Rahsheeda Bell

Personal Statement
I have always been encouraged by the stories my parents often told me about my amazing
birth being born a preemie at only 3 pounds. It is within those stories of my will to live and
persistence that I draw strength and courage.
I have a natural love for learning and throughout my academic career, I fell in love with
many subjects, however the humanities remain a favorite discipline. Deciding in high school as
an International Studies Magnet participant and then making it an official path of study in
college, I chose to declare as a History Major with a minor in Communication at Wesleyan
College. I am fascinated with societies and the relationships among individuals. In non-historical
fields of study many ask why history is relevant or important. The age old quote, you cant go
anywhere if you dont know where you came from, is a perfect response. I chose to couple the
study of history with the study of communication because it is already the way in which societies
discuss race, class, politics, finance, and even urban planning. All these discussions and thoughts
stem from a historical context. Applying critical skills training garnered in my high school
advanced study program, I developed research that spoke to the prevalence of contributing to the
success of modern societal markers.
This critical thinking development has efficiently and consistently provided just what I
needed to excel at Wesleyan College. Graduating within three and a half years from a rigorous
college such as Wesleyan was no easy task. I had to expand, process and engage to develop into a
well rounded student both inside and outside the classroom. I often volunteered to lead projects
toward gaining a greater knowledge where I could analyze issues through various lenses, not
only through historical lens, but cultural, psychological, and political lens as well. For example,
throughout my time at Wesleyan I researched various topics such as genocide, terrorism, female
oppression, and media influences referencing bits and pieces of these various topics, then
developing arguments and conclusions. I became a confidant leader in many of my classes by
employing pedagogical and practical approaches. My confidence also stemmed from time spent
studying abroad in South Korea at Ewha Womens University, a university which is touted as the
Princeton of Asia.
All of my travels abroad, which included visits to the countries of Greece, China, and
Japan have all been invaluable, but I believe the semester spent studying at Ewha University in
South Korea was the most life altering. During that time of study, I took classes where
discussions were broad and not necessarily or always from a Western viewpoint. Typically my
classes consisted of traditional Korean students and international students from France,
Singapore, China and other various countries. Their perspectives strengthened my synthesis
skills in that I was able to view issues from various cultural lenses during a single classroom
discussion. It even taught me practical skills such as the ability to communicate with people from
various cultures as well as navigating within a new and unfamiliar environment. It is because of
the entirety of the aforementioned that I am confident that I can be a beneficial member and
willing student to Howard University's prestigious Graduate Program.