English Personal Statement Example 4

Everyone has something that stirs their passion. Something that sparks an interest so deep-seated that to not pursue it would be unthinkable. Some find theirs in numbers, others in athletics; perhaps one may find a love for science, or a penchant for design. I found my love, passion, and fulfillment when I was very young, and I found it in the English language. The intricacies of the language itself and a writer’s ability to create powerful emotions in an individual have long been enthralled me, and I am amazed at how the words of one can influence a thousand. Therefore, I feel nothing but pure excitement at the prospect of studying English at university level.

Whether it be the Roald Dahl tales of my childhood, the thrillers of Lee Child that have kept me turning pages well into the night, or the entirely immersive legends of J.R.R Tolkien, reading has always been an integral part of my life. From this love for reading comes writing of my own, which I have developed through recent years. I take great pleasure in understanding various stylistic approaches that different writers adopt, and using these unique quirks to mould my own style and technique. With age, my writing skills have grown, from being mentioned in the newsletter in year 3 to a double A* at GCSE level at age 16. I will use English at university as a way to further expand my knowledge and research into my passion.

With my love of language comes a love of performing. As a prominent figure in my school’s music and drama departments, I was chosen to direct a musical together with another student and a teacher. Through our production, we raised $6,000 for the Sunshine Kids, a charity that organises activities and events for children with cancer. The experience was invaluable, and I was able to refine my leadership, interpersonal and communication skills.

These leadership and interpersonal skills cultivated in my being elected as Head Boy at the beginning of year 13. Taking a position of responsibility has left me with the ability to effectively manage and communicate with students and faculty alike. My school has been my home for the last 7 years- and I am very grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that made me who I am today.

I have also taken part in a variety of extra-curricular activities including the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Both these trips were exhilirating, challenging, and very rewarding, as well as giving me a chance to expand both my physical and team-building skills. Through these awards, I demonstrated independent thinking, leadership of a group, as well as critical and analytical thinking- all of which are traits that I feel will be central in studying English further.

I have long dreamed of being a writer. To write for a newspaper, a magazine, or as an individual is a concept that excites me beyond belief. Most of my favourite works are contemporary, such as The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom, Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, James Wheatley’s Magnificent Joe, and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Features such as McCarthy’s breathless absence of punctuation and Albom’s blunt, yet intricate, images of human nature are examples of stylistic touches that have influenced my writing. I have also begun to explore older works, such as the travels of H.V. Morton and Hilaire Belloc. This is the aspect of the language on which I wish to broaden my knowledge- and the opportunity to delve into texts that are yet unknown to me is something I look forward to.

Overall, I am solidly dedicated to studies in all my subjects, especially English, and I am unequivocally excited to translate this dedication and natural curiosity into further learning. Through the IB diploma, I have developed my analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as my natural curiosity to learn. I have become a balanced, open-minded thinker who is not afraid to take risks when necessary. I am a well rounded and hard working student, I consider to be important and supportive in my university education. I cannot wait to share my love and passion for something that has been such a core aspect of my development, and will relish the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals on the subject I wish to explore for the rest of my life.