Category: Academic Interests

A couple of years ago, I was in a marketing major, but I was not really interested in it. One of the requirements to graduate was to take a financial accounting class. While I was taking this class, I realized something, that what I want to do for the rest of my life is to work as an accountant.

Accounting is to analyze and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain records of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.

Accounting is one of the most important aspects of running a business. In accounting, you can find some features, also called business transactions, that are essential for a company to run. Some of them are accounts receivable and payable, financial close, time and expense capture, fund accounting, project accounting, and revenue recognition and management.

Accounting has two major subfields – audit and tax. One is auditing accounting, which is the verification and unbiased examination and evaluation of the financial statement of an organization. Another is tax accounting, which concentrates on the preparation, analysis, and presentation of tax payments and tax returns.

The nature of accounting is based on what type of company it is. Everything depends on the point you are looking at accounting, these could be as a science or art, as an information system, a language, a social force, a profession, and/or a service activity. Looking at the nature of accounting as art refers to the way of performing something. Accounting is the art of classifying, recording, summarizing, and finalizing financial data.

Accountants have a list of duties and responsibilities when they are doing their job. Some of them are: examining bank statements and reconciling them with general ledger entries; examining expenses submitted by employees; keeping an eye on inflow from accounts receivable and outflow from account payables; creating company financial reports, analyzing data to understand where the company is generating or losing revenues and state the company’s financial health; or generating financial reports that display the company’s profit, equity, and cash flow.

This career does not require a minimum qualification to work in the industry, but most accountants go to college and get their bachelor’s degree. For those who want to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), the minimum education requirement is a bachelor’s degree.

Accountants face challenges while they are pursuing this career. One of their major challenges is to keep focus under pressure and be detail-oriented. A simple error can make your work all wrong. Because of this, it is necessary to focus, even though sometimes it is hard. There are moments when you are working under pressure, and you have been working for long hours because the deadline is tight. In situations like this, you need to keep focus on your job as much as you can. Another challenge is to have clear that in this career learning and study is never over. During all the years you work as an accountant, you need to keep preparing and training yourself. There is always something new related to rules and laws.

On average an accountant works 45 hours a week. During peak seasons, this is around 50 to 60 hours a week. The busy season for audits is from January to March, for taxes from August to October.

The salary of an accountant varies depending on the company and the level of experience. An accountant with work experience from 0 to 2 years can make around 38,000. On the other hand, one with more experience is around 63,000. If an accountant has a CPA license, they can get to make around 119,000.

Grow in the accounting sector is not hard, nor easy. It all depends on the dedication and love you put into your work. Also, the effort and hours spent to achieve your goal. In this career, as in any other, only you create your limits and barriers. The doors will always be open for an entrepreneur.

A certain amount of skills is needed for this profession. The most important thing that you need to know is how to deal with customers and satisfy them. I have been working as a Customer Service Staff for quite a long time, and for me, it is essential to see how customers feel satisfied with my work, and more important when they return in search of my service. Another necessary skill is knowing how to organize and prioritize your work. It is necessary to be very organized in this profession because your work has a lot of important information and documents. Also, know what you should do first, in case someone else depends on it to complete her/his task. Knowing how to multitask is very important too, you can find situations where you will need to be doing several things at once, and it is extremely necessary that the work is done well. Last but not least, be a team player. In the accounting field, you will find a lot of teamwork. It’s important to know how to work as a team, how to help and receive help from others, and how to cope with a stressful environment and change it into a harmonious one.

In conclusion, accounting looks more appealing to me than any other profession because in this career I will be doing two things that I love. This profession gives me the opportunity to help clients, work, and play with numbers. It helps me develop my skills as a professional. I know there will be good and bad days, and situations where I will have to overcome obstacles and grow as a person. As an accountant, I will have to continue studying to be able to keep up and provide my best service. In the future, I would like to not wake up with regret in the morning because I have to go to work. I feel that this profession is ideal for me because it is something that I am studying with love and something that would not regret doing for the rest of my life.

Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (you may enter up to 650 words)

Growing up in Wisconsin, visiting Madison, cheering for the Badgers, and attending multiple football games, I knew that the University of Wisconsin-Madison was the perfect school for me. But, school spirit is not the only reason as to why I am applying to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, although it is a significant aspect of applying. The indefinite number of student organizations and opportunities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison provides is astonishing, ranging from a Badger Cheese Club to a Latin Dance Club, I know that I will find my fit. Additionally, I am interested in Madison’s multiple opportunities for community service and internships in many different career fields. Specifically, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Hospital and multiple innovative research opportunities with professors would allow me to experience and explore different career paths, allowing me to narrow down my career interests and inspiring my interest in the medical field.

