Earth Science/Geology Personal Statement Example 1

Everyone wakes up in the morning hoping to achieve something in life. That ‘something’ is what keeps them going every day. For me, it is my strong desire to contribute to society. I believe the best way to do that is by helping them understand the earth’s mechanism and how to maximise its potential to not just complement our lives but to make it better. My fascination for earth and wanting to contribute to society are the reasons why I decided to study geology.
I discovered my love for earth science in the best way I can imagine. I became a member of my school's R&D team as a result of my desire to create and innovate. We did a research about a portable water container that can increase the concentration of dissolved oxygen in drinking water. Throughout the research, I was able to fully implement the knowledge that I have gained in class.
After the research, I was chosen by the Ministry of Education to represent my school and country for a knowledge exchange program to Melbourne. I have the opportunity to visit Phillip Island and witnessed the renowned Pyramid Rock. The dark-coloured, triangular-shaped rock can be seen from most of the beaches along the island’s southern coast. What fascinates me most about the rock is its colour. It has a pink colour base made of granite and a dark grey basalt pyramid. This led me to read Tas Walker’s Biblical Geology. I found out that the difference in colour is caused by unconformity and signifies a time gap between the granite being placed and the basalt lava flowing on top.
It was a once in a lifetime experience that helped me discover what I am passionate about. Since then, I started to subscribe to some geology websites such as sciencedaily.com and followed Iain Stewart on Twitter to keep myself updated all the time. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London.
With branches ranging from prospecting valuable stones to the classification and taxonomy of fossils, the production and sustainability of energy sector has captured my attention the most. The roles geologists play in this sector for instance, locating energy sources by using techniques such as seismic surveys and then extracting it using their skills in rock mechanics and tunnelling to design an opencast, are vital for the development of a nation and it is parallel to what I hope to achieve in life.
Geology is a rich and diverse subject that, while primarily a scientific subject, has a great room for creative thought. For my A levels, I decided to choose subjects that consist a perfect mix of creativity and technicality. Chemistry has granted me the ability to identify the elements that are found in minerals and how they gave different properties to different minerals. Next, lessons in physics taught me to adopt a more logical approach when dealing with problems. Lab sessions provided me with a medium to train my practical skills such as collecting and interpreting data. Also, insights in differential equations and graphs that I have gained in maths and further maths have allowed me to utilise the statistics produced by geological firms, enabling me to view it in a different perspective.
Apart from studying, a chunk of my time is spent on the computer. I am the publicity director for my school’s computer club. Thanks to that role, I was able to channel my artistic ability and work with people from different backgrounds. Also, my involvement in the R&D program has taught me how to negotiate with people and how to accept criticisms positively. Realizing the value to be able to speak in many tongues led me to learn the Japanese language. I took the Japanese Proficiency Exam in my senior year and passed with a distinction.
With the knowledge that your university can provide, I am hoping that one day I will be a part of a geologist community that are constantly doing research on energy production and its sustainability.