Personal Statement for Psychology Program at Canadian University Dubai

This essay is a personal statement from a student applying to a psychology program at Canadian University Dubai. The student details their initial interest in psychology, sparked by a personal experience, and how this led to their academic pursuits. They discuss their AS level psychology studies, highlighting key concepts like conditioning and the theories of Sigmund Freud. The student emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of psychology, connecting it to business studies and the Hierarchy of Needs. They also describe their involvement in research projects, presentations, and extracurricular activities like badminton and volunteering. The student showcases their language skills and academic achievements, including a Head of School award and a desire to study in London. They express their career goals of becoming a clinical psychologist, emphasizing their dedication, ethical awareness, and commitment to helping others. The student also mentions the books they read and their interest in emotional intelligence. They aim to pursue postgraduate and doctorate degrees in psychology to contribute to the field and the university.

In my culture the major career choices revolve round the occupations of a doctor, an
engineer and that of being a teacher.
As a child, I had no knowledge on psychology and had always wanted to become a
doctor and serve mankind as it seemed appealing to me. However, my focus towards psychology
grew after viewing the horrific trauma that was faced by my sister. This helped in the
development of interest in the field of psychology plays an important part in our daily lives. My
passion for psychology developed overtime and so did my love for the academic field.
Psychology explains personality, emotions, brain functionalities and other such
fascinating factors; this has attracted me to the subject. The study in this field will enhance my
understanding of the world around me; help me to find answers to the questions that have been
troubling me.
Psychology was my chosen subject at the AS level in order to continue studying the
subject at the university levels. The study of the subject at the AS levels has helped me in
gaining a broad and deep understanding of the subject as well as learn various factors. The
knowledge of classical and operant conditioning, the implementation of these in the conditioning
of the people proved to be greatly interesting for me; the research of Milgram on the blind
obedience as demonstrated by the people helped in explaining a number of historical concepts.
This included the ways in which Hitler had managed a huge number of followers and blind
obedience. The theories of the unconscious mind stated by Sigmund Freud further startled me;
and grew my interest in the influence of the unconscious desires, feelings, memories and
thoughts on the human behavior.

The AS level studies have helped me to realize the fact that psychology bears an interlink
with the other subjects of study as well. One such subject is the subject of Business Studies
where there is an extensive use of human psychology. The theory of the Hierarchy of Needs as
discussed by Abraham Maslow is known to be a huge example of the use of psychology in
providing motivation to the employees in several organizations. My logical approach towards
business also helped me to interpret the given data in a proper manner.
At the present time, I have been enrolled at the second semester of the first year of
psychology and would be completing the paper by June in the coming year. I am pursuing my
studies in the first year of psychology at the Canadian University Dubai. The involvement in the
research project has helped me to develop my critical thinking and team working skills. I have
taken part in three research projects; the projects on conformity and reconstructive memory were
completed during the AS levels; the research on the placebo effect while I was in the first year of
the university; conducted many presentations which vouch for my communication skills. This is
necessary for the activities in the field of psychology and would help me to communicate with
my future patients. I am ethical aware, trustworthy and a listener as well.
My hobbies include playing badminton and swimming apart from studying psychological
research books. During my tenth and eleventh years, I had participated in the badminton club as
a part of my extra-curricular activities. The book Flow: The Psychology Of Happiness by Mihaly
Csikszentmihalyi helped me learn about the psychology of the happiness. Emotional
Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman helped me learn about the
fact that the emotional intelligence majorly contributes to the personal success.
I have been a very active child in my school years and had also taken active part in the
production of the first yearbook in history that was dedicated to Victoria English School. I had

also been a volunteer in the several occasions that took place in our schools and showed great
interest in all the activities. This would help in vouching for my managerial skills that I had
applied on myself as well as the other members who were my co-participants in the school
levels. I had been awarded the certificates for my outstanding performance in academics as well
as received the head of school award while pursuing my studies at the AS level.
English is not my native language. However, since I was born as well as had spent my
childhood in the United Kingdom, thus I would like to return to London and continue my studies
from Canadian University, Dubai. A transfer from the current university would be a favor for me
in the given scenario. The education industry of London is extremely attractive for budding
scholars like myself. The universities at the United Kingdom present the students with ample
opportunities in the future days. I have been obtaining great grades throughout my educational
career and would like to seek admission at the esteemed university so that I might continue to
have a proper educational career. The education at the esteemed universities will help me to
establish a proper career in the field of clinical psychology. My educational career was
conducted in the English language and have taken all my examinations in the English language.
My speaking proficiency includes Dari, my native language, Farsi, German and Urdu along with
English. My IELTs exams were taken in the English language; thus, my proficiency is
established in the English language. The study of the new languages has always fascinated me;
the study of the German language was extremely challenging for me and I had taken up as well
as completed the challenge. I am known to demonstrate a high level of dedication and hard-work
in order to reach the goals that I have set for myself.
My education career would continue and eventually I would complete my post-
graduation and doctorate degrees in psychology as well; my career option would involve

undertaking the responsibility of a clinical psychologist and serving people. This would help me
to affect their lives in a positive manner.
As stated by Abraham Maslow, “If you plan on being anything less than you are capable
of being, you will probably be unhappy all the days of your life”. In my academic career, a
similar determination would be followed. You might be assured that I would be striving to put
forth my best and be a viable contributor to your esteemed University as well.