportunity to grow from leading others. These experiences, coupled with a marketing class I took, introduced me to the ideas behind business. The Senior Scholarship Ceremony marked the culmination of my days in high school. I received more undergraduate scholarships for my community and academic achievements than any other student. This night did not serve as a bragging right; rather, it validated my career aspirations. I was accepted to the three undergraduate schools I applied to, U.C. San Diego, U.C. Los Angeles, and the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley. In my mind, I knew that the latter programs were more reputable; in my heart, I knew I had to go to U.C. San Diego. At this time, my brother was an undergraduate student at U.C. Berkeley, studying to become an orthopedic surgeon. Leave my mother at home with my father? There was no way I would do this, and I enrolled at U.C. San Diego as an Economics major in the fall of 1998. My undergraduate experience was more than enjoyable, primarily because of my involvement in student government and other university organizations. As the Student Body President of my college and the President of Chancellor Dynes' Organization of Allied Students, I constantly reaffirmed my desire to be a leader and to influence others. Further contributing to my professional ambitions, I worked at Sony Electronics, Inc., as a Financial and Business Planning Intern. Perhaps a little too goal-oriented, I attended career presentations given by on-campus recruiters during each year of my undergraduate studies, and was proud to complete my degree in three years. I appreciate this essay question not only because it gives me the opportunity to reflect on my background, but also because it illustrates the genuine concern the Admissions Committee has for their potential students. Fortunately, our family story had a happy ending after twenty years of my father's abuse. My mother divorced him two years ago, and has since enjoyed many freedoms. My brother is now a third year medical student at U.C. Davis Medical School, planning on entering Orthopedic Surgery. All in all, we are very lucky as family, to be where we are today, healthy, and pursuing our dreams.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
MAJOR ESSAY Required: Describe an impact you've had on an individual, group or organization. How has this experience been valuable to you or others? (500 words)
I had read about it in the history books but, after moving to India, I was appalled to discover that the caste system, though seldom admitted, still prevailed in rural areas. Certain unfortunate members of society were being branded as 'untouchables', treated as outcasts, denied equal access to public schools and jobs, solely on the basis of their ancestry. More shocked was I to observe the public apathy. Something had obviously gone wrong in the years since India's independence in 1947. No stranger to discrimination myself, having suffered it in England, I resolved to one day ameliorate this tragic situation. The opportunity soon presented itself in the form of Revolutions, an organization dedicated to eradicating social injustice and started by prominent local intellectuals. Although I was young at the time of its conception, I played my part, distributing leaflets around the neighborhood for local events. As I grew with the organization, I started writing articles in local newspapers, raising awareness and urging citizens to reshape their negative attitude. Through our unrelenting efforts, we relieved many downtrodden people of their misery, empowered them to take control of their lives, and offered them hope for a better future. These experiences made me appreciate the impact a small group of determined individuals could make in society and, likewise, the impact one individual could have on a group. Initially, our activities centered on political discussions, but thanks to dynamic grassroots members like me, we converted those nascent thoughts into tangible actions - by organizing literacy classes to solve the unemployment crisis, for example. I played a major role in spreading the movement in local schools and involving more youth into the organization. This problem would not be solved overnight; it was important for future generations of leaders to be aware of it today. I discovered a lot about myself in the process, as I gradually became more aware of the world around me and my purpose in it. Initially, I was tentative, not knowing how I would be received. Having been shunned so cruelly before, the locals I worked with were naturally suspicious, more so when they heard traces of my foreign accent. But through patience and resolve, we found a way to break through the external appearances and see each other for who we really were. I saw the world through different eyes and realized what was truly important. It may take years to resolve this human rights issue, but I am proud to be part of this initial movement towards equality. The experience laid the foundation for a lifetime of community service and gave me the confidence to act for change. I learnt to stand up and fight for what I believed in. I consider myself fortunate to have had the ability to overcome some tough times in my life, times I was written off, when all I ever wanted was a fair chance to prove myself. My community efforts today focus on providing less capable or fortunate individuals a means to stand up for themselves and tackle the challenges in their own lives.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
MAJOR ESSAY - UCLA Please provide us with a summary of your personal and family background. Include information about your parents and siblings, where you grew up, and perhaps a highlight or special memory of your youth. (2 pages, ~1000 words) Similar question but with lower word count (~500 words) asked at London BS and USC.