My experiences in high school inspired my passion in the medical field and helped me to form a medical club at my high school. My junior year of high school, I decided to take anatomy and physiology, a class which I took to explore my options into different fields. Before taking the class, I had no interest in the medical field or the sciences whatsoever. However, through the influence of an intensely passionate anatomy teacher, I began to research a potential career in medicine, influencing my career interest today. Throughout different units in anatomy class, I had the opportunity to learn about different body systems, different careers, and the life of doctors in hospitals. Later in the year, my interest in the medical field exponentially grew as our anatomy class visited the cadaver lab at Marquette University. At this point, I

Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (you may enter up to 650 words)

Growing up in Wisconsin, visiting Madison, cheering for the Badgers, and attending multiple football games, I knew that the University of Wisconsin-Madison was the perfect school for me. But, school spirit is not the only reason as to why I am applying to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, although it is a significant aspect of applying. The indefinite number of student organizations and opportunities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison provides is astonishing, ranging from a Badger Cheese Club to a Latin Dance Club, I know that I will find my fit. Additionally, I am interested in Madison’s multiple opportunities for community service and internships in many different career fields. Specifically, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Hospital and multiple innovative research opportunities with professors would allow me to experience and explore different career paths, allowing me to narrow down my career interests and inspiring my interest in the medical field.

My experiences in high school inspired my passion in the medical field and helped me to form a medical club at my high school. My junior year of high school, I decided to take anatomy and physiology, a class which I took to explore my options into different fields. Before taking the class, I had no interest in the medical field or the sciences whatsoever. However, through the influence of an intensely passionate anatomy teacher, I began to research a potential career in medicine, influencing my career interest today. Throughout different units in anatomy class, I had the opportunity to learn about different body systems, different careers, and the life of doctors in hospitals. Later in the year, my interest in the medical field exponentially grew as our anatomy class visited the cadaver lab at Marquette University. At this point, I realized that there was no other career I could be interested in after holding human organs, examining bones, and talking to pre-medical students. Then, my passion for the medical field grew, eventually leading me to take college level science classes and to help form and lead a club senior year called Students Exploring Medicine. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I could develop my interest in the medical field by major in biology or other life sciences, joining innovative research, joining medical-based clubs, and doing community service work in hospitals and clinics to further explore different careers in medicine and serve my potential future community.

Additionally at Madison, I can bring my leadership, passion, and community service through student organizations and volunteering while advancing my medical career. Throughout all four years of high school, I was involved in student council where I was involved in community service, and I even got the opportunity to lead some events, inspiring my passion for the world of work revolving around community service and saving lives. From doing small tasks freshman year to leading full sub-committees senior year, I learned valuable lessons about leadership skills that I can bring to Madison through student organizations and community service. Additionally, I attended outreach youth mission trips where I had the chance to communicate and interact with multiple different groups of people, hearing about their stories, and making an impact of their lives. These trips made me realize why I want to go into the field of medicine – the sense of satisfaction and the impact you have on people’s lives when you make a profound impact on their lives. For example, I traveled to West Virginia on a outreach youth mission trip and my group visited an elderly lady in poverty who did not have enough money to sustain herself and her eight dogs. So, on the last day, my group and I bought her dog food and wrote her a letter after completing construction on her deck. Her emotion and her gratitude towards us was never-ending and is one of the reasons today that I have decided to enter the field of medicine – creating an impact on someone’s lives that is unforgettable combined with great leadership.

The thing I love most about psychology is how much of an impact it has on our daily lives. This love truly came to fruition during my undergraduate course at Sunderland University. Learning the various ways psychological research can be applied to improve our lives was fascinating and graduating with first-class honours remains one of the proudest moments of my life.

I chose to apply to Sunderland University due to my previous experience here as part of my undergraduate course. The lecturers were helpful and friendly, and the facilities – like the soundproof research cubicles – to be incredibly useful for research. The psychological research methods course shares many similarities with the previous course, while also introducing interesting new activities, such as grant applications and research placements with a staff member. Studying at Sunderland allows me to delve deeper into a subject I love while also preparing me for the future, providing a broad range of potential career paths, such as a research role or to become a chartered psychologist.

