Sample Essay on International and Public Affairs

Example of Personal essay, Sample Paper

The opportunity of obtaining a MIA degree at Columbia University’s school of International and Public Affairs is the only way to realize my academic and professional goals. Before telling about my professional and academic background that has influenced my decision to pursue a career in the field of international affairs I need to say that my interest in international security is fundamentally grounded in my personal background.

International and Public Affairs Essay

I grew up in Uganda under political violence and under a constant feeling of insecurity, which made me truly interested in politics and security. In 1985, the National Resistance Army under Yoweri Kaguta Museveni after a five-year guerrilla struggle restored some peace. However, insecurity in the country continued as numerous rebel groups emerged to challenge nepotism and tribalism-the government responded ruthlessly arresting, torturing and forcing many into exile. As a teenager political violence and sectarian frictions introduced me to the ugly realities of political life, although at the time I couldn’t see the larger picture, gradually it became vivid that there must be another side to insecurity. Then the historical hatred of
the main two tribal groups in Rwanda (Hutu’s and Tutsi’s) supported me in viewing international security as a condition for having nations with strong morality. This became the point where I realized that a lot has to be done for maintaining international security.

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The civic classed I took during my secondary education introduced me to the governmental system ranging from economics to social life issues. I took part in many debates concerning these problems as I knew to what tragedies the violations of these systems may lead. The work of the accomplished scholars in ISP and the UN, Director Richard K. Betts and professor Dirk Salomon’s experience in domestic-international security policy making and UN System is something that has inspired me to strive for my further education.

The concept of security is not only the most vexing dilemma in the history of mankind; to me it is a personal experience with tragic memories. Nuclear weapons and terrorism are the foremost security challenges confronting our generation. As Uganda was always under dictatorship innocent citizens and dissidents were murdered for merely disagreeing with the political system. I feel the strength to change the instability in security and the political system. The University of Columbia will give me the knowledge of doing it professionally. Becoming a master of Public and International affairs requires advanced research and acquiring critical qualitative and analytical skills and will do my best to become a competitive professional if given this opportunity. Pursuing a Masters degree in International Security Policy at Columbia University is vital for me to learn how to address the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the resurgence of religious fanatism and terrorism.

I am excited by the possibility of combining the ISP with the UN program. I am particularly interested in studying the problem of reforming the United Nations to make it more effective in responding to the numerous security issues. This school has a solid track record in developing international security policy professionals and I will be honoured to be a scholar at this internationally valued institution.

Two years at SIPA will be a unique chance for me to articulate practical solutions for limiting proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, wanton killings of innocent civilians by those committed to resolve political differences with violence. I want people to live in peace they deserve as human beings.

My whole academic life since I was a teenager was directed to learning everything about international security. My dedication to this profession is very high and the opportunity to study at Columbia University is vital issue for me. I will do everything possible to make the university proud of having such a student.