Hey everyone,
I'm putting my first draft of my statement on here. I'm tinkering around with a different one right now, but in the meantime, please rip this one to shreds. I'm trying to have it finalized by tomorrow morning.
Three generations ago my grandfather fulfilled his duty in defending the values and freedom of the United States. As a child I revered this man. He had a presence that commanded respect; he lived by virtue, and he had an unbreakable character. Whether these attributes were nurtured by his time in service or whether these attributes spurred his decision to serve his country, I am unsure. It was probably both. I am committed to being the type of man my grandfather was, and there is nothing I would take greater pride in than serving as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy, exercising my skills and abilities for the defense and common good of my nation, values, family and friends. I look forward to the incredible dynamic and challenge that life as a naval officer will bring.
My greatest asset as a naval officer would be the skills I have developed during the study of my major—public relations. These skills are invaluable to those in positions of leadership. The practice of public relations is essentially generating optimal solutions to complex problems, often with very limited resources. Important parts of the public relations process include research and data analysis, objective-setting, organization, effective communication, implementation of specific tactics and strategies, evaluation and adaptation based on results. These same fundamental principles extend far beyond the realm of public relations. They are very important for any leader, and I am confident they will be extremely beneficial as a naval officer.
In addition to building useful leadership skills through my coursework, I worked two summers as a student orientation, advisement and registration (SOAR) leader for Missouri State University. During this time I was given the responsibility of guiding nearly 200 prospective students through a comprehensive two-day program familiarizing them with university policy and helping them register for appropriate classes. One of my core duties as a SOAR leader was facilitating student transition from high school to college, which can be jarring for some students, and ensuring their future success. I took great pride in being a role model and positive impact for these students. In fact, many of them still come to me for advice to this day. I cannot wait to help build men and women of honor, integrity, determination and character as part of the Navy.
For the past two years I have also worked as a part-time Office Services clerk at Husch Blackwell, a large law firm in Springfield, Mo. During my time there, I have done a variety of wide-ranging tasks. I have had the unique experience of serving subpoenas to appear in court, coordinating complex copy projects consisting of over 10,000 pages and completing weekly supply orders. On one occasion, over the course of three days, I unloaded 1,000 boxes full of paper from four semi-trucks into a handful of storage lockers. In my role at Husch Blackwell, I have to be prepared for anything and do it effectively. I enjoy completing tasks to ensure the proper function of a work environment, and I am a very fast learner and an even harder worker.
Since October 2012, I have also worked as a Marketing Specialist intern for Springfield BackOffice, a business consulting firm. On my first day I was given the enormous task of organizing a comprehensive seminar for entrepreneurs about taking startup companies from concept to a repeatable, scalable business. I was given a team to delegate responsibilities to. The world of business advisement and strategic planning was completely new to me, but I put my head down and researched until I was fluent in what used to be a foreign language. My seminar project has since evolved into creating a large database of free information for budding entrepreneurs, offering them tools to navigate an often-confusing business world. Our initial goal was to establish ourselves as an authority on business development. Through critical thinking and analysis, I am pioneering this database which will allow us to market ourselves to a much wider audience, farming important demographic information and gauging the degree of interest in specific services while still establishing top-of-mind awareness for our company. These critical thinking skills and ability to innovate and adapt make me an ideal candidate for commission in the United States Navy.
I look forward to taking the plunge into life as a naval officer and am proud to be considered as an applicant. I am completely confident that my skillset makes me an excellent candidate, and I will deliver on my intention to serve the United States of America as selflessly and effectively as any man or woman could.
Thanks so much,
Jon