I believe my undergraduate degree has prepared me greatly for this course. I took part in a variety of research, including my own that helped my to develop an understanding of data collection and analysis using various methodologies. I believe that my dissertation in particular helped me to develop creative problem-solving skills and apply everything I had learned over three years of study.

In the time since I graduated, I have stayed a member of the British Psychological Society, keeping up-to-date with current trends in psychology via their monthly journal. I have also done voluntary work with Washington Mind, where I took part in a group teaching photography skills to vulnerable adults in the local area. I believe this experience has lent me broader understanding of the work that is done to improve mental health and how it may be improved. I have also taken part in a multitude of different training courses through my volunteering. These include suicide prevention training, dementia care and various health-related programmes. I have been recognised as a Health Champion by the organisation, Live Life Well. This training really helped me to deepen my knowledge of psychology, particularly in regards to the impact physical health can have on our cognitive functioning, such as with vascular dementia.

My main aspirations for my future is to have a positive impact on peoples’ lives. I think that the best way of doing so is through research and the communication of it to those who can benefit from the findings. This is necessary to improve mental health, not just to individuals, but to society as a whole. It is for that reason that I would like to complete further study and make a meaningful contribution to the field of psychology.

Mathematics can be extremely complex at times, yet I love the satisfaction of ending the problem with the correct answer. The joy of completing a particularly hard question, or the sudden realisation of a particular topic making perfect sense, makes the challenge and the hard work worth all the frustration and dedication put into it. Studying maths at A-level has been the most enjoyable and fulfilling part of my sixth form years, and the logic and reasoning required for the subject keeps me interested. In maths lessons when I was younger I used to look at difficult algebra and think how could anyone work that out, but now I complete more advanced questions with ease due to the commitment of learning how to do so. By studying mathematics to degree standard, I hope to find more problems that I have to learn the workings of, in order to be able to finally say I can answer that. In particular, I am looking forward to exploring more in the field of pure maths. Pure maths has always been my favourite, as it provides a sturdy foundation to all other math that follows. My success and fascination in mathematics has given me the motivation to continue with my studies in mathematics. I hope to expand upon the mathematical knowledge I have already learnt, by further developing the skills and even applying them to harder and more challenging questions. Besides the possible reward of a degree in such a gratifying subject, I will gain greater understanding for maths and bettering my application and techniques will be a great opportunity. Due to these extra skills, my future would be more diverse; from having the opportunity to be a Maths Teacher to being a financial manager or an assurance assistant.

Alongside Maths, I also study Accounting and Business at A Level which proves helpful as they are inter-connected and have allowed me to develop many transferable skills. The maths involved with accounting and business is more on the financial side which includes workings for depreciation and calculating profitability ratios. My maths skills, which I have learnt from my A Level studies, is apparent in both of my other subjects which proves how important mathematics is for different businesses, financial advisors, and in accountancy.

As a part time job alongside college, I work in a cafe in my city centre. Part of my work role involves contact with members of the public and this has helped me enhance both my communication and problem-solving skills. Also, working with pricing and money, I have been able to develop my finance and money management abilities. I consider myself a determined and studious individual with well-developed analytical, language and numerical skills. In addition, by dealing with a busy schedule of studying, work, and a social life, I have acquired time management skills that will prove vital to me during my degree. Being punctual has always been an important quality of mine and I believe being time conscious is an imperative quality in day to day life as well as in the transition to university life. Moreover, my job has helped me to demonstrate my mathematic capability when working on the till or working out suitable percentage depreciations if needed.

Hopefully, a degree in mathematics will be a fantastic experience, and I eagerly look forward to the fresh challenges it will bring, as well as the wide range of career options it will bring such as being able to work in the lines of finance, banking or even as a quantitative analyst -the opportunities are vast. I believe maths to be the best of subjects and the one most beneficial to daily life. I keenly await the transition to university, and I am excited about studying mathematics at a higher level.

Currently I’m persuading my course in BSC Business and Management. I intend to pursue my further studies in marketing. My area of interest is on how people react and take action in aggressive and intense business environment. Choosing Bargaining and Negotiation as a course for my summer school at the London School of Economics and Political Sciences will help me in developing my area of interest and will increase my understanding in negotiations.

