英国论坛
Ever since I was a young boy, I have enjoyed reading, for it provides me the opportunity to contemplate various inner thoughts and ideas, as well as plan my strategy to face and succeed in such a complex and diverse world. Whenever I encounter difficulties or obstacles, my first instinct is to consult books for the answers to my dilemmas; by gaining knowledge, I improve the likelihood that I will be able to devise a means to succeed. I also enjoy "GO" chess, an ancient Chinese mind game requiring precise calculation and deliberation of potential moves and strategies. Utilizing
every neuronal fiber of my mind, I force my opponent into a winless situation, experiencing happiness greater than any I could realize on the sports field. The only unfortunate outcome of my sedentary, academic habits is that my physical education scores during college left much to be desired, lowering my overall GPA. Nevertheless, my interests have helped me acquire a wealth of extensive knowledge and improve my learning skills.
After scoring highly on the university entrance examination in 1991, I entered the Civil Engineering Department of ABC University, intent on focusing on structural engineering. During my first year of university life, I continued my old habits, spending entire days in the library after my classes were finished, reading books on an endless array of topics until the library closed late in the evening. Even though I was very personable and participated in several campus student organizations, I was surprised when my classmates asked me to run for president of the student union in our department. Although I was not used to taking leadership authority, I convinced myself that I was well-suited for the position and spoke to my fellow students about how a successful student union should be run. By overcoming my shyness and adopting a more confident demeanor, I convinced enough students that I was the best candidate for the presidency and ultimately won the election. My experience as president helped me realize that facing a difficult issue is the first step toward solving it; throughout my final three years of study, I employed this tenet to overcome the problems I faced, both in class and in my extracurricular activities. Serving as student union president improved my skills as an effective organizer and productive team member, and helped me see that there are many more things to do than reading books after all.
Another highlight of my university experience beyond the class room was the passion I developed for computers and high technology. During those years, I spent innumerable hours learning about computers, from installation of hardware and software applications to the various programming languages. Even today, whenever my friends encounter computer problems, the first thing they do is phone me for assistance. The reason I like computers is closely tied to my love of knowledge; because knowledge in the field of computers is updated so quickly and frequently, this branch of technology provides humans with tremendous operational and information-gathering flexibility. Working with computers helps me focus my thinking on generating new, innovative ideas, as well as understanding how other examples of high technology function in the real world.
Because of my outstanding academic performance and successes as student union president, I was selected to become a teacher in my department after graduating in 1995. Of the 48 graduates from my department that year, I was the sole student selected to teach, an honor of which I am very proud. Over the last six years, I have progressed from an inexperienced and naive student into a confident, learned educator and shaper of young minds; in 2001, I was nominated as one of the top ten teachers at ABC University. Along with my teaching experiences, I have been part of several research projects and actual, public construction projects, including the foundation settlement observation of the ABC Highway, the measurement of dynamic behavior of structures of the Sega Square, the highest all-steel structure in Asia, the construction management of the Foreign Student Dormitory of ABC University, and the technical studies of high performance of concrete. Though I enjoyed my experiences, I was left unfulfilled, because I could only execute directives and not organize the various components of the projects myself; my university education had provided me with a theoretical foundation but no practicable experience. Although I worked as an assistant instead of a project engineer during these projects, I built upon my foundation of scientific and engineering knowledge, while seeing first-hand how theory is applied to real-world applications. Most importantly, I learned how to conduct scientific research properly, brainstorm solutions to challenging problems, and analyze and sort experimental data.
Although most people know that China is a populous nation with limited natural resources, few realize that my native country is also a developing nation with a burgeoning economy; infrastructure construction projects are springing up faster than bamboo shoots after a spring rain, creating new and challenging opportunities in the realm of civil engineering. China needs exceptional individuals who have mastered advanced topics in science and high technology, are proficient in methods of international management, and speak superb English. The knowledge I acquired through undergraduate study is not enough to help me achieve my ultimate professional goal of becoming a top-notch scientist and engineer. To meet these challenges and become one of my country's engineering leaders, I need to gain the latest knowledge through focused study abroad. By the time I complete my Master's program, China's economy and infrastructure construction will be peaking, necessitating the need for qualified personnel like myself. By integrating my personal desires to succeed in the realm of civil engineering with my country's push toward a more extensive infrastructure and successful economy, I will realize my own personal, inner happiness while creating a better living environment for my fellow citizens. Because of your university's combination of superior faculty, state-of-the-art research facilities, and diverse student body, I believe it is the best environment in which I will further my knowledge. After completing your Master's program, I plan to return to my homeland of China, where I will use my advanced knowledge to help propel domestic technological advancement.
