I would like to share some thoughts about my background -- personal, academic, and professional -- and relate that background to my goals. By the end of this statement, you should have a better idea about who I am, what I want to do, and whether my skills and needs find a match with your department's.
Geography has offered me a way to combine a lifelong interest with maps and "places" with the opportunity to deepen my understanding of mass social interaction. Additionally, I became intrigued with the possibilities geographic information systems (GIS) offered as an analytical tool, and endeavored to learn as much as possible about the technology and its applications. By my graduation I had earned a minor in geography, maintaining a 3.62 G.P.A in all geography courses.
I'd like to describe one project I undertook in my computer cartography class. I chose to examine the dispersal of the population in two cities, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Hartford, Connecticut between 1960 and 1980. This project involved first compiling census information and digitizing the census tracts for both cities. I then designed and produced maps for both cities. I used a coordinate plotting application to create a 3-D grid of the population distribution of both cities in 1960 and 1980. In my report, I noted the significant shifts to the suburban regions in both cities and the decline in population of their cores. This project helped me grasp the power of a GIS to compile and display demographic information. More generally, I recognized the utility of GIS as a tool to forward research and understanding of issues in human geography.
In my final two years at Indiana University, my academic tenacity really asserted itself. This is reflected in a G.P.A. of over 3.6 during this period, which included high level and honors courses in geography, economics, political science, and computer science, among others. During my undergraduate career I came to enjoy the challenge of the intellectual life, as represented by papers, research, presentations, and discussions with professors. In short, I feel that I have developed the skills and the maturity it will take for me to be successful in graduate school, and I believe my record supports this.
My academic experience with Geography is complemented by solid work experience with GIS and its applications. In the summer of 1990, I worked for the City of Indianapolis' Public Works Department with IMAGIS, a county-wide GIS being compiled by the City and the utilities. My tasks included editing and correcting the database, adding new layers, and building thematic maps for the department's engineers. I returned to work for an additional eight months after my graduation in the spring of 1991. Over a year's experience with IMAGIS provide me with a perspective on the opportunities and challenges confronting GIS in city government.
In January of 1992, I traveled to Bonn, Germany, to work for Geospace GmbH, a firm providing computer mapping software and services to the central European market. I played a wide variety of roles at Geospace during the half-year I worked for the firm. I trained new employees on the system and managed several mapping projects. I programmed applications to customize Atlas*GIS for Geospace's clients. I designed and led an eight hour seminar on this scripting language in my second language, German. My position at Geospace gave me experience working with civil engineering, planning, and other commercial applications for GIS.
In addition to my experience with geography, I have been developing my teaching skills since graduating from Indiana University. I currently work as a PC skills instructor for Indiana Vocational Technical College. I have designed and taught courses on WordPerfect, Windows, and DOS. I feel that I bring a lot of energy, dedication, and attention to individual student concerns, and this is something that students appreciate, reflected in the excellent student evaluations I receive. Teaching as a graduate student is something I look forward to. Additionally, the positive experience I've had teaching has really reinforced my interest in a career in academia.
My interest in geography is broad; as an undergraduate, I explored courses in Human Geography, Regional Geography, and Cartography. It seems to me that Geography is essentially a discipline that attempts to understand and explain the world, and that's essentially what I want to do. This interest manifests itself away from the university, as well. I spent two summers while still an undergraduate working and studying in Europe, and half a year there afterwards. The experiences I had and the people I met stimulated my interest in the world. After my work visa expired in the summer of 1992, I traveled around western and central Europe for a month, and then took the Trans-Siberian railway to China. The trip satisfied a lifetime goal of mine, to travel around the world, and the adventure -- even with the bureaucratic hassles -- went beyond my most hopeful expectations.
My abiding interest in geography has played an important part in my undergraduate education and my activities thereafter. I wish to explain what role I feel graduate school has to play in the continuing development of my understanding of geography. In my final year at Indiana University, I began to seriously consider graduate school. While I pursued other interests for a few years, I kept this consideration in mind. I think that I have honed my skills in GIS; however, I wish to develop much more technical and applications-oriented experience in this area. Currently I'm leaning towards urban applications, but I'd like more exposure to other areas in geography where GIS is used Additionally, I've enjoyed my work as an instructor. A professor should be a good teacher as well as a productive contributor to the discipline, and I think I can do this. Graduate school will develop these abilities.
I believe I will be a strong addition to your department. My rigorous academic background reflects my broad array of interests and skills. My experiences since graduation display my continuing commitment to using technology to analyze and solve problems. My deep fascination with the field of geography exhibits itself in my interest in the world around me. I hope that this brief statement has given you a better idea of who I am, and that my abilities, experience, and interests are qualities you look for in your graduate students. I thank you for your consideration.
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