People negotiate daily, often without considering it a negotiation. Negotiation occurs in organizations, including businesses, non-profits, and within and between governments as well as in sales and legal proceedings, and in personal situations such as marriage, divorce, parenting, etc.

It is aimed to resolve points of difference, to gain advantage for an individual or collective, or to craft outcomes to satisfy various interests. Having an understanding about the different types of negotiations styles, ethics, trust and relationship-building, creativity and problem solving, behaviour of skilled negotiators, emotions in negotiations will help me conduct effective negotiations in both my professional and personal life. This course will help me improve on negotiation skills by reflecting on my own personal strengths and weaknesses.

This course will also help me meet and interact with different people form across the world and from different cultures. Understanding and learing about them, their new cultures and the way they look at negotiations will be exciting and sharpen my skills of negotiation with people from across the world.

Harvard Law School recently named Nelson Mandela as one of the best negotiators in history. He was well known for his patience, strategic thinking, practicality, and unwillingness to quit. Like Nelson Mandela I want to make a difference.

I deserve this scholarship because receiving this scholarship will boost my self-confidence, knowing that I not only completed a very important task, but also took the responsibility of creating a foundation for getting me closer to my career goals. Therefore, I plan to work extra hard to obtain a degree from a top educatonal institute in Negotiation and Bargaining.

The scholarship award will only push me further towards my Marketing degree and my dreams of one day having a successful career as an Marketing head. I also believe in giving back to my community by helping others in crisis.

Five years from now I see myself as marketing innovator for my onw company and personally as a great snooker player. I feel blessed that I am given the opportunity to be applying for a scholarship to help fulfill my dream and I will prove that I do have what it takes to not only be a successful student, but an outstanding negotiator.

Sociology is a field that I find very interesting because it forces me to look at things from all sorts of perspectives, not just my own. I’m used to viewing the world through my particular biases and leanings that it is exciting to see the world in different ways as well as understand why those views (including my own) are held. Because I eventually intend to become a doctor, the field of sociology that most interests me is Medical Sociology.

Medical Sociology analyzes the social contexts of healthcare, including the subjective experience of illness, which is influenced by many factors such as age, race, gender, and social status. Medical Sociology also has a significant focus on interactions between healthcare providers, which I find particularly interesting because most studies like this focus on interactions between patient and provider rather than interactions between just providers.

Medical Sociology is a broad field of Sociology and encompasses many issues. Amongst these issues, major trends include workplace interactions, differences in patient healthcare experience and access due to social factors such as race, economic standing, and culture. Medical sociologists have found that ‘social factors such as social class, political orientations, and values lay behind the actions and behaviours of individual practitioners and can influence the quality of healthcare and limit the availability of medicine by putting up barriers to people who do not fit their preferred group (Randhawa, 2014).

Medical sociologists also focus on illnesses such as ADHD, which can be caused by social issues. Well known medical sociologist Peter Conrad attributed the widespread diagnosis of ADHD to the ‘medicalization of deviance’ (Conrad, 1976) in his paper ‘The Discovery of Hyperkinesis: Notes on the Medicalization of Deviant Behavior’ he argued that the explosion of ADHD diagnoses (then called Hyperkinesis). In the mid 1970s was not because a new disorder was discovered but instead because the social controls available to society expanded through the introduction of stimulant medications, which allowed for previously deviant behaviors to be classified as a treatable medical disorder (Conrad, 1976). This trend continues throughout medical sociology, and most deviant behavior tends to fall under the medical sociology umbrella.

Prominent medical sociologists include Peter Conrad, who has published many works regarding medical sociology, especially regarding the medicalization of society. Anselm Strauss developed grounded theory, which is a general methodology for developing theory that is grounded in data systematically gathered and analyzed (Strauss, 1994). Howard S. Becker’s book ‘The Outsiders’ is considered one of the first books to talk about labeling theory and its connection to social deviancy. Peter Conrad’s publication ‘The Discovery of Hyperkinesis: Notes on the Medicalization of Deviant Behavior’ is fascinating to me because I am diagnosed with ADHD, in reading this paper it was impressive that not too long ago I would’ve been considered socially deviant and placed in an asylum.

