Hi everyone,
I'd appreciate getting some feedback on my Motivational Statement draft if anyone is willing to take a look. I tried to discuss a little bit of my moral character/philosophy but also provide more concrete facts about things I've done, as well as address weaknesses and oddities (mediocre GPA, former AFROTC cadet). I am applying for SNA.
Motivational Statement as follows:
I believe that caring for one's community is the most beneficial focus that a person can have. It is the desire to regularly lend a helping hand to those around you that creates an environment which fosters a collective selflessness. Leadership is contagious when it is carried out by example and its benefits can be observed. I have made it a goal in my life to be the kind of leader who inspires others to do all they can to serve their communities.
During high school, I provided my community with important local updates by producing a journalism-focused radio show that aired weekly. I conducted interviews with classmates, parents, and other locals and often dedicated segments to their thoughts to ensure their concerns were heard. I also assisted my hometown’s Chamber of Commerce with event planning, and often helped my father take photographs for the local newspaper. I took great satisfaction in contributing to the well-being of the local community.
I have always had a strong desire to serve my country, and I enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program when I began school at Angelo State University. Throughout the program, I took initiative to help the detachment and my fellow cadets excel when faced with opportunities and challenges. I coordinated with the university and local businesses to organize fundraising events which aided the detachment in its ability to support cadets. I also photographed many detachment events and wrote editorials for newsletters which were disseminated weekly in order to keep cadets informed. In addition, I was presented with the fantastic opportunity to attend a Professional Development Training trip to Davis-Monthan AFB, in which I learned valuable lessons about leadership and teamwork by observing active duty Air Force operations. However, when it became clear that my changes in my course schedules would prolong my expected graduation date, I voluntarily left the program, intending to pursue Air Force Officer Training School in the future. Since then, I have done extensive research and talked to many members of both the Air Force and the Navy, and have decided that I am more drawn to the Navy’s mission focuses.
Throughout my time at Angelo State University and later Texas State University, I put great effort into maximizing my time-management skills by working to support myself and attending classes simultaneously, often working 12-hour and 16-hour shifts to accommodate scheduling demands. Despite my efforts, my grades sometimes suffered, leading to a final GPA of 3.11. However, my persistence did allow me to make the Dean’s List twice while working full-time at the local airport’s fixed-based operator and attending school full-time, in addition to producing projects for the university’s TV and radio news shows.
Since conferring my degree, I have continued to put forth effort into helping my community, and have done volunteer work with Meals on Wheels and More, the Golden Hat Foundation, the Entrepreneurs Foundation, and the Keep Austin Beautiful program. At my current job in the Marketing department of an e-commerce website, I have regularly taken initiative by volunteering to take on extra projects, and I often find new approaches to solving problems which sometimes become best practices for our team. I recently oversaw the launch of our successful vast website redesign project and was responsible for preventing, finding, and resolving all issues related to the Marketing department. I also maintained growth in important performance metrics for my department even after my immediate supervisor left the company and was not replaced for over 3 months.
I feel that putting the needs of others before your own is the most effective way to create a better world, whether on a micro-level, like caring for a family, or on a larger level, like serving your nation. I have strived to lead by example throughout the communities I have been involved with, and I feel that my determination to put the needs of others before myself would be a valuable contribution to this nation's armed forces. Although I left the Air Force ROTC program, my desire to serve has never faltered, and I am fully committed to seeking a commission in the United States Navy. I earnestly believe that I possess the necessary attributes, motivation, and love of country to serve faithfully and effectively.
