Psychology's wide applications to everyday life, such as how psychology can underpin problems within business practices, has captivated my want to learn about psychology's continuous opening of new doors with ever-growing research. My interest for developmental psychology emerged from understanding my mother's experiences in fleeing the Somali civil war. The struggles my mother endured had an impact on her sense of identity growing up as she had lost a huge part of herself, thus affecting her transition from childhood to adulthood. For this reason, I am intrigued by the environmental influence on human development during childhood.

My GCSE and A Level study of Psychology has amplified my interest in the subject area, as I have been able to learn vital human behaviours and mental processes that inform the way we act and feel. This strengthened my passion for developmental psychology as it explores how concepts and values instilled in a child and experiences mould the direction of their lives. This led to my further readings into Erikson's stages of development, which places emphasis on the effects of psychosocial factors such as parenting and schooling on the rest of a child's life. The work experience I undertook at a church allowed me to observe Erikson's stages of development first-hand as children began to make associations with the meaning of life and faith, fundamentally affecting their development. I also attended a TedXTeen event where young adults discussed their mental health issues. I noted that the speakers' experiences with mental health might have related to an unhealthy psychosocial development caused by emotional stressors. To supplement my knowledge of psychology I completed a psychology course that helped me gain a deeper understanding of psychology outside the curriculum. This exemplifies my resourcefulness and determination in going beyond learning in the classroom, a vital skill required at university.

Studying A Level Business Studies broadened my understanding in ways companies can operate at their optimum by applying various methods proposed by different theorists such as Abraham Maslow. Throughout my A Level I found the human resources and marketing unit the most fascinating due to its close ties to psychology which reinforced the significance of the role psychology plays in helping companies improve management, subsequently being able to grow their businesses effectively. The motivation theory presented in the 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation" has opened my eyes to the vital element of motivation for companies to have a highly effective team. To apply my theoretical business knowledge, I partook in the Young Enterprise scheme where I was involved in organising a business. This consolidated my knowledge of the process of promoting products to consumers and I gained invaluable analytical, communication and organisational skills. I have also developed these skills through A Level English Literature where strong analytical and communication skills are required to examine the way authors construct the psyche of characters in my extended writing.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading books from a range of genres that have developed my knowledge on a variety of topics. I love reading fictional literature because they are not bound to any restrictions; therefore, I am able to explore events and ideas through a critical eye. Reading "The Private Life of the Brain" led to my inquiry into the psychology of consciousness, as we must investigate neuroscience and the subjective phenomena of feeling to grasp one's true consciousness.

The strong crossovers between a successful business and psychology has driven my strong interest in wanting to pursue it further at degree level. In summary, I believe that I possess the abilities required to excel during higher education. My personal life experiences and my skill set, developed through school and work, will enable me to elevate my learning at university.