The difficult road I have traveled in recent years has taught me the priceless virtue of patience and unyielding diligence. It has brought clarity and direction to my life regarding personal growth and my vocational aspiration. I am endlessly inspired by one of my favorite quotes: "Only through the experience of trials and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision clarified, ambition inspired, and success achieved" - Helen Keller (1880-1968). I struggled throughout my college years through the tragic loss of many loved ones in my life due to fatal car accidents and suicide. The final and most devastating blow was the slow and painful decline in my younger sister's health, which began while I was still in college. I continued to work towards my degree, sometimes using it as an escape, but I still wasn't able to focus on my grades as I should. I quickly learned that there is no escape from the loss of close family, from having a little sister, your only sister, torn from existence. She passed away a year after I graduated from St. Mary's Honors College of MD with a bachelor's degree in psychology and took a break before continuing my studies. I have worked tirelessly to piece together the scattered pieces of my life and persevere; to create a life that wasn't simply about surviving, but was full of substance, meaning, and purpose. When my sister died, it took me a long time to get back on my feet and mentally realign myself with my goals; it was a time of reflection and growth. During the three-year break I took after graduating from St. Mary's Honors College of MD, I worked as a customer service representative, full-time nanny, and accounting analyst at a logistics company. If there is one... middle of the paper... Maryland next fall to earn my PhD in social psychology. I'm excited about your program's focus on combining ideas across different fields. I feel that I could truly blossom fully as a researcher in the academic environment provided by your department and would be a beneficial addition to your current program. I have the experience and passion that drive me to work hard and a refined perfectionism that allows me to learn quickly and do things correctly without taking shortcuts. Regardless of where I end up, my hope is that in the next five years you will see my name emerge as a prominent leader in the field of social psychology. I aspire to become a member of the psychological community known for responsible, progressive, and truly meaningful research. I hope to work with you soon, both as a graduate student and as a colleague.