Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Personal Statement
Personal Statement
Personal Statement
Noelle St. Vil at the University of Buffalo. We conducted a thematic analysis on her interviews
with survivors of domestic violence. I also spent a significant amount of time conducting
time effectively to complete tasks. I took two statistics classes, one of which is specific to
psychology, a research methods class, and Psychological Assessment. I also have experience
finding and evaluating published research articles, so I believe that I am ready to have a role on a
research team. I have also taken Psychology of Gender, Multicultural Psychology, Cultural
Diversity, and Sociology of Human Rights, three writing intensive classes, and completed a
minor in Sociology, so I am well equipped to work with people of many different backgrounds. I
have also made the Deans List each semester so far with the exception of one. I did not do as
well during the spring 2015 semester because I faced significant adversity after the murder of a
family member.
As a biracial woman growing up in a poor, segregated city in America, I have seen and
experienced many injustices and prejudices. I was a senior in high school during George
Zimmermans trial for killing Trayvon Martin. The case was very personal for me because
Trayvon was the same age as me, and I realized that could have been one of my classmates, one
of my loved ones. I thought what happened to him was just a one-time thing, until Eric Garner
was killed. Then Michael Brown. And Tamir Rice. I realized that Trayvons murder was not
unique and I began to understand how deeply rooted inequality is in American society and
government.
The more I learn about inequality, the stronger drive I feel to work against it. I am
interested in studying inequalities, especially related to racism and poverty. I plan on studying
and addressing factors perpetuating poverty and community interventions that help to reduce
poverty and alleviate its negative effects. I would prefer to work directly with the community to
figure out what interventions could help its members and the biggest struggles they face.
Studying the intersectionality of race and poverty is also an interest of mine. I am also interested
in studying diverse representation in media, toys, and other platforms, and how that affects self-
concepts and empowerment of minority groups, especially related to the natural hair movement
One purpose in going to graduate school is for me to build upon my professional skills
and knowledge in how to be a catalyst in community improvement. I believe the work I will do
in graduate school will influence the direction my career takes, whether it is in research, politics,
working in an agency, or something else. Understanding the research behind community change
will also enable me to make more informed, empirically-based decisions related to progress.