“Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant.
There is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks.”
Johann Gottfried Von Herder
There are two types of motivation in life based on internal and external factors. Fortunately for me, even though I was intrinsically motivated to pursue graduate study, my brother’s extensive years of experience in the financial services industry gave me the external spark that ignited action to move forward and achieve my goal.
When assessing my strengths and weaknesses to successfully earn a Master’s of Science in Finance degree at the University of Texas at Austin (UT), my strengths include: I am an analytical, fast-learner who thrives in financial environments. I possess technical proficiency with spreadsheets and other accounting tools. I communicate effectively in English and Arabic. And I demonstrate effective leadership skills in social settings. These qualities were evident during undergraduate study at the University of Houston where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance through the College of Business Administration in 2013. I was also awarded an Entrepreneurship Certificate in 2012 from Bauer College of Business. Therefore, these academic achievements, along with personal strengths have prepared me for graduate study.
My weaknesses include a lack of employment experience, although I am actively seeking a job while awaiting acceptance into the graduate program. Another weakness is not quitting until the task is done. Some label this as being a perfectionist – working too hard and putting in too much time; however, I’m always determined to make sure that I’ve done my best and everything is in the “right” order. Being rather shy, I dislike speaking before large groups. And my written communication skills need more polishing, although I’m enrolling in a professional writing course soon. Nonetheless, none of these perceived weaknesses would prevent me from succeeding in the graduate program.
The short-term goal is to expand and strengthen my knowledge base in finance by through a challenging educational program. Since your university offers multidisciplinary courses in finance and prepares MBA students for a variety of financial positions, I put McCombs School of Business at the top of my selection list. Additionally with UT being “ranked 26th among the world’s top 100 universities” and “seventh among public universities in the United States,” I feel confident that my short-term goal will be accomplished.
My long-term goal is to obtain an entry level position with an established organization where my skills, abilities, and knowledge will complement the employer’s mission. Where I can be an asset to the organization and afforded opportunities for career growth – as my brother, Turki Almalik, achieved. He worked for multi-national finance houses in New York (e.g., J.P. Morgan Chase, Merrill Lynch) and now serves as Chief Operations Officer at Saudi Sanabil Investment, which is a huge investment company in Saudi Arabia. His accomplishments have really inspired me to continue my studies and pursue a Master's degree in Finance.
There are many rewarding career opportunities and options in the field of finance. Whether financial planning, investment banking, money management, hedge-fund, or corporate finance, the common factor is money. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “close to 3.8 million openings” in this field emerged in 2013. U.S. News Best Jobs ranking has identified finance among the top jobs in-demand that provide good salaries (e.g., $64,750 - $87,650) as well as job satisfaction. Therefore, the opportunities are unlimited over the next decade since there’s a significant need for new professionals entering the world of finance.
UT can help me achieve short-term and long-term goals by accepting this application for admission. My brother ignited the spark; however, as quoted by Johann Gottfried Von Herder, I must bring forth the fuel to turn that spark into a blazing fire using my internal and external motivation factors. This I am motivated to do and can do when provided the opportunity.
