Career Inspiration

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Personal Statement
At a time when technology is advancing at such a rapid rate, to aid this growth and to make a difference no matter how small has always been one of my greatest ambitions. Having been brought up with strong family values, I have been taught that further education would provide many opportunities for me to develop both as a person and as a member of society
Having thoroughly enjoyed Mathematics and Physics throughout the course of my school years, I wished to find a course that combined these subjects and accommodated my specific needs; a course that would require an enquiring mind, the solving problems, the analysing and evaluating of data, manual dexterity and the ability to think logically. Most of all I wanted a course that would engage my mind. In my opinion, Electrical and Electronic engineering fit this requirement
Much of our daily life at home, school or work has been revolutionised over the past generation by the development of electronics. Thinking towards the future, I would value a job where there was a fast changing environment, where I would have to be constantly committed to improving my learning and performance throughout my career. Electrical engineering is a very good example of this type of job. Since there is a continued demand for innovation to achieve greater efficiency, giving the chance to exploit new materials and address new markets
During a work experience placement, I got the chance to visit a graphic design and advertising firm. The main aim of this visit was to provide me with an insight into the world of work and the demands that are made upon a worker on a daily basis. Throughout my time there, I was treated like any other employee and the experience surpassed all my expectations. As we were all reliant on one another, it was necessary to talk to each other and discuss the progress that was made on a day to day basis and the direction in which to follow to achieve mutual goals. These interactions enabled me to enhance my interpersonal skills and realise how valuable the ability to understand the needs of both clients and co-employees is in order for the company to be successful
I have always been a great fan of sport, and have always especially liked netball. I was encouraged to play the sport at the age of six and, since then, it has played an important aspect of my life. Having played for Manchester and Greater Manchester teams for a total of five of these years, I sought the position of Manchester netball coach for a group of U-11 children. I found this experience extremely valuable and this encounter enabled me to develop my communication and leadership skills and, although, I am no longer the coach of this mixed team, I still enjoy watching them play and using the skills that I taught them
Within school, I have participated in various activities, all very diverse. I was part of a Young Enterprise Scheme, completed my Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, have been a member of the school choir and had Speech and Drama lessons for a total of five years. These experiences were all very rewarding and challenging and provided me with many happy memories. For five and half years, I have also helped run the school charity shop. 'Pencil Point' caters for the stationery needs of lower school pupils and working here has been one of my most meaningful experiences. I was able to interact with people of all different backgrounds and ages and raise a large amount of money for Francis House Children's hospice, a charity very dear to my heart, at the same time
I do feel that I am capable of accepting the challenge of a demanding university course and that I have the character and strength of personality to make a success of it, should I be fortunate enough to be offered a place.

Program: Electrical Engineering

As early as a senior middle school student, I held in great adoration of Chengning Yang and Tsung-dao Lee, two most prominent Chinese-born physicists to have won Nobel Prizes. Thenceforward, I have cherished the constant aspiration of becoming a renowned physicist myself the way these two Nobel laureates did. Even one decade later, I can still recall the first experiment I did in the physics course. When a transmitter in one corner of the lab was connected with electricity, a little bulb connected to a reception antenna in another corner lit up. Though by no means dazzling in itself, this light with its stunning magic ushered me as if into a wonderland, a world replete with intriguing mysteries that only belong to the realm of physics. I believed that I belonged to this special world. That marked the turning point in my life and with it I commenced my quests for answers capable of unraveling those mysteries.

With an unusually solid foundation in physics laid during senior middle school (I received straight A’s in virtually every physics exam), I entered the Physics Department of Dalian Marine University. By the time I graduated in four years, which could only be described as transitory, I found that I had become emotionally attached to this discipline. Realizing that undergraduate studies had only exposed me to the relatively fundamental knowledge of this subject, I embarked on a Master’s program, through very competitive entrance examinations, in fiber-optical communication at the College of Telecommunication Engineering, the University of Beijing Posts and Telecommunications (UBPT).

The moment I came into contact with this brand-new field represented by telecommunications(China tends to lag behind western countries in scientific and technological develop in any given field by many years or even decades), I was filled with excitement over the wonderful prospect that this industry could enjoy. I yearned to be satiated with new concepts, new knowledge, and new expertise and I devoted myself to my program with indefatigable efforts. To my regret, after completing our share of research responsibilities in the 863 Project under the direction of my supervisor, we had no further opportunities to participate in any meaningful projects. I had no alternative but to duplicate the Nonlinear Optical Loop Mirror and its Applications in OTDM System which had already been completed by scientists abroad and to verify their research findings by means of computer simulations. It was precisely those backward research conditions and the lack of challenging projects that prompted me to generate the idea of seeking further studies abroad. I believed that the status quo would impose serious restrictions on the development of my intellectual capacities and on the exploitation of my academic potential.

