An investment in education pays the best interest, Benjamin Franklin
As Benjamin Franklin states it right, an investment in education pays the best interest. Having myself studied for almost 20 years now, I too can say that and believe that a person should never stop learning. Books are my first love. I just love reading and exploring new topics and fields of study, especially in the field of science. But I feel that also with bookish knowledge comes applicability of your learnings, that too for good. This is the reason why I, a physics major was always looking up for fields to take up as career-sort of interdisciplinary applied knowledge. I knew after 5 years of university that I wanted to contribute my bit for the society I am part of. I learnt of sustainable development in my school and fell in love with the idea of it. That’s when I decided I wanted to dive deeper and find some really good programs-and I am delighted to have found one here in Exeter.
Sustainable development was not new to me. Although familiar with the definition, yet it was challenging for me as I could not think of a career in it. I was fascinated by the idea of preserving resources for the future generation, along with a utility for the people now. When in college, I enrolled in a class group called ‘Leaders For Tomorrow’ that comes up with a discussion on environmental protection. It urged me to think of solutions in sustainability. On the local scale, I could think of only homely remedies, like I cut my plastic usage, aimed at reducing my carbon footprint. We at home separate biodegradables and recycle a lot. But somehow I was always at unrest that just me doing all this won’t be effective. Searching for more inspiration, I looked up documentaries emphasizing on climate protection and sustainability -I came across one that talked of microclimate in Himalayan mountains of India and preserving the ecosystem. Now I would want to take up sustainability as a career- a challenge. It should be a win-win situation for the people as they live in synchronisation with nature. Thanks to the encouragement of my family, especially mom, who has been a pillar of support, I am determined to pursue it as a full-time degree.
Despite being an introvert by nature, I feel I want to step out of my comfort zone and thus, take up a masters program as an international student. I am fully convinced this course is tailor-made for me! Also, we do not have such a program in my country. Out of all the places I chose the UK as my best bet for the compact one-year degree program. I am sure to say that Exeter would give me the best of both things- studying and exploring, which is also my passion. The privilege of studying here would, in addition, enhance my knowledge associated with the country and would give anyone a new experience to relish-once in a lifetime.
Coming from a developing country like India, I am deeply saddened by seeing air pollution, resource management and policy analysis in this regime. I want to do something about this, but only after studying properly all aspects of development. After all, we do not want to sit in guilt- or else what will we answer our future generation? Foreseeing the completion of my degree, hopefully, I would want to have a bright career ahead. Taking up this masters course here at Exeter would mean a lot to me. I surely guarantee that if selected to do a masters here, the coursework would also teach me the knowhow and I can use it for all the good. Not just this, I feel that making cities sustainable in every way-as per the United Nations Goals should now be on the radar of all the governments of the world and even people should be made aware of it. And I plan to work for its implementation in future in any role that I am given. It would be a perfect example of noble service and I knew I always wanted to work in this regime. I am sure to succeed and have a shiny bright future and continue my stint as a sustainability consultant. I may even take up PhD further enhancing my knowledge, here itself in the UK.
I know that not all understand the importance of sustainability and the need for early action to do something – since now it is necessary and not just voluntary. is focus on sustainable development goals. It is this ‘something’ that I say I want to learn here at Exeter. The reputation associated with the university is what matters to me the most- and that’s why I am ready to embrace this field and the Msc sustainable development course with your university. The modules in the course suggest a great study journey and promise to deliver an all in one kind of learning-which I have always rooted for, honestly. It suits my style of learning, and I can’t wait for it to begin!