Usman Ahamd 2 / 2 Jan 9, 2012 #1Personal StatementI faced problems in attaining education that are probably not typical to students pursuing a linear academic path. Since childhood most of my life has been spent working as a farm hand supporting my family financially. It forced me to quit formal schooling after 10th grade and inserted 5-6 years where I did not get to study at all just so my family could have enough to eat. Not giving up on my dream of educating myself, as soon as I could see the slightest break in our financial crisis I registered for my high school exams. I had 6 months to prepare the 2 year workload for 12 subjects on my own - simultaneously continuing farm labor. I am proud of what I achieved, securing 1st position in the region of Multan among the 42 thousand students competing and 4th position provincially in the Humanities Group. The Chief Minister of the province awarded me a gold medal, cash prize and a commendation certificate.After high school I worked voluntarily for 3 months with Tareen Education Foundation, teaching students how to prepare for examinations and handling large amounts of workload in short periods of time - nothing is impossible in the face of diligent hard work.As a next step in my academic development I want to apply to the prestigious US academic institutes for an undergraduate sociology degree. Research in the discipline will help me identify the linkages between education and the rural societal setup of a developing country like Pakistan. I want to be able to engage these linkages and eventually be a force that helps others who share the same predicament as I did.