But for two years before I could bring my overseas studies into a reality, I worked at the leading enterprise in the country’s telecommunications industry—China Telecom Beijing Branch Company. As broadband networks engineer and as technical support engineer, I was responsible for the design and operation of four major projects—Construction of Broadband Integrate Services Experimental Network, Experiment and Construction of Broadband DSL Network in Beijing, Test of Timing Clock of Beijing SDH Networks and Equipment Selection for Beijing CDMA Wireless Network. My distinguished work performance resulted in my being sent to Marconi Company’s American headquarters to receive professional trainings in ATM technology. Nevertheless, I still felt that in a company environment work was routinized and technology lacked innovativeness, falling far short of my passions and ambitions. The work was meaningful only to the extent of serving as a means of livelihood. Refusing to be mired in a mediocre condition, I decided that the time had come for me to pursue research work that I had always loved.

Relying on my solid foundation in physics, my well-trained experimental skills and hands-on abilities that I developed over the heretofore studies and work, I succeeded in entering the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). In the superior laboratory conditions, for the first time in my life I had a proud feeling of being involved in real scientific research. When I see how my inspirations turn into reality in the laboratory, once again for the first time in my life I feel that I am creating a kind of wealth far more precious and valuable than money –knowledge. I realized that I had made an absolutely correct decision to come to the United States. At the Center of Nanostructure Materials and Quantum Device Fabrication and Electro Optical Research Center, I have done two years coursework and one year and half lab research. They have significantly enhanced my ability to solve research problems independently. Since last year, I have conducted extensive experiments in the field of nanotechnology and Semiconductor and optoelectronic elements. Although the approaches and solutions I generate during those experiments frequently differ from those of my supervisor’s in many important aspects, I have merited positive comments from him. I am fully confident that by the end of this year my research efforts would come into full fruition.

Nevertheless, I still feel discontented. In retrospect, I developed a commitment to scientific research very early and have persevered under the spirit of this commitment. After my arrival in the United States, I realized that there is tremendous research potential in me to be tapped. All I need to do is to find an appropriate academic environment. Even UTA disappoints me in that I have been kept waiting for nearly four year before I could embark on a major research project that promises important research findings. I have come to the conclusion that whether in China or in the United States it is simply a waste of time passively waiting for research projects. Consequently, the best course of action for me to take is to pursue seek a Ph.D. program at one of the top American universities.

The University of # # # comes on top of my priorities because it is a top ranking university in the United States itself and in the entire world. In the field of Electrical Engineering, in particular, it enjoys an unparalleled position. It offers many research-intense programs and the research environment is impeccable. I am deeply aware that for a person who seeks excellence and who wishes to achieve some innovative research results in Electrical Engineering, it is imperative that he or she plunge into an environment which is as challenging and competitive as it is stimulating, promising the realization of one’s ambitions. If admitted, I plan to take advantage of the research resources to their fullest extent and within 4 to 5 years achieve major breakthroughs in research based on what I have so far accomplished. I expect that this may lay a solid foundation for me to undertake lifelong research at some reputed research institutes of American universities or world-class companies like Intel and IBM.

The conventional technology based in communication, control, date processing, signal processing, medical instrumentation and in mainstream computers is in a transition from electronics to optoelectronics and optically enabled technologies. Future generations of integrated circuits, the foundation of current high technology infrastructure, are expected to incorporate significant optical functionality. I hope that my prospective studies at your prestigious universities can solidify my knowledge and bring into full play my latent intellectual capacities. I have experienced too many disappointments and frustrations and what I look for is some truly creative and innovative research work that can lead to important breakthroughs, which can permit me to join the rank of elitist scientists exemplified by Prof. Cheng ning Yang and Prof. Tsung-dao Lee whom I idolize.

Essay.
When I was six, my mom asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. Jokingly, I asked back, "What makes the most money?" Laughing, she answered back, "Engineers." I realize now that at that moment I, unknowingly, devoted my life to becoming an engineer -- not for the money, but for my moms, and now my, wish to come true.

"Moms know best" is a phrase often used to express the wisdom and understanding that mothers have for their children. My mom knew to lead me on as an engineer by the way I dealt with new technologies, problems, and solutions to those problems. These small, insignificant, details of my life were on close watch by my mother. She would see me taking apart electrical circuits and I would ask how it all worked. She had no clue, but that did not stop my passion. I tried my best to research at the library, or if I had the chance, I would ask anyone who had some knowledge of electronics.

