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I have underlined some problems. It is also a bit wordy, and I have struck out phrases which should be eliminated (you will probably have to revise the sentences to accommodate these omissions):
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing this personal
statement because of the need of external funding in order to improve
my intellectual capacity by mastering on European Studies and create
higher utility for Turkish Cypriot society by making new linkages,
learning new languages and being aware of other cultures, which is
currently very important to Turkish Cypriots on the stage of
significant turning point.
I am Mertkan Hamit. I will
be graduated from Marmara University, Istanbul, Department of Economics
at the end of 2007 – 2008 study year. After my graduation my target is
making my master degree on the area of European Studies. The main
reason, making my master degree on European Studies, among the many
problems and conflicts in Cyprus island, it emphatically remain as a
European Union Member-State country either Cyprus problem solved or not
. There is a fact that, Cyprus island's two zones' are inequal in terms
of economics or welfare. As a young person who is being aware of this
fact, the main need of the Turkish Cypriot society is professions who
knows Europe very well, and have academical point of view for European
states' economics, politics and culture. From my point of view, all
those that I have implemented, can not be learned just from the
academic works, nevertheless living and sharing the same atmosphere is
substantial .
Having studied for four
years, in Istanbul have brought me great range of benefits. Living in a
metropolitan like Istanbul, helped to broaden my vision in wider
perspective. During my bachelor studies I became a member of
Cyprus Youth Platform, which is a student association for Turkish
Cypriot students who are studying abroad in countries such as Turkey,
England, Germany, USA, Canada, France, Ukraine and the Netherlands.
Currently I am the Secretary General of the organization and have
participated in many conferences and workshops about Europe and the
Euro-Mediterranean region in various countries. Personally I am or
under the name of Cyprus Youth Platform many projects constituted that
funded by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the European
Union. The primary goal of these projects is the re-unification of
Cyprus which we hope to achieve by focusing on re-rapprochement between
the Turkish-Cypriot and Greek-Cypriot communities. We aim to bring
Turkish Cypriots closer to Europe and help all Cypriots to build a
culture of peace on the island. Also with our projects we aimed to
improve youth's direct relations with Europe, by visiting European
Union states, increasing awareness and improve the socialization of
youth.
As well as these macro-level goals, Cyprus Youth Platform also aims to develop solutions to
problems facing young Cypriots. We print a monthly magazine, that I am
in editorial board, called "Cypriot Youth", which educates and raises
awareness around issues such as drug addiction and sexual
discrimination and so on.
We have also formed a
working group to improve student’s rights and employment prospects in
North Cyprus. The working group involves many participants including
the office of the President, the Ministry of Education, state planning
boards and universities in North Cyprus. It aims to develop long-run
sustainable education policies through targeted hands-on solutions.
The main reason
why I am applying for such a scholarship is I am planning to make
master in Netherlands which is one of the former-state of European
Union, on the topic of European Studies. In this one-year study period,
the university that I have applied to make my masters is located in city
of Maastricht that denominated European Union's economic criteria.
Being aware of this fact, out of Maastricht University's high academic
reputation, I believe that it help me to analyse Europe better.
Spreading the ideas that I will learn or the linkages that I will make
while studying abroad would benefit Cyprus and all Cypriots in many
ways. On the other hand I know that there are considerably high number
of many youths from Turkish Cypriot society and Greek Cypriot society
studying in The Netherlands, which will give me another advantage. I
believe in a country like Netherlands, all attempts on improving
bi-communal relations and relations with other countries, will form new
ideas that increase the tolerance in understanding that will give
Cypriots and whole Europeans extra value added.
It is a fact that, on the
Northern Side of the island, there is a high need for professionals
which have master on European studies and related areas. The
scholarship that I get in order to make my master on European Studies,
will fill the one of the urgent need of Turkish Cypriot society. That
means, having this education give me high chance in employment when I
return back to Cyprus after my studies over. Moreover it is my goal
that being the person who serves for Cypriots in order to minimize the
problems occur on integration process to European union in political,
cultural or economical points. Out of benefiting only Cyprus,
incorporating growing European Unions' problems and producing solutions
from Cyprus, will both give practical and intellectual benefits to
whole Europe. This will lead all Europe to gain surplus value from the
scholarship that I will get in order to make my master on European
Studies.
Finally, the
scholarship that is for Turkish Cypriots who are somehow victims
because of political reason on European Union state Cyprus, make
Turkish Cypriots to widen their visions and perspectives by visiting
new countries, facing with new cultures and having new relations with
new people. To sum up, I think this scholarship is an excellent
opportunity for my career and the scholarship seems like the perfect
opportunity for me to facing with other cultures, meeting with new
people, learn other languages and experience the European education
system.
Please find enclosed
my curriculum vitae, academic records and my references. Please contact
me if you require any further details or documents. I hope to hear from
you in the near future.
Best Regards
Mertkan Hamit
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