A brighter academic platform since childhood always made me inadvertently reply to the question 'what do you want to become when you grow up?'- "A scientist". To the questions; Do you really know the seriousness of that business? Amount of passion and energy it requires; I never had an answer. But the route was made very clear to me- "A PhD degree, researches, publications and luck; there you are, all set to become a scientist".
As a reflection to that, I have had an excellent academic history (top 1-5), many quality researches, seminars and presentations, awards and scholarships (20 academic awards), a shining record in non-curriculum (more than 100 awards and certificates) and volunteering activities. But none of these inspired me to pursue a PhD. A gradual dilemma aroused in my mind has started questioning genuineness of academic systems that generated masters and PhD graduates with the worthless titles and having little vision and goals, a room piled up with heavily funded research thesis, researches that only mattered reputations and publications. This made me think- "Why should I do matters more than what should I do.
Thanks to many national & international researches and projects in Europe, Asia and Middle East, international conferences (Conference of Parties (COP 17), Water Research Forums, UK; International Science Fair, USA), that gave me an incredible insight of diverging paths of academia (researches), corporates, governments and society. While working in projects of SGS Group, and Environmental Agency, UK, I often burst into tears looking at people in Africa, India, Bangladesh, severely vulnerable to poverty, water, and food crisis. I have seen policies and governments failing relentlessly to support what they offered and international conferences, acted as no better than a cafeteria
Exacerbating problems of water crisis and its close nexus to energy security has been given little attention in the global research and policy developments by corporates and governments. My struggles to draw their attention towards arsenic and heavy metallic pollutants in South Asian Countries, lack of financing mechanism in water, water collection and recycling in India were squandered questioning my expertise and knowledge.
So what did I gain from this? Yes the passion that connected my consciousness of social obligations and the vitality of education to energize my skills for a great cause. I have attained the best qualities, experiences in my life that now reasons my passion of doing a PhD. It is the same understandings made me quit a highly paid unethical job in huge multinational corporate.
A PhD in water management aspects enabling me to develop knowledge and skills in areas of cost effective desalination (renewable energy), water harvesting and recycling, advanced water treatment methods, effective water footprint assessment, integrated water management strategies etc. to support a wider community to benefit from water resource distribution, develop a hydrological accounting models. This would act as pillars of strengthening local and poor community by rewarding them and alleviating poverty, income disparity, food and energy crises.
My impoverished background revealed me the price of being hungry and thirsty, to admit the pain of people lived in slums, walked hours for a cup of water, ate dust on their knees for a loaf of bread. With more than 67% of whole world population living under 2 USD per day, water is an unavoidable ecosystem service that they rely on completely. My unexplainable desire of social commitment can only be fulfilled by an excellent knowledge and experience in this sector. This is the power that drives my passion and this is the reason I deserve and need this scholarship.
The roles of great international universities like -----nt academic systems with quality research to support elite individuals to develop and contribute their skills for societies are unfathomable. These Universities of ---- with a great multicultural diversity, intellect and international quality will be the ideal place to design me for a better future. It is difficult to portray the real talent and passion in a piece of paper. However I can promise that this scholarship will give me an opportunity to develop into a person of greatest dreams with a solid voice that the whole World will listen one day.
But the route was made very clear to me
[
i]But now that the road is paved for me;[/i]As a reflection to that, I have had an excellent academic history (top 1-5), many quality researches, seminars and presentations, awards and scholarships (20 academic awards), a shining record in non-curriculum (more than 100 awards and certificates) and volunteering activities.
My suggestion;
To compliment that I have a sound track record;It is difficult to portray the real talent and passion in a piece of paper
.... very true... but with your writing you can convince them about your talents and passion etc. :)