As this dream grew, so did my knowledge as I moved up into high school. During freshman year, first period, I signed up for electronics I. This class was the basis of all electronics and the guide to my future as an electrical engineer. I was learning about things I had never heard of and it fascinated me. All of the components worked together in harmony, when assembled right. It was a completely new world that I was comfortable with, where everything made sense. There were even laws that applied to all of electronics including Ohm's law (V=IR). However, even though I assembled the circuits and received an expected output, I wanted to know more behind the theory of how all circuitry works.

During the remainder of my high school years, I continued to strive toward my engineering career. I spent most of my elective classes inside of the applied technology department. My sophomore, junior, and senior year, I took a class based purely on the subject of engineering. The classes of "Project Lead the Way" directed me toward the goal that I had been looking forward to as a student, and further sparked my interests as an engineer for a future career.

The passion that has grown throughout my high school years has now developed into my definite choice of career. In the future, I plan to refine the skills inside a university of higher education to feed the hunger that has been welling inside of me since the age of six.

Essay 2
It is my dad who gave me some of my earliest and most important experiences with electrical engineering. He is a senior engineer at a microwave relay station. At the relay station, I had the opportunity to be introduced to all kinds of electronic equipments, although about most of which, I have absolutely no idea what the mechanism within or their function is. Yet my father still tried hard to foster my interest and curiosity. He used to teach me to assemble a simple antenna and solder PCB board and at an early age, I managed to learn those very quickly. Early exposure to Electrical Engineering, thanks to my dad, built up my curiosity and interest in science and engineering. And that kind of curiosity has stayed with me ever since. That's the reason why I chose Electrical Engineering without hesitation when I entered Dalian University of Technology.

After getting into college, my interaction with Electrical Engineering turned from interests to solid study. Dalian University of Technology is renowned in China for its rigorous training in engineering. And what's special about my program is that it offers five-year double-major courses including electrical engineering, intensive English and liberal arts, so that enables students in engineering, not confined to engineering, but can also work with foreign language and humanities and help them become more well-rounded people. All of the classes are taught by the best professors in the department and it is the one of most selective programs in the university.

In my sophomore year, I entered the multimedia group lead by Prof. Kong, Xiangwei and got my debut contact with scientific research on image retrieval. The project is a National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC) key project named Research on the Service-oriented Commerce Intelligence and Methods of Knowledge Management. It is aimed to find a better way to search image with image, which is a very hot topic recently. After getting into the group, I began raiding the university library and tried to find every book that I could find on this topic, from scholarly journals like IEEE Image Processing to Gonzalez's classic textbook and browsing all kinds of related materials on the Internet. Because of its inter-disciplinary nature, image retrieval is related to operating system, database and coding or statistics and analysis. Image retrieval is difficult for me. And I know that there is much that is still there for me to learn. But whenever I am confronted with a problem, I can always find the strength inside that drives me to find the solution to the problem. The experience with image retrieval is beneficial to me not only that it gives me some on-hand experiences with different subjects, but also it teaches me the method to do scientific research, which I think is very important for my future graduate studies.

Getting into the multimedia group and hence begin my scientific research experience is one of the best decisions I made in college. However, I have always been reminding myself one of my basic understandings on scientific research of the undergraduate period: it is critical to lay a good foundation for the future. Don't just study for the temporary use. And that is one of the reasons why I put great emphasis on mathematics, which I think, is the cornerstone of scientific research of any subject. For instance, I fell in love with math modeling and got the Honorable Mention Award in Mathematical Contest in Modeling, which is one of the most influencing mathematical modeling contests in the world and participated by students from all countries. Because a lot of problems in image retrieval are optimization problems, I also got the opportunity to work with optimization. The idea "All engineering problems are optimization problems" always fascinated me just like what the "the Grand Unified Field" did to Albert Einstein. Moreover, I have also audited a lot of graduate-level math classes including Numerical Linear Algebra, Numerical Optimization, Financial Mathematics and Random Process. I think the solid math foundation I have established will be greatly beneficial to my future graduate studies. And I hope that I can get the opportunities to apply them in the engineering problems instead of just letting them stay there in applied mathematics.

