My maternal grandfather
My maternal grandfather was a very successful banker, acting as the Chairman at several banks during his long and illustrious career. Witnessing him work with his clients and listen to them sing his praise made me develop a keen interest in banking. Soon I realised that banking involved an abundance of math, a subject I am deeply passionate about, which made me fall in love with the thought of becoming a banker. From a very young age, the thought of being perceived as dependable and trustworthy by my friends and family was deeply ingrained into my mind. Investment banking appeared to be the most suited profession for me upon conducting my research. The thought of people trusting me and allowing me to invest large amounts of their money makes me feel responsible and empowered. Becoming an investment banker has been a dream of mine for a significant part of my life and obtaining an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance would be a huge asset and aid me in realising this aspiration. Incredibly motivated by my ambitions, I started focusing on my academics all through my school life and have been awarded multiple certificates for excellence in academics from during my school life. My talents as a leader have also been recognised by my teachers and have been the group leader of numerous projects. Leading these groups made me realise the importance of being a team player. This and a passion for football made me take up the sport in high school, even representing my school at the regional level. I think of myself as a peoples person, and in the future, I envision myself in a job that entails many human interactions. My experiences in school, such as taking part in drama competitions and Model United Nations have honed my skills as an eloquent speaker. During my time as an assistant to the treasurer for the Youth Red Cross, I managed funds and allocated the budgets for various activities. I carefully reviewed all expenditures as well as fundraising efforts to create a balanced budget for the years programs. Helping my seniors organise a blood donation drive was the most intriguing experience I’ve had as a member of the Youth Red Cross. Watching them collecting funds and allocating it to different departments, determine an appropriate budget to spreading awareness and saving sizeable amounts of money for ventures that required a larger capital, deepened my desire to pursue the subject in the future. Joining a learning hub where global connections and clubs for budding entrepreneurs was one of the main reasons for me to look beyond my home town, and the United Kingdom was a perfect fit. My research threw up facts that if I am looking at practical learning, academic freedom, competing with global minds and strengthening my individual way of thinking, I had to move out of my comfort zone, broaden my horizons and look beyond. Along with that I also realised that I would gain to enjoy the perks of being up to date with current trends and get a big resume booster for my career ahead. Having travelled extensively around the world, Europe has a special place in my heart for its rich heritage and culture. The UK, I believe, will keep me rooted while allowing me to pursue my education away from home and emerge confident and independent. Having studied in Chennai all my life, I lack global exposure and the experience of living in a western country. Just being a part of a multi-cultural learning environment will broaden my perspectives and prepare me for the real world. I think this move will shape me well and open my pathway to the banking world. Once I complete my education, I might work for a few years to gain industry knowledge and experience and then return to India, my homeland where I will base my pursuits, tap into the various opportunities of doing global business as well as contribute effectively towards my society with fresh ideas and global thinking. I hope to come back ready to become a successful banker and make my grandfather proud.