International Relations: College Admission Essay Sample

1:16AM.

The taxi system in Shanghai is active all around the clock, so I’m in no rush. My eyes scan the luggage conveyor belt and, soon enough, I have my suitcase and make my way onto the taxi platform. I hail a blue cab, tell the driver my destination, and ask for the price.

“400 yuan.”

“300,” I say, without even thinking.

The driver hesitates.

“Fine.”

For the next two hours, I gaze out the window at a dark canvas scattered with twinkling lights. The port city I’m headed toward, Ningbo , is south of Shanghai and renowned for commerce. In my work for my mom’s health electronics company, I’ll visit several factories to meet with managers and ensure quality production. My body is exhausted, but, as I am acutely aware of my surroundings, my mind won’t let me sleep. Once I’ve paid the cab and arrived at my hotel room, I’m out.

Three hours later, I’m on my way to the factory of Mr. Lin. After touring the facilities and observing the assembly line, I sit down with him and his associates. I lay out what needs to be improved – packaging, certain labels, an interior mechanism on one unit – and introduce a new product that I want to begin manufacturing in the first quarter of next year. The following seven days are spent in a similar manner: I travel the eastern coast of China, visiting several other factories that produce for the company.

Two weeks later, I am leading the Tri-Valley Mayor’s Group on a tour of my province. As coordinator and translator, I introduce the American officials and business executives to my homeland. From arranging hotel rooms to communicating with the Chinese government, I act as the liaison between the two cultures, ensuring both are satisfied.

Such experiences have taught me the immense value of diplomacy. At Prospera, I provide customer service, process purchase orders, organize shipping, and negotiate sales contracts. I’ve visited several states to meet sales reps and attend trade shows. But from marketing products to finalizing my fourth patent, I’ve learned that what truly hold the company’s operations together are communication and compromise– especially in China. Cooperation is an absolute necessity, and, without such diplomacy, the business suffers. The same applies to the delegations’ trip to China: communication across cultures is instrumental in making a successful trip.

I have always been fascinated by international relations. Be it conversing with foreigners or translating for friends, I’ve found interaction between cultures to be indispensable. I aspire to be a chief U.S. liaison, if not the Ambassador, to China, and I believe that Georgetown University offers the ideal opportunity for my pursuit. At Georgetown, I can build the foundation that a diplomat requires. From Econometrics to International Trade, the education will be highly valuable, ensuring both intellectual and professional growth. Due to its location in Washington D.C., Georgetown offers not only superior education but also an environment unrivaled in fostering my aspirations. Entering the world of diplomacy is my foremost goal, and I believe that at Georgetown University, I can make my dream come true.