PHD Systems Engineering Statement of Purpose Brazilian

A dual citizen of Canada and my native Brazil, I have long enjoyed living and studying in the USA as well, for long periods of time. Earning my MBA at XXXX University (2014-2016) has helped me to more fully appreciate the strength and relevance of my favorite proverb, suggesting that it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. Earning the MBA gave me the opportunity to continue to build on the Executive Certificate that I earned in Technology Innovation and Product Strategy in Brazil (e-Commerce) in 2014. Now, I hope to be selected to attend your distinguished PHD Program in Systems Engineering at XXXX University.

I have been richly blessed with enormous opportunity to put my undergraduate studies in the USA in Computer Science (1993-1997) to good use; especially with respect to E-Commerce in Sao Paulo, expanding my horizons personally as well as professionally.  I am fully confident that your PHD in Systems Engineering Program at CXX will serve me as the optimal springboard for the launch of a new phase in my career, helping my global fellowman to prosper, how to fish, metaphorically speaking. I calculate that I will be able to continue my full-time work load and family responsibilities and still study approximately half time, 20-25 hours per week. Thus, I especially appreciate the flexibility in this regard of your mostly online program at CXX.

Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, I first came to the United States when I was 19 years old (1991) to serve as full-time missionary for the Mormon Church in the Seattle area.  After my two-year service, I went on to attend Brigham Young University in Provo Utah and stayed until my graduation in 1997, returning to Brazil to begin my career in the computer technology/e-commerce industry. Ten years later, I immigrated to Canada with my wife and 3 children, in 2007.  We currently live in XXXX, British Columbia, in the Pacific North West, 30 minutes south of Vancouver.

10 years from now, I would like to be teaching at a college level, a practical, hands-on educator with a real-world focus. I do enjoy juggling theory and practice, however, especially when I build a robot, balancing the “chalk board” and “the lab” with a good deal of “trial and error.” My ideal job a few years down the road would be as an educator, teaching interdisciplinary technology courses, machine learning, robotics, and real-world applications.

For me, a “system” is a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole; and systems engineering is the approach and means to enable the realization and successful integration of such systems. I now realize that I’ve been applying a systems-engineering approach to my work all along, just not fully aware of doing so. Being able to holistically envision how the different parts interact with each other and the processes needed to make them work together seamlessly is an ability that now, after many decades, thankfully, comes natural to me. Learning how to disassemble things since early childhood allowed me to combine the big with the small picture from early on and I feel strongly that I am now ready to give my finest contribution in systems planning, implementation, and operations.  

I hope to bring my most valuable gifts to CXX, an inquisitive mind and a great urge to learn and contribute to research, dedication to work hard coupled to a firm determination to succeed. It is my sincere hope that my many years of experience both at the strategic and tactical levels in several different industries will provide me with valuable things to share in discussions with my colleagues.

Community service has always been central to my heart and in many ways, I am still the missionary believer that I was during my two years (92-93) of full-time missionary activity with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I could not have been happier as an LDS missionary because of my profound joy of serving the community and feeling close to them. I continue to be very active in my community in Canada and this is another reason why I hope to be able to study part rather than full time at CXX.

 I currently serve as a volunteer youth leader at Scouts Canada, part of the Venture scouting program. I am responsible for organizing career-planning and skills development activities, etc. I also volunteer at a local “DIY (do-it-yourself) Maker’s Club” here in Surrey, BC.  I teach young people how to program electronics and create small robotics projects. I've been heavily involved with Arduino and Raspberry Pi hobbyists in my area, building and playing with all sorts of robot projects. Aside from being fun and challenging, this hobby allows me to maintain my critical thinking skills and develop further patience and resilience. Since last year I been taking flying lessons. Learning to fly a Cessna 152 has been a lot of fun and helped enhance my ability to interpret and react correctly in response to circumstances. I hope in the long run that flying will also contribute, perhaps in subtle ways, to making me a better technology professor in my old age.

Thank you for considering my application to Systems Engineering at CXX.