In addition to the studying and scientific research, in college, I also enjoy meeting people from western countries and making friends with them. And I do consider socializing with them as a wonderful experience. I have made friends with my English teachers from US and kept in touch with them ever since. I believe that meeting people from different social, cultural and political background can give me, most of whose acquaintances are Chinese, a new perspective on the way I look at life, by digesting the nutrition from the western ideas and a better understanding on the western civilization, which has always been my curiosity and interests.

Five years in college is sure to be one of the most valuable experiences in my life. In retrospect, it has turned out to be very fruitful and productive. With only one year left, I can see that my college life is coming to and ending. But, I am also very looking forward to another beginning Undergraduate studies lay a good foundation for our knowledge structure and provide us with a direction. But the knowledge we have learnt is still far from intensive and practical. It would be a pity if one just leave the school and quit halfway. Through a graduate program, I could further explore the issues I confronted during my undergraduate years and get a truly systematic and detailed understanding on the major of electrical engineering. It is important to have opportunities to pursue possibilities and I think a graduate degree will open up positions that would not be available with just a Bachelors degree

Ever since the first day of my college, I have set up my mind, in the later days, to pursue my graduate studies in a foreign country. Because I believe that, by studying abroad, the cultural, academic, and personal development one can experience will be tremendous. During the four years afterwards, I have always kept this goal in my mind and tried my best to achieve it. I plan to spend the coming years completing an MS in the field of Electrical Engineering. After my MS, I will continue doing research either in academia or in industry towards developing new ideas and concepts in Telecommunications and contributing to its development. I would also like to contribute my share of knowledge to the economic and technological advancement. The distinguished faculty, exciting range of courses offered and state of the art research at EPF- Lausanne would make it a perfect stage for my graduate studies. In the EECS department of EPF-Lausanne, my research interests coincide with those of Prof. Mohammad Karzand and Prof. Rahul Shukla. In fact, I have been in contact with several of these professors and they consented on my strong background and intention to work with me. And I believe that my experience of French learning and my interest in French culture makes my residence there a wonderful experience.

Essay 3
Many of my peers are still in doubt with respect to many career issues. I have been blessed with clarity with respect to my career goals, and thus, I know the exact path I would like to take. I have exceptional critical thinking skills. Furthermore, I have a natural inclination to investigate unknowns. After factoring my mathematical abilities into the equation, my ideal career is self-evident. I am destined to become an engineer.

My entire educational career has been a preparation for what is now only a few years away: my obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. In the ninth and tenth grades I participated in the Engineering Magnet Program at Captain Shreve High School. During the summers between 1994 and 1996 I was a counselor and teacher’s aide for the Miami University
Science/Engineering/Math Program (MU-SEMP). In 1997 I attended the Timbuktu Academy’s Summer
Science Institute (SSI) at Southern University. SSI is an intense SEM academic program with the goal of encouraging perfection (especially on standardized test) via intense and rigorous practice. The following summer I returned to Summer Bridge Institute (which is designed to ease the transition from high school to college). I am currently a member of the Timbuktu Academy’s Undergraduate Research Program.
I have taken courses while over the past few years to prepare for graduate school. For instance, I declared a minor in mathematics to prepare for the mathematics requirements of graduate level engineering education. Therefore, I have taken not only engineering courses such as Electromagnetic
Field Theory, Electrical Machinery, Thermodynamics, Control Systems and Communications; but I have also taken math classes including Calculus III, Linear Algebra, Seminar in Mathematics, and Advanced
Calculus. The aforementioned math classes are all classes that were not required by my curriculum.
Still, I believe that I gained valuable knowledge and understanding of mathematical proofs, which will surely be needed for graduate study.

My dream had been to work as an engineer in the field of telecommunications. This field has interested me since I first became aware of the use of satellites for communication. However, now that I have more knowledge of electrical engineering, my interests are more specific. I am specifically interested in optimizing network design to increase transmission speed. Furthermore, I would like to investigate methods to provide increased Internet speeds without requiring expensive equipment. I am also interested in signal compression and reconstruction before and after transmission, respectively.
However, I admit that I lack exposure to many areas of electrical engineering. I am interested in research in any area of electrical engineering because it will afford me the opportunity to access another area in my field. In other words, my options are still open to many possibilities in communications. But no matter what field I choose, I plan to share my knowledge in the classroom on a college level someday. This, of course, requires graduate study.

My life is a series of little goals which, when they are put together, will help me realize my ultimate goal. My ultimate goal is a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. My Bachelor of Science degree is only a stepping-stone. I have worked diligently thus far in my academic career because I realize that my undergraduate education is only the foundation for much greater things to come. My goals are high, because I know that I have been prepared for a graduate level education.

