UniSIM  Application  Essay   We often say that we learn from experience. This presupposes that the ‘experience’ itself is an object of reflection – we recall significant events and the roles we played in them; derive and infer meanings from our relationships with others; critique and improve ourselves; and also construct new ways of managing similar situations. From your personal experience, select one quality that you have acquired. Describe how you have acquired that quality and why that quality is important to you.

From past experiences, I have personally gained valuable skills and qualities, namely leadership, time management, perseverance as well as teamwork. However, one of the qualities that I have acquired and would like to highlight is the value of leadership. As the saying goes, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other” – John F. Kennedy. This quote strikes my heart as it specially relates to the times I have spent being a professional preschool educator as well as being in the volleyball school team for 7 years. Being a preschool educator, I know that early childhood education does not only focus on educating and developing children academically, but also emotionally, physically and socially. In order to help every individual child to develop holistically, we as early educators have to set good examples at all times and be good role models for the children. Although it may be exhausting at times due to the responsibilities involved, it is definitely a fulfilling and rewarding experience at the end of the day, especially seeing the children you teach grow and learn everyday under your care and guidance. I believe that I have gained and benefited more from the children and my colleagues than what I had given them. As the saying goes, a good leader takes a little more than her share of the blame and a little less than her share of the credit. Apart from my work experiences gained, being in the volleyball school team over the past 7 years had taught me to be a better team player and had inculcated various values in me, such as perseverance and sportsmanship. Additionally, as a Vice Captain in my secondary school’s Volleyball team, I have learnt that being competent, confident and committed are exemplary traits of being an outstanding leader. This practice itself is leadership by example which I have acquired as having experience as a preschool educator. I personally feel that leadership is a value that can be carried forward to the rest of my life and it can be applied in anything I do. Some hard skills that I have acquired are learning how to plan and coordinate events as well as public relations skills. I was being appointed as the in-charge of a dance item for a kindergarten graduation concert last year as well as other in-school events such as, Children’s Day and Teacher’s Day celebrations. As preschool educators, we are expected to work closely with parents and the community, thus improving my public relations skills.

UniSIM  Application  Essay   Additionally, I have learnt that knowledge and skills can be taught but only trust and respect can be earned. To earn respect, I have to respect others first. In order to earn trust, I have to practice what I preach and deliver what I promised. In conclusion, leadership is a valuable quality that I have acquired and which I deem to be paramount to the society as a whole.