Personal Statement Alessia Mortara

My academic life has represented a process of acquaintance with my talents, values, and flaws. I have strived to fulfill my potential and now wish to pursue a future in the field of Political Science. I have cultivated an interest in languages (bilingual in English/Italian, proficient in French and able in Sanskrit), in the Humanities, in the Arts and in Mathematics and Physics (Young Scientist Award), developing a varied spectrum of skills and abilities.

Living in Italy, the UK and the United States has given me multi-cultural exposure and a broad range of influences from which to expand my knowledge. However, I have also been fortunate enough to travel, exploring the essential similarities and points of divergence of different customs which form humans with a common nature, but different nurture, due to the influence of different environments. I have always been curious about people; their ideals, hopes and dreams, both as individuals and as entities and the reflection of these shared values in aspects of society such as politics.

Through the study of Islam in my History course, I was able to elaborate on a topic that I found particularly stimulating, giving me an insight into the origins of modern relations with the Arabic...