However, with the expanded social control available to medical professionals, deviance can now be treated rather than locked away. The JLC is an example of such expanded social control, allowing for people with issues such as mine to succeed when previously those with learning disorders were shunned for being different. Peter Conrad’s publication, ‘The medicalization of society: On the transformation of human conditions into treatable diseases’ is a paper written on the influence that pharmaceutical companies and patients have on the medical industry, transforming once regular occurrences into medical disorders to fix (Conrad, 2007).

Careers in medical sociology are mostly research based, with administration positions available in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Careers in medical sociology also include teaching at universities and in corporate settings.The research method I used to research medical sociology I used secondary data analysis.

I am writing to express my interest in pursuing the Master of Arts in Communication. I am excited by the prospect of performing research and broadening my knowledge of communication theory, political economy, policy, the study of culture and media, and technology, communication systems, media and practices, and data studies. I believe I would make an excellent master’s candidate. I decided to pursue my Master’s in Communication because during the course of my studies, I have had the opportunity to have a varied career life and I have come to find out that the area of Communication is one of my strengths and I naturally find studying and exploring communications theories very fascinating.

My research interests focus are social media, gaming and popular culture. Considering my background in English and experiences from working on social media, I am especially interested in researching “The use of Social Media by the Youth & Young Adults and Its Impact on Interpersonal Relationships”. I feel that Simon Fraser University, as a known research university, is a place where I can gain the knowledge and experience needed to accomplish my goal of communication systems specifically social media. My research will seek to answer why the youth are so engaged on social media and then study the impacts of its use on our interpersonal relationships. My academic interest aims to study the use of technology, social media in our daily activities and yet keep healthy interpersonal relationships. I desire to study technological advancements and their impacts on interpersonal relationships in our world today. I will also suggest possible solutions, following this research, on how the use of social media can be limited and how the present blocks to non – verbal communication can be eradicated. As a young Ghanaian lady who recently completed my bachelor’s degree in English Language and completed an online associate Degree course in Computer Science. Working on two courses simultaneously has helped me develop a high level of discipline and good organization skills in handling all my tasks. And I will apply every single positive attitude to my studies to help ensure this research work is a success if I am given the opportunity to attend this noble institution.

As to when the youth became so engaged in social media communication, no one can tell. However, it is obviously now the main means of communication neglecting our good old interpersonal relationship at the suffering end. Everyone holds on to their gadgets to communicate on these social sites neglecting the people around them. Everyone holds on to their gadgets to communicate on these social sites neglecting the people around them. This happens in our homes, schools, bus states, train stations, our churches, mosques and anywhere you find a group of people gathered. The effect of social media’s affecting our ability interact with each other is visible in every aspect of our society, so the question is what has this done to interpersonal communication? That is what this study hopes to answer.

While working on my academics, I have also the opportunity to do a couple of part-time jobs in very organized environments where communication systems have been the focal point of the jobs. I have worked with ENDA as hostess and with CaLP as a note-taker, with GetOn! Africa as an administrative intern at and currently a secretary of YAM, these experiences have made me gain a successful track record of problem-solving, communications and decision-making skills. My current volunteer and part-time jobs have given me about 5 years’ part-time experience in communication & administrative jobs. As the secretary of the Young Adult’s Ministry in my church, I have learned significantly how to communicate clearly and friendly with people. I have also learned to effectively help resolve problems; handle complains that are lodged. I also hand over received requests for review and negotiates on behalf of the ministry. In addition to that, I also take accurate minutes of meetings. My position as the secretary of the Welfare Committee has also given me the opportunity to successfully incorporate my solid communication skills to effectively interact with people from different cultures. My duties include receiving requests of needs from people and communicate to the team so it can be resolved. Throughout this role, I have demonstrated impeccable patience, care, and support while serving people with different needs.

This study will be done using online surveys and interviews to examine the influence that the use of social media has on communication skills. The study will target youths because they are the ones who are mainly affected by social media addiction. The study will also determine how the influence of social media on communication skills can be countered. This study will be assessing the barriers that exist in non-verbal communication. The study will also examine the effectiveness of such communication in a business setting. Following this research, recommendations shall also be given on how the existing barriers to non-verbal communication can be eliminated. I will also use a wide range of resources from online sources and books to enable me to an exceptional thesis.

I am currently an employee of Directly. An Online Support Automation Company. I am a OneDrive & Microsoft advisor. I am responsible for providing customer support, through directly expert community, identifying issues and communicating the support process, navigating systems to solve the customer’s problems & Delighting customers with positive and encouraging interactions. My current customer service job with directly as a Microsoft advisor I believe gives me a better disposition and a good exposure to pursue further studies.

