Ross School of Business

What are you most passionate about?

Sample essay607 words

Sample One

My yearning for knowledge has been a constant presence in my life, and is what I am most passionate about. My yearning for knowledge is one of my earliest memories, whether it was reading Michener's novels of exotic places in 4th grade, or toting an enormous Columbia University history book on childhood trips. My love for learning continued through my undergraduate studies, where I took courses in a wide variety of subjects and studied abroad in Australia. Post college, as my insurance career progressed I took several exams and studied to earn the professional designation of Change Benefits Associate. Learning is so vital to me because it provides me a connection to different people, events, and cultures, which has enriched my understanding of the world. My passion for learning has led me to apply to Ross' MBA program, as I wish to continue my studies of business and leadership in a formal academic setting.

My passion for knowledge is not liVMIed to academics; I also have a passion for learning about what is happening across the world, staying current on international affairs through media outlets like The Economist and The Times. Besides staying abreast of international events, I am passionate about learning about other cultures' history, people, and customs. My passion for celebrating different cultures led me to help found a Hispanic culture society as an undergraduate, and led me to volunteer through HopeWell at a multi-ethnic, lower income school. Global travel has allowed me to continue my quest for knowledge, as I always leave the tourist track, interacting with local residents in smaller towns away from the major cities and attractions.

My greatest passion is expanding my knowledge, and learning new things helps complement my natural curiosity and desire to connect with the larger world. I am confident my desire to expand my horizons will be perfectly fulfilled through Ross' collaborative learning environment.

Sample Two

 I’m most passionate about giving back to people in need.

Giving back is meaningful to me because there were times in my youth when my family was on the receiving end of charitable giving. That experience left me with a deep and unwavering commitment to the people and organizations that help families through hard times. In addition, through years of volunteering, I’ve learned to value the potential that nonprofits, businesses, and public institutions bring towards creating large scale positive change and it’s important to me to be a contributor to those efforts.

I started volunteering in high school, and became more actively involved in college. When I moved to New York and witnessed widespread homelessness among populations of the state’s youth, I was compelled to join the Life Circuit, a nonprofit that advocates for emancipated teens and homeless youth, eventually becoming a member of their governing board.

Among other roles, I assist with fundraising and donor retention, volunteer recruitment and training, and manage the youth outreach and mentoring programs. I also host a bi-weekly run with our teens where I educate on wellness and use my experience from the Ironman Triathlon to teach our kids that they’re more capable then they realize, physically and intellectually. In the spring of 2008 I was honored to receive their Volunteer of the Year Leadership Award for my efforts to change our outreach model from one that focused solely on aid distribution to one that emphasized regular follow-up, ongoing support, and long-term success.