ＰＳ国外申请范文（二十四）
Subject: Boston University Social Masters ! q+ A- }" H+ `
! J8 Q; R( {) T4 n
; ~( f- j q5 A. y( KThe rapidly growing elderly population is becoming a serious social problem 3 A( d3 R& |2 V3 `7 K3 u
in many countries. Some countries have been successful at finding solutions 1 C1 m: G- y, q9 E4 U
for this problem but others have not. Japan is one of the latter countries. 2 m$ \8 S8 |8 @* Q+ z1 _
Although Japan has one of the highest life expectancy rates and a reputation , y7 R& v+ s5 P
for good quality of life for its elderly population, it has been unsuccessf 6 k6 K P9 f: u+ q
ul at addressing this problem. Compared to other industrialized countries, J ' c3 ~ M* p; E" V& ]/ T1 I" \
apan lags behind in programs for elders who are physically disabled, bedridd
+ ?$ h0 v" @; k5 }en or in need of long term care. The current economic crisis is exacerbating
- j5 q8 ~! W2 k+ b) f& Cthis situation as the government is cutting funding for elder programs. Thi 3 z# d* I4 K1 c+ M8 l3 Y; Q5 j6 o
s problem resonates deeply with me, and I hope to someday work on finding a
# S a* r }7 l9 \/ tsolution. It is for this reason that I am applying to the graduate program i 0 d9 D1 N" J2 d
n social work at Boston University: I seek the skills and knowledge I need t $ ^6 H" g- g# G# {" u8 e0 N
o return to Japan and work for a social work service.My interest in the elde 9 R3 f2 x; [ m0 d9 Q4 K
rly dates back to my childhood. Growing up with my grandparents greatly infl
$ i* r# N% i$ q1 x2 j6 luenced my values and personality: they taught me to be self-motivated and di
5 R) b8 c; v; d( V" `& ysciplined. Their resilience and support has helped me to persevere even when 8 p7 u; K& g& s+ x" q4 E6 H
confronted with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Because of their kindne
- u/ [; y) x" {5 j0 \$ X5 h$ \ss toward me I have a deep respect for them and for elderly people in genera
+ J* n4 K! R& f7 |, i* H6 ul. This is what motivates me to become involved in the field of social work. 6 X3 f5 E- u9 O& V# |+ u
Traditionally in Japanese society, the care of one’s parents is believed to
8 \% E$ X; L p% }' j& j& g4 k% gbe the children’s duty. After World War II, such traditions have evolved due
3 ~3 b6 b5 O8 \" c3 i# rto changes in family structure. No longer is the eldest child the only one 7 h2 m" W3 s' D1 K
to inherit his parent’s property, and two-income families have become the no
( I7 W* u; \( k& T' F7 srm. These changes have left Japanese people at a loss as to how to care for
S% [* s- t [+ {* I# Ntheir aging parents. The current response to this problem seems to be hospit
# u( D7 l3 d( w$ q2 r" galization. Families increasingly hospitalize their elders who are physically
6 _+ M% j/ E' b8 kdisabled, bedridden or in need of long-term care. These individuals are usu
2 ]5 Q) m- }7 a' k2 P4 X4 Nally transferred to nursing homes, but because of sparse accommodations and . ~3 Q: ]& z! y4 G: R" C) k9 k
a one to two year wait list, they end up staying with family members who are
8 F9 ~& ]5 }8 H$ n+ T# Boften ill equipped to care for them. As a result, there are a number of inc + S: R6 t( Z( s4 J* n- |
idences of elder abuse by family members and elder suicide. Also, there are 5 N1 V( S- ~( A' s+ F N7 r2 k
many other elderly people who live alone -- every year, many of them die wit " q: E- y f; P; j* G+ q# k
h no one, not even their family members, having knowledge of their death.Cur , }; @4 ?$ j4 R3 h' e
rently there is no social welfare program in Japan that offers assistance to
; |% S% O' r9 z ?# T+ a( Tthese elders and their families. In the light of these terrible problems, t / J2 z3 D* n0 _( T; U: j9 B% k% Y
he need for such a program is obvious. My interest in social work is to find
) ~: T5 p, B( S' k. w* N6 I. B& Bways to develop and improve the types of services available to the elderly
% Z0 n6 ]. y- tin Japan at a systematic level. I want to be involved in the organizing, man : k6 E' ~0 G+ O5 X1 A, b( q0 q
aging, developing, shaping and planning of social policies related to the el 6 j* }, _- j- a+ W# C
derly. I believe the social work program at Boston University will allow me ! P' ~9 e. O; h( P0 {
to do that. By studying macro social work at Boston University, I will learn 9 z+ U. l9 h6 L- O( v. g' [4 D
about established social systems, assessment and intervention strategies. I
& U; P$ L2 `* J. `, k. gn addition, Boston University’s emphasis on urban issues appeals to me immen , O3 M. I. o6 P4 s/ P, t% i
sely. As I will be returning to work in Osaka, the second largest city in Ja
: Y- v2 X0 ~8 ?/ |pan, graduate work in this area will better equip me for the challenges I wi , ~1 k0 P+ Z- w* L4 G+ o6 a* L2 Z2 J
ll be facing. To me, an urban mission is a commitment to identify and find s 0 W) D; [7 e" E/ j' C4 |/ U
olutions to issues faced by urban areas. I believe I am well prepared for gr
1 e4 [# z/ @7 U$ L5 {$ caduate work. During my undergraduate study, I acquired the necessary backgro * [5 j2 s; L3 ]4 y" N% @
und knowledge by taking advanced courses in the areas of psychology and soci |3 U) x+ j5 L0 U Z' U0 B' C
ology, including sociological research methods, social theory, statistics, p 4 M& z/ T, E$ D. u, t% q
sychological research, and psychotherapy. Along with these courses, I had an
+ K+ }3 g* R* ^0 {internship at the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, a non-profit X+ l0 K& @0 p1 r' Y1 Y8 S. u" Q% g
organization. I also volunteered at Sawayaka-en, a nursing service, and Asun
( T' b6 Y( g& g8 R1 z$ Paro Children’s Mental Hospital in Japan. From this internship and my volunte
7 f% g+ F( U. G( V4 e7 r0 M3 Ver work, I have gained practical experience which I feel will contribute to / x/ v4 \( @( W7 e
my academic and professional success.I expect the graduate work at Boston Un
) } p Z5 d9 b5 ~iversity to be demanding, challenging, and ultimately rewarding. I look forw
: b) R, ?3 m5 ?& m# }* ward to the experience from an intellectual as well as social point of view - . O9 @% F3 J0 C! g. @
- I hope to learn and grow as an individual and a macro social worker. I hop
- X0 `' E# Z: x# S4 c3 Me that I will be allowed to do so at Boston University.