I am passionate about communication theories. I particularly became interested in communication studies after I completed my first project work for my diploma in French studies where I had to do a literature review on ‘Awa la petite marchande’ (Awa, the petty trader). While working on gathering information on the Lebus and compiling my findings. I noticed my passion for social media management. After that, it was confirmed again when I was given the opportunity to manage a couple of social media pages through which I developed some leadership skills, social media management skills; the management of the ministry’s Facebook account and page, Instagram, and database management: the use of google drive, box and other cloud storages to store the ministry documents, etc. I also have had the opportunity to oversee the ebsite and social media management, Google Drive & Google Plus pages and accounts management of the Son of Solomon Ministry. In all these roles I played, I have received excellent performance evaluations from my heads and my contributions have been formally recognized and I hope to apply all these communication skills during my studies. I am also a bilingual person.

I believe my background and exposure to social media and having the opportunity to come from a family and country that values the relationship and that aspires to place huge importance on interpersonal relationships and hospitality. I am convinced the School of Communication at Simon Fraser is the best place for me. It’s an international reputation for its critical scholarship on urgent social and political problems affecting contemporary societies, locally and globally will give me a conducive environment to execute my research studies. I also studied French for three years in a language school before starting my bachelor’s degree, and this has given me some good knowledge of using the French language very well. I believe this will also be a great asset since Canada is English & French-speaking.

I look forward to earning my Master of Arts in Communication with the understanding that I am still leaving my options open in a broad field. For this reason, I have researched some of the opportunities at SFU. My desire is to be part of the research that will narrow the scope of my degree without disregarding the immense world of SFU. Ideally, I would like my graduate research to help rebuild interpersonal relationships around the world. I would like to request that you consider me as a graduate school application. Furthermore, because of the good reports that I have found about SFU, I am excited and look forward to being part of the communication program in any case. After my studies, I hope to gain rigorous training in the critical foundation of communication theory, the study of culture and media, and technology. It’s also my hope that my master’s in communication will help me develop my strengths further and permit me to be more useful and very knowledgeable in this chosen field. My past experiences have helped me develop a high level of discipline and good organization skills in handling all my studies and job-related tasks and I hope to go to apply every single positive attitude during my course if accepted. I want to pursue my masters not only because I would like to actively pursue grant opportunities and direct research at a higher level, but also because I know I would benefit personally from the increased depth and breadth of knowledge and experience I would gain from the process. After earning my master’s, I would like to pursue careers in academia, government, NGOs, cultural institutions, communication industries, and the media after completion. I hope you will give my application a sincere consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

I am currently studying Master of Science in Micro and Nano System in Technical University of Chemnitz. After completing my bachelors in Biomedical engineering, I started my career in healthcare industries, where I came across various diagnostic technologies like Point of Care (POC) Diagnoses for diseases. My work experience has provided me with a deeper realization of the importance of being competent in the Biomedical field. The innovation of scientific equipment made a considerable impact on me while choosing where to study. Germany came as my first preference to pursue a master’s degree as it has been at the forefront of research and new technologies.

In my bachelors, I have regularly attended seminars which kept me updated on new technologies. I would like to call myself an all-rounder personality apart from academics, I have participated in various extra-curricular activities like Scouts and Guides, dance and sports. I was also an active participant in workshops, quizzes and seminars. I was a part of Biomedical Engineering Society of India – VIT Chapter. Furthermore, I have attended sessions in Nanotechnology lab in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay which is one of the most reputed colleges in India where I learned about the manufacturing of sensors that helped me to clear and accentuate my theoretical knowledge.

As a graduate in biomedical engineering, I joined Collateral Medical (ColMed), backed by a good academic background and a well-rounded personality. Working as a product xecutive, my job included tasks such as researching about new innovations in medical devices in the field of Gastroenterology and Urology, preparing product catalogues with technical as well as functional specifications and explaining the real-world applications of the devices to the sales team, doctors and related stakeholders who further use the equipment in their respective area of work. I was also involved in attending various medical exhibitions, technical conferences for information about latest happenings and innovations.