I distinctly recall my first visit, at the age of fourteen, to my ancestral village in Goa. Far from the developed coast where I lived, this place appeared to be stuck in the last century. There was no television, and the inhabitants still traveled by bullock cart and relied on candles for light. It was a humbling, eye-opening experience, and I realized how my grandfather's courageous decision to transcend his outer limits in 1939 eventually influenced my own life. He had left his village for the big city, to join the struggle for independence against Portuguese colonization. He later laid the foundations for social reform in the state. He relentlessly strove for change in a place where the word is almost despised, and where 'Sussegado' (Portuguese, meaning 'without a care') is a popular local motto. My grandfather's pioneering spirit embedded itself in my parents. My father left a lucrative family business in India to follow his dream of becoming a doctor. Meanwhile, my mother pursued her law degree at a time when the public still frowned upon careers for women. They migrated to England to fulfill their ambitions. I was born soon after. I grew up with visions of becoming a soccer star - I never made the school team. My father's limited experience meant it was tough for him (and for me) to hold onto a stable position. We moved often, in search of that elusive perfect lifestyle. Today, I consider myself fortunate for that varied upbringing. But I didn't see it that way as a child. Every time I made some really good friends, or excelled at a sport, my life was tragically uprooted. When I was eleven, my parents decided that the time had come to return to India. They missed their families and wanted to serve their motherland. They were also concerned that their two children would grow up confused, without any knowledge of India's heritage. Talk about culture shock! I was abruptly confronted with a cataclysmic new way of life. Weird customs, strange foods, new languages, and an inhospitable climate all contributed to my bewilderment. Renowned for its beautiful beaches and laid-back lifestyle, Goa is a traveler's delight. However, I wasn't sure I could settle down here. No one seemed to care about the big issues affecting their lives, and no one seemed to take any action. Nothing seemed to ever happen; the locals were mostly content with the status quo. All my childhood dreams evaporated as I struggled to accept a new reality. I was placed in an ultra-competitive school. Having to master two new languages was no picnic either. And if I thought I would finally be free of the discrimination that had plagued me in England, I was sadly mistaken. My new classmates held a deep-rooted suspicion of outsiders, easy to understand after the history books so eloquently described the atrocities committed under foreign rule. I was an outcast. It was a low point in my life. My grades slipped and my teachers branded me a failure, beyond salvage. My sister had it easier - four years elder to me, she was exempt from the trilingual criteria. Besides, she was always highly motivated to do well in school. Me, I had so far survived with typically average grades, preferring instead to hang out with friends and explore new stunts on my BMX bike. Maybe I was tired of being labeled the underdog. Maybe I felt guilty at hearing my parents argue every night, wondering if they had made the right decision for their children. But after two miserable years of existence, I stopped complaining and accepted reality. I attacked those text books like never before. I lived, breathed and dreamed those languages as I gave up all other social activities for the next three years. I eventually ranked fourth out of twenty thousand students in the state exams. My willingness to learn the local language, and my dedication, earned me the respect of my peers and I made new friends. Things were looking up and my old life in England faded like a distant dream. I had woken up to appreciate the new adventure that India had to offer. I started volunteering extensively for social change, not because I felt obligated to carry on the family tradition, but because I recognized I had the power to change things on my own and set an example to the rest of society. My new-found self-confidence helped me when it came time to make a crucial career decision. While I had held little control over my future until then, I was now keen to forge my own destiny. I could join my father's medical practice, but with the job security would come a loss of choice. I had yearned for my freedom for years and wouldn't give it up so easily. I wanted to explore new worlds and uncover new opportunities. I wanted to make my own decisions and my own mistakes. I didn't want to ever regret what might have been. I took the path less traveled and joined engineering. My friends did not comprehend why I would give up the easy life. But my parents understood. Thus began the next phase of my journey into the unknown. A journey which continues to this day. Someone once said 'that which does not kill you makes you stronger.' True. The many changes which I resented as a child, have provided me with the confidence to survive in any environment, and instilled in me a love for traveling and a deep curiosity for the undiscovered. Life in England and Goa has taught me the values of humility, patience, and persistence, and the importance of family and community. Although I have since encountered many more unforeseen twists and turns, I now view these as learning opportunities, and mere setbacks rather than as permanent obstacles. It's during those times of difficulty that I have discovered I really am a survivor. I consider myself fortunate to have had the ability to overcome those tough times - times I was written off, when all I ever wanted was a chance to prove myself. Today, I spend time helping less fortunate or capable people tackle the challenges in their own lives. I now see the world through different eyes and realize what is truly important.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Why do you want to go to business school?
