When I began my undergraduate career, little did I know that my interest in finance would burgeon into a passion for corporate finance. After earning a major in Economics, I now possess the necessary background to embark on this journey, a logical progression from my studies thus far.

　　When I reached high school, my investment banker father began to discuss finance with me as a career option. At first, I was reluctant because I thought of finance simply the job of being paid to father was quick to point out that finance is not only about helping someone get a return on his investment. It is, in fact, a complex system of capital, spending, and growth, which is a cornerstone to the success or failure of any business. In addition, it is the foundation on which national and international markets are built, and on which they either fail or succeed.

　　I began to see this principle in action when I was hired, at age 6, to work in a local garden nursery. The nursery was an excellent model for finance because living things are such a great example of a long-term investment. My boss had the practice of buying twice as many bulbs and seeds as he needed each winter because they were much cheaper than buying in spring. Then, when spring came, he would neighbouring nursery and flower shops. His price was always a bit less than that of the catalogues and the buyers had the added convenience of getting their product right away.

　　At first, I thought my boss would lose money because he was helping his competitors get a head start on the season. If he made them wait for the catalogue orders, their plants would be at least two weeks behind his. In the nursery business, two weeks is a long time, so I believed he would make a better profit by simply buying the seeds he needed and planting them ahead of time.

　　One night after work, my boss got out some paper and drew a schematic of the whole network of nursery shops, seed catalogues, and customers.

　　He showed me how the different variables could affect the outcome of my market. In the end, he was able to show me that he ended up profiting most by operating as he had been. He was making a profit from sales to his competitors and from sales to his customers. The biggest factor that I had left out, though, was that my boss was also creating a competitive climate.

　　That day, I realised that finance could be a complex and fascinating subject which fuelled me to pursue a degree at university.

　　This will arm me with two invaluable tools: an elevated understanding of the broad base of issues and the advanced training needed to grasp the fundamentals of mergers and acquisitions. With these two tools, I will have the skills necessary to accomplish my long-term goal: to embark on a career in merchant banking within the division of mergers and acquisitions.

　　My strong academic background and my clear understanding of economics and method will help me build financial and personal success.