As a student, I always aspired to contribute my knowledge in making human life better. Thus, I chose to pursue masters in the field of semiconductors because semiconductor technology can improvise the current diagnostic system and can make the investigation flawless and accurate. During my 2nd semester of masters, I developed interest in system design and fabrication technology in which, I look forward to do an internship or student assistantship where I can polish my skills. After graduating from here, I wish to work on challenging projects and to interact with various clients in the global market to help to build new technique for improving healthcare. Furthermore, my goal is to grow as an individual working on my personal development by improving self-awareness, self-knowledge and self-assessment. I hope to be positively considered for scholarship which will support me economically and can help me to carve my career in this field.

I am interested in doing a Ph.D. research in cybersecurity because I aspire to become a renowned cybersecurity expert and join the fight against cyber threats and attacks. I understand that there is an obvious shortage of professionals, especially women, in the field of cybersecurity. So, I aspire to reduce the dearth of experts and women in the field of cybersecurity and eventually mentor secondary school students in West Africa to take cybersecurity as a career. For my Ph.D. research, I am interested in evaluating the cybersecurity and data privacy issues that are introduced by using personal electronic devices at libraries in the United States, and the lessons that could be derived for libraries in Nigeria.

My motivation for taking up cybersecurity research stems from my academic background in computer science as well as my over ten years of professional cum academic experiences, as a systems programmer, a systems librarian and an academic staff at two universities in Nigeria. As a systems librarian, I am both a professional and academic staff. I administer library systems, lecture undergraduate students, conduct research and perform community services. The main stimulus for my interest in this Ph.D. research in cybersecurity is my first-hand experience of cyber-attack on one of the servers that I currently administer.

My proposed Ph.D. research will answer these questions: whether or not we give too much information away, to systems that can be easily hacked for they are poised to so many vulnerabilities. What are the steps put in place to protect library users’ information in England? Do the libraries prevent users from using personal devices while in the libraries for data safety reasons? What is the right approach to help library users take security measures in the attempt to ensuring data protection when using personal electronic devices in the library?

The research will use interviews to collect data from the respondents. The different types of interviews will include; telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews and finally computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI). The research design method that will be used is the conclusive research design. The proposed study will use a descriptive conclusive research design since it will answer questions as to how libraries protect users’ information. Conclusive research is one that includes; content analysis, narrative analysis, and finally, discourse analysis.

The significance of the project is that its results will go a long way in informing both the library workers and users across the world, especially those in third world countries like Nigeria on cybersecurity and data privacy issues that come with allowing library users to use their personal electronic devices. The research will also help in sensitizing library workers and users of methods that have been tried and proven to work for mitigating cyber and data privacy threats and attacks by libraries in the United States, from which libraries in Nigeria and others can learn lessons.

My fluency in English was acquired through formal education. I passed the English language with a credit grade at the West African Examinations Council’s Senior School Certificate Examination in June 1998. Moreover, all my educational studies from the elementary level to master degree level were received with English as a medium of communication, and English is the official language in my country. In addition, I passed the IELTS test of English with an overall band of 7.0 (Writing: 6.5; Reading: 6.5; Speaking: 7.0; Listening: 7.0)

As an active member of my national and international library, information science, computer and Internet societies, I gained experience giving presentations to a variety of audiences. I have presented papers at local, international and global conferences and workshops, and I have also been a member of local, national and international conferences/workshops facilitating teams, including the African Internet Governance Forum and International Federation of Library Institutions and Associations (IFLA).

I will love to have my Ph.D. research at Northeastern University because of the interdisciplinary nature of its research. This is because carrying out this research will enable me to collaborate with, adopt methods from, and disseminate the research results to, diverse fields including computer science, social science, and humanities, engineering, information assurance, and information security, among others.

Having my Ph.D. at Northeastern University will provide me with the opportunity to be surrounded by people who share the same interests and ambitions with me. I will have the opportunity to mix with colleagues from various backgrounds and talents, and this will enhance my being a better participant during team works. I understand that a career in cybersecurity is not for the indecisive or the lazy. The required hard work, challenges and long hours of study can only be successfully sustained by passion, and I have got that passion for research, academics and the ability to share knowledge with others. This also is another reason that led to my decision to pursue a Ph.D. degree in cybersecurity.

I am excited about the challenges that are ahead of me in Ph.D. research and cybersecurity careers, and I accept them with great excitement. After the completion of my Ph.D. research, I want to advance my career in the cybersecurity industry.