One day I hope to win a Grammy for Record of the Year, or possibly an Oscar for Best Actor - I've imagined this happening so many times that I even have my acceptance speech roughly drafted. My inability to play an instrument or act, unfortunately, is a slight impediment to my dream. Nonetheless, my professional goal still is to combine my passion for the arts with my work. As a Senior Manager in the Business Development group at Listen.com, I did just that, and I realized my ambition to seek a long term career in entertainment and media. Having a broad and deep set of business perspectives, however, will be essential for me to successfully embark on my path. This is my motivation for pursuing an MBA from The Anderson School. As a Corporate Finance Analyst at Hambrecht and Quist (H&Q), I built a strong foundation of skills in analysis, presentation, communication, and organization. After being promoted to Associate in H&Q's Private Equity Market Group, I developed vital sales and marketing skills and an understanding for establishing and maintaining business relationships. Though I was on a lucrative career path at H&Q, I decided to pursue my passion for music and joined the business development group at Listen.com, an online music company. At Listen, I thrived under autonomy and developed solid expertise in market research, contract negotiations, deal execution, and partnership development. Most importantly, however, my Listen.com experience united my personal interests with my work, resulting a strong sense of fulfillment and insight into the type of career I want to pursue. At Listen.com, I saw how established media industries are undergoing drastic, wholesale changes to their businesses. Napster and other file sharing services, for example, significantly affected major recording labels that haven't changed for decades. New economy issues, such as media distribution, Internet marketing and commerce, and emerging technologies, are creating fundamental and revolutionary challenges for media companies. Moreover, regulatory and legal concerns, along with critical opportunities like consolidation and international growth, are forcing the entertainment industry to anticipate and react to change more than ever before. By teaching me how these organizations can adapt to these issues, in addition to providing me with a thorough comprehension of management, an MBA from Anderson will enable me to have a significant impact within the media industry, particularly in a business development capacity. This is true in regard to traditional entertainment companies, where many managers possess in-depth trade knowledge but may not have the business skills to effectively address evolving markets, and in regard to media startups, where the challenge to carve out a niche amongst long-standing institutions can be daunting. Anderson's focus on Entertainment Management, together with its extensive curriculum and access to the world's media epicenter, will give me a unique insight into these issues and help me to become a valuable asset in an industry that is not saturated with MBA's and in a market that will require foresight and management expertise. Despite my career focus, however, I also want to gain a broad business education. UCLA's myriad of electives, world-renowned faculty, and unique, hands-on projects, such as the Management Field Study, impart a broad knowledge base of various business practices and perspectives. Additionally, I want to learn from Anderson's exceptional, diverse student body. Their experiences not only will give me insight into business in general, but could open my eyes to alternatives that I may not have previously considered. The opportunity to discover and explore different options, while maintaining my focus on a career in entertainment and media, is yet another reason for me to pursue an MBA degree from The Anderson School. In regard to its educational setting, Anderson's small class environment is one in which I would excel and one that I actively seek. After working in teams of three to ten people at Hambrecht and Quist and Listen.com, I realize that I thrive in small groups. The emphasis on teamwork at UCLA, along with its high level of student/faculty interaction, fosters the type of learning environment that will bring out the best in my academic experience. Additionally, Anderson students have access to a multitude of clubs and organizations, such as the Entertainment Management Association, that will integrate my interests, career aspirations, and education. As I look ahead to business school, I want to attend a program the best equips me with the essential business skills for my career, but also one that best suits my ideals of diversity, personal growth, and teamwork. After speaking with alumni and exploring several different schools, I believe that Anderson can provide me with this ideal experience. As I look ahead to my career, I realize that I will most likely never have an impact on media by winning a Grammy or Oscar. Nevertheless, I know that I can unite my passions and my work, and make a significant impact on entertainment and media through the vehicle of business. With initiative and a solid foundation of skills from Anderson, and by following my passions, I can achieve this goal.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Where have you demonstrated leadership? (minor essay)
Over the past few years, I have assumed leadership roles in many different capacities. Through several projects at Listen.com and Hambrecht & Quist, I led teams to meet deadlines and revenue goals. For the past three years, I have taught homeless and low-income adults math and writing skills to aid them in their GED preparation. But the leadership role that means most to me is personal and non-work-related: since graduating from college, I have been both the financial and emotional leader of my family. This experience is a critical part of my present, but its roots are a central part of my past and will continue to be a significant part of my future. I lost my father in 1979, and his passing severely affected the economic and emotional condition of my mother and older brother. My mother has not worked since, and my brother has struggled to achieve stability and success in his career. After graduating from college, I became our household's primary source of income. My academic and professional success has been an example of triumph for my family, and they often look at me as the factor that will improve all of our circumstances. Thrust into a precocious adulthood, I have learned the stark reality of responsibility; if I am not able to succeed at work and budget my finances appropriately, my family will not pay its bills. From this experience, I have also learned how to balance self-sacrifice with personal attention. If I give all of my time and energy to my family, and neglect my own well being, then I will not achieve the personal fulfillment that defines true success. As a son and younger sibling, however, it is also sensitive and awkward for me to assume the role of head of household. Nonetheless, I have the utmost respect and admiration for my mother and older brother, and learning from their experiences helps me to become a better leader for them. Although not work-related, being the head of my family's household has instilled in me the qualities that are essential for leadership and managerial efficacy: empathy, sacrifice, balance, and the ability to inspire those around me.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Describe your life experiences (major essay).
