Society today is fundamentally founded on key events in our history. Archaeology plays a key part in providing us with vital evidence about our past, teaching us more about how our ancestors lived. This intrigues me, discovering the story behind each artefact and how it affected who we are as a society today.
It combines two passions of mine, history and science; however it has the ability to further our understanding much more than these two subjects would individually.
Throughout my childhood, my interest in Archaeology developed due to my passion for history - as a child I was fascinated by museums and the vast amount of information that was available about each museum object.
This was further fuelled by my work experience at Derby Museums, where I had the opportunity to experience the wide variety of artefacts stored in the museums first hand. A particular group of artefacts that captured my interest were fragments of a 16th century stained glass window, which I cleaned and helped photograph for the museum archives.
This allowed me to appreciate how much time and effort goes into preserving our past, and how crucial this work is. Through this experience I was able to meet those who had studied Archaeology at university; they described how they studied ancient civilisations, and how they were able to conduct their own research into a particular subject which interested them.
This inspired me to pursue Archaeology as a course to study at university; I want the freedom to research specific areas of history which interest me, and be able to collect my own evidence about past civilsations.
My A-level choices were influenced by my enthusiasm to study Archaeology, and as a result each of my individual subjects has developed a set of skills which I can apply to my further studies.
History has further developed my interest to conduct my own individual research - part of my current coursework requires me to find my own sources to include in my essay, which gives me more freedom to find my own evidence.
In addition, my science options allow me to understand analytical techniques which can be applied to the discovery of artefacts, such as carbon dating. Learning about different techniques used to analyse substances has given me an in-depth understanding of how more information can be gathered about an artefact using science based methods.
To gain more experience, I helped out during school history lessons - this allowed me a chance to become more responsible, and work with other people whilst sharing knowledge about a subject I have a passion for.
Also, as a member of my sixth-form council, I have the opportunity to resolve issues which affect the sixth form, which develops my communication skills with my peers.
Outside of school, I have volunteered at a charity shop - this improved my team work and communication skills alongside other staff and with customers developing valuable skills for when I study Archaeology.
Extra-curricular activities I participate in include being a member of the Air Training Corps. It has given me the chance to be a leader of a group; advancing my problem-solving skills and challenging me to think outside of the box.
The Air Training Corps has given me a vast amount of opportunities - for example during last year, I was selected to be a part of an expedition team going to the Spanish Pyrenees, achieving the aim of trekking up a 3000m peak in the region. To achieve this aim I had to be committed to the expedition, attending training weekends and completing independent research into the area.
These experiences have allowed me to be proud of a personal achievement outside of the normal school curriculum, thus inspiring me to achieve more than the norm during university and beyond, into my future career as an archaeologist.
Archaeology will allow me to understand more about the society which I live in, and in turn I will be able to contribute to the expanding information available about our ancestors.
This personal statement was written by izzywisher for application in 2014.
izzywisher's university choices
The University of Durham
The University of Nottingham
The University of York
The University of Birmingham
University of Newcastle Upon Tyne
Green : offer made
Red : no offer made
izzywisher's Comments
I was very happy with my personal statement when I submitted it. It was one of the most difficult things I've had to write! The first sentence was the most difficult, because it has to engage the admissions tutor straight away. My final personal statement was a lot different to the first draft, so don't worry about your personal statement changing!
I have had an interest in archaeology for some years which has stemmed from reading about topics such as Troy and ancient Rome. I have always found it very intriguing how the discoveries of sites and artefacts from places like these have raised awareness about the importance and value of archaeology and I am fascinated by how archaic.
Archaeology helps us gain a greater insight to the evolution of human civilisation by giving us evidence of the lives of those who came before us. To the many this may be seen as insignificant but to an archaeologist evidence is the source of a greater picture. It is this ability to comprehend a time before ours that holds an interest for me;.
I was nine years old, and we live in Chicago, Illinois. That year my family had a membership to the Field Museum of Natural History, and every Saturday would find us on the train to the Field. Our first stop was always the pyramid. We would climb the stairs to the very top and then descend down the ramp, much like the shaft inside a real pyramid.
My ambition to study Archaeology is based on a fascination with the stories of people who cannot tell them - preserving history for the future. What interested me was how we have all evolved in the same way - all having the ability to communicate, all experiencing a myriad of emotions that separate us from animals and all having the same base.
Archaeology is the material connection between our history and the contemporary present. Analysis of each artifact, site, or feature brings us closer to understanding where we came from, and pushes us towards discovering where we are going. It is this focus on material culture that first drew me to the discipline. My interest was cemented when, in.
For me, History has always been a forerunner when it comes to choosing a degree at university. From an early age I have always enjoyed learning about the past and how some key events like the Battle of Britain and 9/11, have shaped our future. Not only is History an intellectually stimulating subject, but it is also a window into another world of.