Personal Statement

Early Childhood Experience

I was born in a country with a culture that does not expect much from women. As such, investing in girls was not common. However, as a young girl I challenged myself on how to rise above the cultural barriers to determine my destiny. It is through self challenging that it occurred to me that I could be able to serve in the military. I thence set my goals towards turning my dreams into a reality, though it took a considerable period and patience. Nevertheless, in my daily life, I lived the life of a soldier, practicing what I thought was essential in the daily life of military personnel. I got to learn the most vital skills in life when my parents migrated to the United States, leaving me in my home country alone with my grandparents for ten years.

During this time, I never shared much with my parents, except for the few words we often exchanged over the phone. Most of my skills in early life were imparted in me by my grandparents, or I developed them while I took care of my grandparents because they were advanced in age. I was the principal decision maker in the family, though I had to consult my grandparents when necessary. I, therefore, learned fundamental values like being independent, determined, focused, and hard work at a tender age.

Navy Boot Camp Experience

My happiest moment in live came when I got the opportunity to move to the United States to join my parents. It was a wonderful experience because I reunited with my parents, after 10 years of separation. However, my joy was short lived because, being an adult, I was expected to live a more independent life and pursue my career dreams. So after two years of reunion, I decided to join the navy. It is in the navy that I can say I had a real experience of life. Most of the values and perceptions about life I owe them to the experience I had at the navy boot camp. This was a period of transformation, characterized by a mixture of emotions such as nervousness, excitement, anxiety, concern, and even dread. Things appeared even more difficult when I considered my command of English, which was terribly scanty. Nevertheless, I had the consolation of knowing that it was the right track in achieving my childhood ambitions. The first days of the navy training were particularly scary and irritable, especially when I contemplated what took me there. Some time I had to do 24 hours without sleep, and it became a routine of sleeping late and waking up by 5.30 am. Waking up was not a likeable event as the recruit division commandeer would kick the door and yell at us. We were given 5 minutes only to make the bunk, and another 5 minutes to wash face and brush teeth. In spite of the harsh experience, I coped well to draw the attention of the commander who chose me to be our division’s section leader. Despite my poor command of English language and cultural differences, I knew I had to deliver as expected. With a little confidence and practice, I realized I could achieve about every task I was assigned. With time, I made substantial progress in English and could interact exceptionally well with everyone in the camp. I had to undergo a lot of physical conditioning and participation in confidence training in order to succeed.

Another achievement that boosted my experience at the Boot Camp was the chance to become an Honor recruit of my division. This is a coveted achievement given that I was one of the 8 out of 1000 recruits who wished to gain this recognition. I am also outstanding given that I was promoted from E-2 to E-3 during our meeting with the Real Admiral. The Boot Camp experience ushered me to take the responsibility of commanding 50 seaman students, and my team was always outstanding during competitions such as sports and marching. These achievements emboldened by confidence as a person with unique and admirable abilities, and an ability to lead others. These are skills that I can make use of even if I were to be out of the Navy. I will, therefore, never regret joining the Navy.

Navy Experience and Personal Aspirations

The most important attribute I borrowed in my early training at the boot camp was the ability to rely on other shipmates and team building. The navy experience was characterized by rigorous training, restricted diet, and a fast paced and active training style, both in and out of the classroom. The experience was also characterized by a behavioral structure deeply founded on establishing a team bond with up to 100 strangers. I was able to excel well in this environment, and receive leadership recognitions and promotions.

The training in the navy helped in honing my leadership skills, being goal oriented and to have a high level of professionalism. This imparted in me the sense that I can push myself to things which appear impossible. The experience also taught me to treat people the way I would like to be treated. I learned that excellence is achieved by avoiding the “I” in a team, no matter the situation at hand. The skills also enhanced my sense of discipline, tenacity, and motivation to excel in all aspects of life. In the navy training, I learned the essence of doing everything procedurally. This calls one to be attentive to detail in all things. As such, the ability to organize, plan and execute effectively is mandatory. The experience I gained, therefore, propels me to seek economic knowledge since it has always been my passion. Having gained the necessary economic skills, I will be better placed to enter the business world and inspire others to raise their motivation in order to excel. The navy has prepared me to handle any eventuality in life. This is because I have been trained to persevere through adversity, making me physically and mentally stronger.