Essay 4

Growing up, I have always been a curious child. From lamps, to cars, I was always getting something; mostly trouble. My mother was the first to bring to my attention that I should look into becoming an engineer. Of course, I added this occupation to my long list of other employment opportunities, such as being a fireman, teacher, or any other occupation I saw on
Sesame Street. However, somehow, out of all of the different avenues I could have taken, I chose to take the path that led to me getting an education as an engineer.
During my high school years, I decided to dig deeper into what being an engineer was all about. I joined many organizations while in high school to develop my leadership abilities. The one organization that had a tremendous affect on my outlook of the profession I was interested in was the Technology Student Association (TSA). In TSA, I was exposed to all the prestige and honor that came with mentioning that you were an engineer. I learned to build bridges, robots, and how to write programs just to name a few. Needless to say, I continued to be a member of this organization, eventually running for presidency and succeeding. My next step upon graduation was figuring out what area of engineering I was interested in. I had been exposed to so many different types, so I had a good idea about each of them. I had to do my own research on each of them. Under the influence of many trial and error projects I tried to complete to see what field of engineering I was interested in, and the persuasive insight of a few family members, I decided to look into becoming an electrical engineer.
I must say that dreaming of becoming an engineer is one thing, but actually studying to become one is very different. As each year passes, freshman, sophomore, and so on. I am one step closer to fulfilling my dream. To aid in my effort, I took it upon myself to find an organization to help keep the interest burning within me to pursue my dream as I did in high school; this organization would become known to me as the National Society of Black Engineers, or
N.S.B.E. This organization has awarded me numerous opportunities, as its mission states-
“become a more culturally responsible black engineer, who excels academically, succeeds professionally, and positively impacts the community.” I have been to some of the biggest and best career fairs, where many companies flock to recruit the best.
My interest in my chosen field of engineering has proven to be very rewarding. This past summer I was given the opportunity to intern with Proctor & Gamble Folgers Coffee Company in
New Orleans, Louisiana. There, I worked in their Instant Coffee Production Department. My role there was to complete validations and maintain strong vendor support to ensure the installation of some flow meters needed for production. I see myself doing that, if not something similar for a career. To make myself a little more competitive in the work place, I have decided to strive for my Masters in Science degree with a concentration in power generation. The Louis Stokes
Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation (LS-LAMP) program, has greatly help me to understand the importance of going to graduate school. In this very competitive field, it is always good to have something that will enable you to shine above all the rest. For me, a higher degree of education is that key to success.

Essay 5
I, Latasha Daniell Henry, have worked hard to get where I am today. As a high school student I strived hard to exceed in my studies. Throughout my high school education I stayed on the honor role and received numerous awards. In an attempt to become a well-rounded student, I stayed active in many organizations that served the community as well as the student body. I served in many appointed positions within the organizations to gain leadership experience. I have taken my experiences in high school as a source of encouragement while attending college. I try to maintain a balanced lifestyle while seeking a higher education just as I did in the past in secondary school. Maintaining balance is very important because it allows me to stay grounded and ensures my continued success in pursuing a higher education.
I plan to put forth a major effort in being a good student while attending Southern
University and A & M College so that I may be fully prepared for my entrance to the workforce of
Electrical Engineering. Although I am majoring in Electrical Engineering I also aspire to gain a strong background in Economics. I am interested in the field of Economy because it is a very important part of our lives. I chose Electrical Engineering as my major because it is very interesting and challenging. It is also something that the world always needs. Also, new discoveries and innovations are made in the field everyday making the hard work worthwhile.
While in school, I would like to obtain an internship or co-op position during the summer months to instill in me the experience I will need to be good at my job in the future. That is a very valuable asset that I hope will accelerate me into my chosen field of study. The reason for this is because I would like to be fully trained and ready to enter the workforce when I finish my graduate studies. Fortunately, I have participated in one summer research assignment. I would like to now obtain placement in industry so that I may acquire work experience along with research experience.
Upon the completion of my Bachelor of Science degree I plan to pursue a Masters degree also in the field of Electrical Engineering in the interdiscipline of communications. I feel that the added instruction that I will receive will help me in obtaining competitive and full-filling employment. I then plan on securing an Engineering position in a technology-based company where there is room for advancement preferably in the research and development area.
Although I am willing to work from the bottom I have no intention of staying on the bottom forever. My long-term goal is to supervise an entire department. My main concern is that I will be happy with my job and feel good about the choices that I have made in life. To ensure that I achieve this ultimate goal, I frequently correspond with my mentors and counselors, which will facilitate in the decisions I need to make in regards to my future