Scholarship Statement - Rail Club - Essay Example

At this moment, I am deeply engrossed in my goal to graduate from the Masters of Global Logistics at California Long Beach. This program is teaching me about logistics from a global perspective focusing on exports, imports, and the management of logistics in the global setting. I became interested in logistics in my junior year when one of my managerial statistics professors from the college of business at California State University, Pomona approached me saying: “Ella, I think you are a good problem-solver who likes challenges.

Visit me during my office hours when you can because I would like for you to learn about the operations program we have at Cal Poly.” That encounter caused a 180 degree turn in my academic orientation, resulting in a change of my major to operations management and finance. The study of operations management enabled me to find my true passion for a professional career. Upon completing the Long Beach masters program in May 2012, I will be qualified to work for in the transportation industry. My penultimate goal is to have my own logistics conglomerate so that I can provide services to small and medium size companies that have worthy products ready to make a presence at the international level.

My choice to major in operations management emerged logically out of a number of drives and passions. Operations management suffuses my whole being with passion because it is an industry where one as a manager or executive is confronted with daily challenges to meet operational goals, which requires being open to constant innovation of the system. I personally like to challenge myself and solve problems because it allows for growth as a professional within the job. A fast-paced, innovative, constantly changing workplace appeals to me and resonates with me psychically.

Operations management is also a place where inefficiencies can be found. Too often, waste is destructive in our society, leading to trash, filling of landfills, and wasted time. Workers hate being forced into useless endeavors. Operations management appeals to me because it can weed out those inefficiencies. Living in Southern California has opened my eyes to the endless opportunities in the industry, and I want to be able to work for a company for at least 6 years before I move to a different company to gain new skills and face new challenges.

While doing my undergraduate work, I became involved with the Council of Supply Chain Management; I was the Vice-President and co-founder of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professional Student Roundtable at Cal Poly Pomona. By taking on this responsibility, I was able to invite guest speakers like Dale Rogers, a specialist in Supply Chain Management and Reverse Logistics from the University of Nevada at Reno, and Brian Hancock (Vice-President of Supply Chain Management) from Whirlpool Company, among other professionals in the industry, to join us for our weekly meetings.

Through their presentations on quality, sustainability, reverse logistics, and supply chain management, we were receiving the most up to date knowledge about the challenges and strategies implemented by experts in the industry as well as the new changes that are revolutionizing the industry. My leadership skills are beyond rebuke, and I have demonstrated a proactive love for the profession. In addition to my involvement at Cal Poly, I became certified in Six Sigma, obtaining my Green Belt and Black Belt Certifications.

My ambition to succeed drives me in all parts of my life. While I was working on these certifications, I had the opportunity to work with companies like La-Z-Boy and 99 Cent Stores on projects of waste reduction and systems improvement. I confirmed my commitment to supply chain and operations as the industry that I want to work in, and that will enable me to give back to my country by working, contributing back to those in need, and someday owning my own company that will create jobs and new opportunities.

I am currently working on the Masters of Global Logistics at California State University, Long Beach. My current graduate coursework G.P.A. is 3.33, but focusing on four classes as well as my professional development has made itso I am currently unable to work at this moment. Therefore, I am humbly asking that I might be considered for a scholarship fund to support the tuition for this summer for the Master’s at Long Beach State as I am in great stress trying to do well in my classes and trying to raise the funds to ensure that I can afford to continue paying for this degree.

My academic and professional development history demonstrates that this money will be well-spent, and will prevent me from having to reduce my academic focus. This is a rare chance to invest directly in an up-and-coming professional. Respectfully, Ella