Sample Personal Statement of Purpose for the MA in International Affairs, African Applicant

The MA Program in International Affairs at XXXX University’s XXXX School is my first choice for a variety of reasons, especially the fact that your program has an Africa Track, allowing me to focus much of my studies on my continent of origin, Africa. I hope to return to Africa as a professional diplomat at some point after earning my Master’s Degree. I look forward to developing a cutting-edge grasp on the issues that affect Africa and how they are grounded in history. I appreciate the focus of your program on security, as I seek to become not only an expert on the security of African countries but also the many complex ways in which the security of Africa affects the security of the USA – and the rest of the world. Immigration, refugees, and human rights will be my three long-term devotions to which I look forward to giving my all for the balance of my professional life.

My mother tongue is Kinyarwanda; I am also a near-native speaker of both French and Swahili. I knew very little English when I came to the USA in 2012, at the age of 21; but I have given it my all. It is not quite as good as my French but continues to improve rapidly. I see my future unfolding in French and Swahili as well as English, since they are the three foremost languages of commerce and interaction in Africa.

A Tutsi originally from East Congo, my first memories are of fleeing political violence in the land where I was born. In the events surrounding the genocide in Rwanda of 1994, both of my parents disappeared, one at a time, presumed deceased. The bodies of my two oldest siblings were recovered. We had sought refuge in a refugee camp fleeing violence against Tutsis in the Congo. I subsequently grew up in the refugee camp in Rwanda, reading everything that I could get my hands on. I was resettled to the USA in 2012 along with my two surviving brothers. Now 26 and a US citizen, I hope to serve my country.

I am especially excited about the prospect of studying under the direction of professors XXXX and XXXX. Dr. XXXX has written extensively about African conflicts. Since I am especially interested in “Conflict Resolution” as a response to the refugee crisis, I also see the work of Dr. XXXX on the African diaspora to be especially relevant to the research that I hope to undertake in the future. Finally, GWU is also the perfect location as a result of the wide range of internships available.

The generosity that the United States has showed to me is a powerful motivating force that drives me to excel as a student of International Affairs, preparing myself for a career with the State Department, the United States Immigration and Citizenship Services, or the United Nations.

I thank you for considering my application to the XXXX School.