This personal statement was part of this student’s successful application to King’s College London and University of Manchester for Sociology. Additionally, he received an interview invitation from University of Cambridge.
Throughout the Bersih protests, I observed my parents’ preparations for times of civil unrest. As a child, I struggled to comprehend the complexities of the protests—a movement that eventually led to the downfall of BN, a political alliance that had been in power since Malaysia’s inception. This early exposure to social activism served as the catalyst for my exploration of sociology as I matured. As I delved deeper into my readings and observed the world around me, my curiosity grew, particularly as I couldn’t help but notice issues like overpopulation, manifesting as the refugee crisis in regions like Europe. This was a stark contrast to my relatively privileged circumstances.
This innate curiosity only further intensified after joining competitive debating, fueled by an insatiable thirst for intellectual discourse. In one debate on social movements, I applied Conflict Theory, drawing inspiration from Social Theory Roots and Branches by P. Kivisto, to emphasize how power struggles and conflicting interests within these movements underscored the critical need for institutionalized communication to achieve effective progress. Ultimately, the judges awarded my team a decisive win after providing an insightful counterfactual and envisioning real-world implications.
According to IndexMundi, Malaysia is ranked as the 2nd most racist country in the world. However, in my day-to-day life, I’ve experienced a society where manifestations of racism are practically absent. Reading The Color of Success by Ellen D. Wu, I found its relevance applicable to Malaysia. Reflecting on how we all possess inherent biases, it becomes evident that our remarkable tolerance and acceptance as a multicultural society stem from our willingness to recognize and transcend these biases. In stark contrast with the rest of the world, acts of racism prevail and headlines are filled with hate crimes and racially-fueled protests. A lifelong fascination with human behavior, rooted in a strong desire to comprehend societal dynamics and their implications for individuals and communities, has been my main driver in life, especially in recent years. I found Goffman’s Presentation of Self in Everyday Life to provide a framework that helps me unravel the complexities of why people act the way they do. In everyday life, I find that dramaturgy illustrates how individuals strategically perform their actions to fit social contexts. This perspective sheds light on Dominic Raab’s recent resignation amid reports of subordinate bullying, which can be seen as an effort to ‘save face’—a central concept in dramaturgy. With such intricate connections between sociological theories and real-life examples, I am further motivated to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical application.
Interning with a local political office, I engaged in rural grassroots campaigning, immersing myself in the intricate social fabric of the community. While meeting with the village elder, I couldn’t help but notice the well-defined hierarchy and profound sense of unity among the villagers, which vividly paralleled the principles I later encountered in T. Parsons’ The Structure of Social Action. I found that his insights on the functional roles played by individuals within a social system complemented the distinct roles and harmony I observed within the village. This exposure to social dynamics also made me acutely aware of the concept of instrumentalism.
The political landscape in Malaysia often sees ethnic identities being flexed and manipulated for political gain, such as when BN appealed to Malays with promises of preferential policies. It wasn’t long before I witnessed its stark reality during a local election campaign. Witnessing how instrumentalism operated, distorting the very essence of ethnic identities for political advantage, disheartened me.
Inspired by the complexities of society, I am eager and prepared to undertake further studies with an open heart and an inquisitive mind.
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