Below is the Sample Personal Statement for Public Policy Program
Being able to foster change in society is a noble effort, but it also brings along a host of challenges that obstruct its successful implication. Those obstacles can be societal, communal, and even life-threatening. That is when Public Policy comes into the picture. The above remark is a glimpse of my personal experience of the time when I put everything at stake to begin a learning center for girls in the small district of Mahe in Puducherry. During the mission, I learned that to bring about a positive change in society, irrespective of the issue being addressed, political influence reigns supreme. Without political will, society cannot progress, which means that economic and social development remains stagnant. My unending desire to enter politics stems from this observation, and I wish to make significant contributions to society using my knowledge as the armor. My dream for a progressive community makes me opt for a master’s program in Public Policy from your illustrious institution.
Being a commerce Major, I didn’t have the opportunity to apply my learnings to the endeavors that I engaged in. However, they did serve as the platform for me to embark upon my journey for social change. It was my bachelor’s program, during which I surveyed to analyze the problems faced by girls opting for higher studies. I highlighted the gender issues governing such a situation and organized various awareness programs highlighting the need for education and exposure to be as important for females as for the male community. Through the survey, I was also able to demonstrate the government policies and schemes in action that have a significant impact on the treatment of diverse groups. It was then I realized that there is a dire need for people to step up and actively contribute to the change. My inquisitiveness had me looking up to other opportunities in front of me, one of them being the Chanakya Mission at Nirman Aayog, wherein I presented myself as the Mentor of Innovation. I had the opportunity to interact with the students of a Government School where I mentored them on inspirational and Entrepreneurial aspects of development, by making them familiar with the art of leadership, management, self-motivation, and team building.
In addition to the aforementioned involvements, I was a part of the Project Indra of Developing Countries Research Centre, Pondicherry Research University, wherein I served as a volunteer. I was responsible for conducting surveys in three constituencies of the Kerala Legislative Assembly in the year 2019. I, then, worked with Ganga Action as a Community Engagement Intern, and facilitated the enrolment of children belonging to the deprived castes in private schools under the ‘Right to Education Act’. My experience was emulsified through my research internship at the Centre for Public Policy Research in Coimbatore, wherein I operated under the Center for comparative studies and worked on analyzing the “Causes of change in GDP in districts of Tamil Nadu”. I collected and analyzed data for 17 districts in Tamil Nadu and tried to evaluate the reasons that were causing the fluctuations in the GDP of the state.
Over time, I realized that societal change is impossible without having good knowledge about the policies governing such change, which had me attending Summer School at IIM-Indus; one of the most prestigious institutions in the country. There, I was
introduced to the concept of Public Policy from the perspective of marginalized groups and their economic and social needs. I delved deep into analyzing the ground reality of the “Right to Education” policy implementation, which further triggered my interest. My association with the Kavitri Education Foundation as a Gandhi Fellow served as a flourishing opportunity to take my chances and establish a learning center called Iqra for Muslim girls who had earlier dropped out of school due to a variety of reasons, the majority of them being communal. My life was at risk, and with little resources and the highest determination, I, along with my teammates was successful in bringing about a transformation in the lives of those girls. It made me feel like a responsible citizen, and that was when I decided that attaining an international degree would help me solidify my passion and create an impact on a larger scale.
A Master’s program in Public Policy is an ideal stepping stone for me to take my trajectory forward, with specifics that will provide me with a comprehensive understanding of the constitutional customs that are incorporated to address the needs of the citizens. Specifically, I wish to delve into the intricacies of the policies that address educational
needs and provide solutions to the problems faced by society as a whole. When it comes to attaining quality education, nothing beats the standards of an institution that has been producing world leaders for centuries now. Encompassing state-of-the-art facilities, internationally accredited practitioners, and a plethora of opportunities, this prestigious institution is apt for me to give flight to my aspirations. I am looking forward to exploring the curriculum in Public Policy offered by the university, with modules such as Policy Challenges, Economics, and Politics of Policymaking; all of which will together give me the understanding and expertise that I need to contribute part of myself to the community with a stronger approach at hand.
Post the completion of the program, I intend to explore my research interests and bring those to fruition. My commitment to public service is something that I have built over the years through my past experiences, and I intend to put that to optimum use as I immerse myself fully into the rigor demanded by the program.
