Sample Essay:Sample Responses to Select Questions on the NSFGraduate Research Fellowship Application

These pages were downloaded from Writing Personal Statements Online, available at https://www.e-education.psu.edu/writingpersonalstatementsonline/

Question Summary: Describe your experiences in the following or describe how youwould address the following in your professional career: integrating research andeducation, advancing diversity in science, enhancing scientific and technicalunderstanding, and otherwise benefiting society.

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort ofhouse I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because I wasimportant in the life of a [child].”—Forest Witcraft, Boy Scouts of AmericaMy belief in the veracity of the statement by Witcraft is one of the reasons I have decidedto become a research professor. I believe that this career will allow me to share my fervorfor science and discovery with future generations, especially young women. From ayoung age, and continuing throughout my college career, I have tried to embody thisprinciple and to volunteer in other capacities in order to improve the community around me.One of the ways in which I have been able to share my field of bioengineering withothers has been through the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). Last year, Iworked with Prof. John Teacher and a few of my peers to co-found an undergraduatechapter of BMES at Mythic University. The purpose of this club, according to the BMES,is to “promote the increase of biomedical engineering knowledge and its utilization.” Ourchapter seeks to fulfill this mission by bringing together undergraduate and graduatestudents and supporting activities such as mentoring, career information sessions, andoutside speakers. As part of our outreach, I had the opportunity to return to my high

school over spring break to speak to science classes about biomedical engineering and toshare some of my experiences of college life. I have also assisted the BMES at the annualEngineering Open House, which is an event geared to helping high school seniors learnmore about the different engineering disciplines, hopefully encouraging them to considerengineering as a career. In addition, I have served as the captain of a BMES-sponsoredintramural women’s soccer team. Team sports depend upon each player cooperating andputting forth 100% effort toward a common goal, which directly translates to thedemands of a research environment. This team not only encouraged bioengineers tointeract outside of classes, but it also gave me the opportunity to promote communication between science and non-science majors, since I actively invited non-bioengineers to jointhe team.Since beginning my honors thesis research as a sophomore, I have had manyopportunities to share the knowledge I have gained by presenting my results in varioussettings. These have included a publication (“Procoagulant Stimulus Processing by theIntrinsic Pathway of Blood Plasma Coagulation,” in Biomaterials) and several posterpresentations among members of my field. I also participated in a poster presentation thatincluded entries from all undergraduate majors. This presentation gave me the chance toexplain my work to people from non-science backgrounds, challenging me to present technical details in a way that is meaningful to a wide variety of viewers.I have also positively impacted the lives of incoming freshmen by serving as a mentor forthe Mythic University Honors College students. I have helped these freshmen to make asmooth transition from high school to college by offering advice on ways to succeed inand out of the classroom and also by lending an ear to whatever troubles they may beexperiencing. One of my former mentees recently informed me that I inspired her to

succeed in her engineering studies despite it being a traditionally male-dominated field.She also gained interest in working towards the Goldwater Scholarship as a result of myaward last year.Finally, I seek to serve the rest of the surrounding community through my participation inHabitat for Humanity. Our chapter helps to raise money to build houses for people whowould not ordinarily be able to afford them by performing odd jobs for people in thecommunity, asking for donations from local people and businesses, and by holding anannual “House Walk,” in which each walker is sponsored by family, friends, andmembers of Mythic University community.Throughout my career, I hope to continue my commitment to public service by serving asa mentor to young women, volunteering for summer science enrichment programs, andperforming other acts of community service such as participating in the Adopt-a-Highway program. In this way, I can share with others the blessings that have been givento me throughout my life.