Leadership, Experience, Opportunity, as I learned from the LEO club at Mahanama College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, are some of the qualities which, I believe, I can bring to the California State University System. Through hard work and intensive commitment I have learned how to survive and help others. This is just not my observation, but also the people who surround me praise my commitment to my goal, which is to become a physician assistant and help the needy.

 How I developed my interest in this field goes far back in my past. In my early school days chemistry and mathematics were my weak subjects and I used to face extreme difficulties in completing my homework. Thanks to my ninth grade chemistry teacher, who made me realize that chemistry and mathematics are just not subjects but are also the fathers of all other sciences, and according to some intellectuals, are the languages of God, what were formerly my weaknesses, became my strengths. Understanding mathematical expressions helped me comprehend some of the phenomena in chemistry, that opened up a whole new world of nature for me in which, I believe, those trained in them think differently from other people and make their lives more fruitful through invention and innovation. This is the world of science: the best way to discover the secrets of nature and serve mankind.

 After completion of high school I spent studying chemistry, physics, applied and pure mathematics at Mahanama College as an advanced level student. At the same time I was involved in extra curricular activities in the LEO club. I was an active member of that club and participated in many events helping the needy. In recognition of the services I rendered to the club, it awarded me the highest rank of certificate of appreciation for the academic year 1992/1993. Also, I was chosen as club secretary and have been awarded certificates for completing several community projects involving the homeless. 

 For living in the United States I am completely indebted to my beloved mother, who cared for the two of us and who worked eleven years in this country to become a permanent resident. As a result, our family of four was reunited once again in January 1994. That summer was the first semester I enrolled in Santa Monica City College, but due to lack of information about the academic system, I took the wrong classes. Coming from a country where English was the second language, the biggest challenge that I ever faced was to learn English and apply it in college courses. Reading Newspaper and books, both fiction and non-fiction, gave me great courage and confidant in my college work.

 Every family has its own crisis. It happened to us when my father had a fatal automobile accident in October 1994 in Sri Lanka. Therefor, in the middle of fall semester I left college due to my father’s accident. This was the most disappointing stage in my life. I soon discovered that my father had a loan of $ 10,000 at the time of his decease. Although we had assets to pay off the loan, we needed money badly. I promised my mother that I would find a job as soon as possible and support her financially every month to lighten the financial burden. 

 After my father’s funeral I returned to the United States in search of a full time job, while my mother ran the business my father left behind. I was so pleased to learn that my mother’s former employer, who was fond of me from the day I arrived to United States, found a job that benefited the whole family. For almost a year I worked 80 hours a week as a nurse assistant in private duty for an elderly stroke patient. I have been punctual, dependable, and courteous in rendering nursing care assistance. Over the past three years I have worked more than fulltime and maintained a competitive GPA. 

 As a result of my nursing care, I was inspired to take a Certified Nurse Assistant course in summer of 1998 and now I am now a CNA through the Regional Occupation Program offered by Culver City High School. For three months I have worked as a volunteer at Country Villa Westwood Convalescent Hospital. The responsibilities of being a caring person and the joy from working with the elderly can never be expressed in words. Activities such as cleaning and feeding the patients, doing range of motion exercises with them, and learning medical terminology are some of the great experiences I have had from being a volunteer. 

 I have always kept myself oriented to my goals. That is why I stayed in school despite many difficulties. The California State University system has the only schools, which I have ever dreamt of attending, and therefor, these two schools are the only schools that I have ever applied to. One of the reason that California State University Long Beach and California State University Dominguez Hills are among the greatest schools in the country, and if I should be admitted to any of them, I would be able to obtain part time employment and help my family at the same time. Although I understand that going to university will require a lot more commitment and hard work than a community college, I have no choice but to work harder. This is the reason why I now have a job as a CNA. Hence, I have my goals and plans and I am gradually attaining them with confidence. 

 My friends and relatives think I do not have a social life because I always keep my self busy either in my studies or work, but that is not true. During the winter of 1995 I took a tennis class, although I had never touched a tennis racket in my entire life up to that day. I have greatly appreciated it and learned the game mentally and physically. As I believe in a healthy balanced life, in which sports play a major role, being athletic help me study well. When I was in high school I played soccer as a hobby, and being good at it. I was chosen to play for the college team, which won first place in the Colombo District Division Championship. At SMC I participated actively in the Anthropology club, where we learned the values of cultural understanding and how to protect it in various ways. 

 In my whole life, I always have been a meritocratic person who does not like mediocrity. Whether it is academics or sports or work, I always proved myself to be one of the best in the field and the reason, I believe, is that I kept my options open and listened to what other people around me had to say about me because there is always room for improvement. It will be an honor to study in your prestigious institution and, I assure you, the honor will be reciproc