My aspiration to attend a conference is more than just a professional formality; it’s an essential step in my intellectual enrichment and career advancement journey. Conferences are a melting pot of innovation, expertise, and experience, offering a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the latest developments and perspectives in one’s field. They represent diverse ideas, where knowledge is shared, challenged, and expanded. In these gatherings, I anticipate acquiring new insights and experiencing personal growth. The opportunity to interact with thought leaders, peers, and potential collaborators presents a fertile ground for nurturing my professional network and fostering meaningful connections. Attending a conference is a proactive step towards broadening my horizon, enhancing my expertise, and contributing more significantly to my field. It’s an investment in my future, promising to equip me with the tools, knowledge, and networks necessary to excel and innovate.

Networking and Collaboration

Networking and collaboration are among the most compelling reasons to attend a conference. These events are not merely gatherings but vibrant ecosystems of professionals and thought leaders. I anticipate developing a richer understanding of my field by engaging in conversations with peers from various backgrounds and expertise. Conferences offer a platform to connect with mentors who can provide guidance, collaborators for future projects, and even potential employers. 

These interactions can lead to new opportunities, opening doors that might otherwise remain closed. The exchange of ideas and experiences with others is invaluable, providing a broader perspective and sparking innovative thoughts. The relationships formed during a conference often extend beyond the event, laying the foundation for long-term professional networks and collaborations. These connections can be instrumental in one’s career progression, offering support, advice, and opportunities well after the conference has concluded.

Gaining Targeted Knowledge

Conferences are a wellspring of specialized knowledge, presenting various sessions tailored to various field facets. Attending these sessions is akin to a guided journey through leading experts’ latest research and practices. This targeted knowledge acquisition is invaluable; it goes beyond general understanding, allowing for a deep dive into specific topics. Conferences offer a rare opportunity to learn from case studies, groundbreaking research, and innovative practices, making them an essential tool for anyone looking to stay abreast of the latest developments and deepen their expertise in their particular area of interest.

Inspiration and Creativity

Conferences serve as a powerhouse of inspiration and creativity. They provide a stage where groundbreaking ideas are shared, innovative projects are unveiled, and creative solutions to complex problems are discussed. Listening to keynote speakers and participating in various sessions can ignite a renewed passion for my field and inspire me to think outside the box. These events often showcase the latest trends and advancements, sparking ideas that can be transformative for my own work or research. The exposure to diverse perspectives and novel approaches can challenge my thinking and encourage innovative problem-solving. This influx of new ideas and inspiration is not just invigorating but also crucial for staying motivated and creative in a rapidly evolving professional landscape.

Personal and Professional Development

Attending a conference catalyzes both personal and professional development. It’s an arena where one can refine soft skills like public speaking and networking, which are crucial in any career. Conferences often involve interactive elements like workshops and discussion panels, providing practical experiences that enhance one’s professional toolkit. Moreover, they offer an opportunity for introspection and self-evaluation, encouraging attendees to reflect on their career paths and aspirations. This multifaceted development is integral to building a well-rounded professional profile, enabling attendees to emerge more confident, skilled, and motivated to excel in their respective fields.

Challenges and Solutions in the Field

Conferences serve as a critical platform for addressing current challenges and exploring potential solutions within various fields. These gatherings are fertile grounds for discussing pressing issues, sharing innovative approaches, and brainstorming collaborative solutions. Engaging with the latest research and case studies presented at conferences provides a deeper understanding of the complexities and nuances of these challenges. This environment fosters a collaborative approach to problem-solving, encouraging attendees to think critically and creatively. By participating in these discussions, attendees can contribute to shaping the future of their fields, applying the insights and strategies gleaned to overcome obstacles and drive progress in their professional arenas.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the decision to attend a conference is a step towards enriching my professional life in multifaceted ways. It’s an investment in my career that promises access to knowledge, the opportunity to engage with experts and peers, and the potential for significant personal and professional growth. Conferences provide a unique platform for learning, networking, and inspiration, offering enlightening and transformative experiences.

They encourage me to expand my horizons, challenge my perspectives, and contribute more effectively to my field. The benefits of attending a conference extend beyond the days spent at the event; they resonate in my ongoing professional journey, influencing my approach to work, enhancing my skills, and broadening my network. This essay encapsulates my reasons for wanting to attend a conference, underscoring its invaluable role in fostering continuous learning, professional development, and personal growth.