Submit a statement that discusses you career goals, as well as the factors that let you to select the Mid-Career MPA/Edward S. Mason Program as a means of furthering your personal and professional goals. Be specific in describing how your expected course of study will enable you to build on your professional experience and achieve these goals (750 limit) o parents who both worked as government officials during the Cold War. Since early childhood I have developed an enormous interest in politics and international relations and earning a Cum Laude degree at as seen as the ultimate intellectual achievement as most high-ranking members of government had graduated from this program. and travelling around the world, I got more involved in international diplomacy and conflict resolution. I believe that the Mid-Career program will provide me with hard and soft skills necessary to succeed in diplomacy and negotiations, to understand power status, planning, goal shifting, trust, reputation, enforcement as well as the multicultural interpretation of truth. I find in fascinating that the concept of truth varies from nation to nation. If Asia, for example, no one wants to say "No" because this word breaks the energy. Russians like to say "No" in order to appear strong and powerful. In Italy "Yes" or "No" might in reality mean exactly the same. Finally, "No" will be replaced by "Yes" in the Arabic world if the speaker believes that it is what you want to hear, however, "No" the following day. Throughout my career at the I have acquired a collection of some anecdotes. Now I would like to turn them into case studies. I strongly believe that a lot of mistakes in international peacekeeping can be avoided and many conflict resolutions can become much easier and faster if political leaders stop underestimating the crosscultural aspect. Pursuing a degree at HKS would allow me to synthesize my accomplishments and provide me with the analytical tools necessary to both advance my career in international relations and leave a positive mark on society. EFTA01126559