My family background and cross-cultural upbringing have instilled in me a mature, poignant, and diverse perspective on life. I have seen ugliness and beauty, experienced hardship and triumph, and learned perseverance and resilience. This story begins in June 1979, five weeks before my fifth birthday, when our family-owned liquor store was robbed at gunpoint and I lost my father. After my father's passing, my mother gave up her job to take care of my older brother and me. Up until that point, her life was marked by incredible bravery and achievement. She grew up in an impoverished farming village in Kerala, a state at the southern tip of India. At the age of 20, she left for Bombay to study at a nursing college. In those days, for a single woman from a poor community to travel to Bombay to seek a better future was an epic feat. Her journey would eventually take her to Scotland, Boston, New York, and Los Angeles, where I grew up. Her sacrifices paved the way for my father to come to the U.S., thus laying the foundation for our lives in the land of opportunity. From 1979 to 1981, however, my mother lost her husband, mother, and father. Subsequent to such heartbreaking loss, her spirit was broken, and she looked to her children for salvation. When I look at my mother, I see a paradigm of courage. A strong component of my professional motivation is to provide for my mother materially the abundance of wealth that she has provided for me emotionally. My older brother was 13 when my father passed away. While still battling the awkwardness of teenage life, he was thrust into adulthood and became the head of our household. I cannot respect enough the responsibility and sorrow that he has faced. In spite of hardship, my brother continuously demonstrated strength and maturity, and throughout my adolescence he was my only male role model. I owe much of who I am, from my academic and professional success to my passion for the arts, to his tutelage and support. Although my brother's own academic and career path has been fraught with struggles and misgivings, in recent years he has begun to find the success that he sought earlier in his life. As for me, I never commiserated a sense of loss with my mother or brother because I knew not what I had lost - to this day I have no real first hand memories of my dad. When I graduated from U.C. Berkeley, however, I began to confront the profound impact of my father's death. No longer protected by the womb of adolescence and academia, and faced with the stern responsibility of being my family's primary breadwinner, I began to feel a sense of deep loss, realizing that my father's death had robbed me of an incredibly significant part of life. My emotions ranged from bitterness to empowerment: on one hand, I had been victimized, but on the other hand, I had been blessed with an incredibly close knit family. I struggled with how one irrational, instant act of violence could affect my family for the next several decades; but, I also cherished my unique insight into life and loss. It was almost as if I had awakened in my early twenties, and was greeted by both mourning and enlightenment. In the past five years I have begun a process of reconciliation that has allowed me to better understand my family's struggles. The fruition of this process is a gradual resolution, which develops strength, maturity, and acceptance. It is a process that will continue for the rest of my adulthood, but it is one that I embrace wholeheartedly as it represents the essence of my personal history. In addition, my family background also has taught me diversity, and the value of hard work. Growing up in the lower class suburb of Carson, California, my friends were of African American, Filipino, Korean, and Samoan backgrounds. Many of them came from broken homes, and their lives would be defined by survival and the attempt to stave off gangs. I overcame such disadvantages, however, because of my mothers emphasis on education and tolerance. She encouraged me to concentrate on academics and self-betterment, and helped me resist the distractions to which many of my friends succumbed. I look at my current station in life, and I realize that I have not persevered because of intellect, charm, or grace - I have persevered because of the support, work ethic, and sense of purpose that my mother and upbringing have given to me. Another experience that is critical to my personal and family background is my cross-cultural upbringing. I was raised with strong Indian cultural values that focus on the core concept of family, but I simultaneously embrace American social values and the concept of individualism. The intricacies of being responsible to oneself and one's family, and of seeking acceptance and preserving tradition, are significant parts of my life. These dichotomies, consequently, create an interesting collage of outlooks that allows me to assess social and business situations from several different perspectives and to relate to many people on a multitude of levels. I believe that we are basically the sum of our experiences. In my life, I have seen tragedy and hardship, but I have also seen poignancy and diversity. As I continue to develop my personal life and professional career, I am motivated to seek a deeper understanding of my background and a broader perspective on the world around me. If I am able to learn from these life experiences and cultivate this passion, then I will find fulfillment.
