Sample Archeology Personal Statement
My passion for Anthropology and Archaeology stems from childhood trips to areas of great historical relevance and interest, and from a gradual realization of the grand cultural heritage that surrounded me. Visiting the Badshahi Mosque aged 11 I was immediately fascinated by its grand structure and rich history. Subsequent visits to the Shalimar Gardens, the Walled City and Harappa further stimulated my curiosity about past civilizations. This childhood interest has grown into a desire to study the past and to explore cultures from bygone eras. I am passionate about the need to preserve the monuments and objects from the past so that we can continue to understand the lives of our ancestors.
My experience of the diversity of Pakistan first attracted me to Anthropology. While one country, Pakistan is home to four distinct cultures – Balochi, Sindhi, Punjabi and Pathan. My fascination at how these different cultures developed in the same country led me to desire to learn more about the various cultures across the world.
Anthropology and Archaeology cannot be studied in isolation, as an understanding of both the human and material aspects is fundamental to learning about past civilization. My diverse work experience has allowed me to gain valuable insights into how people live and to understand a wide range of environments. During a six week internship at WWF I worked with a team to preserve a local ecosystem, which taught me the value of studying and preserving the environment. An internship at Shaukat Khanam hospital, where my role largely centred on entertaining children and helping to take their attention away from their illnesses, allowed me to connect with the children and learn about their lives. These experiences have also helped me develop good communication skills, which are invaluable in the fields of Anthropology and Archaeology.
A good route to understanding a country is through its media. I participated in LUMS University’s Convention for Aspiring Reporters and Media Anchors competition and found it fascinating how global events are reported in different countries. Literature also gives us a key insight into a region’s culture. As my school’s Literary Society I am keen to promote both foreign and Pakistani writers for students who may want to re-discover their cultural roots or those who may want to expand their understanding of different countries. I am currently presenting the work of Paulo Coelho and Idelfonso Falcones and Pakistani writers such as Bapsi Sidwa and Mohsin Hamid. As part of a research team for law moots I have also developed the in-depth research skills that are vital to the study of Archaeology and Anthropology at degree level.
Outside my studies I love to travel, which fuels my passion for historical landmarks. Visiting archaeological sites abroad such as Ephesus, Troy and the Tower of London in the UK were particularly memorable. I enjoy engaging with cultures fully by learning different languages – I speak fluent English and have taken classes in French and Japanese.
I am a highly self-motivated student. A testament to my ability to work hard is the fact I was granted a full merit-based scholarship for both of my A level years. My dedication to my A level studies has strengthened my analytical skills and well as my abilities in comprehension, research, problem solving and critical thinking. I look forward to further developing these skills whilst playing a part in uncovering vital information that will enrich and inform cultures today and fulfilling my desire to help preserve vital historical landmarks through a degree in Anthropology and Archaeology. I live in a country with a rich culture, but I am concerned that my heritage is being neglected. Historical landmarks such as Harappa and the Walled City need urgent attention and I feel I can play a part in preventing these kinds of landmarks from falling into ruin.
We hope this Archeology personal statement has been helpful.