ＰＳ国外申请范文（二十四）
Subject: Boston University Social Masters
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L; H7 \ [- {- UThe rapidly growing elderly population is becoming a serious social problem . J0 t9 E- |. d: A
in many countries. Some countries have been successful at finding solutions
. f: ]; w5 P$ T' P) zfor this problem but others have not. Japan is one of the latter countries.
: W2 |7 Q) [0 [- jAlthough Japan has one of the highest life expectancy rates and a reputation # y5 h0 B5 B, J8 L* B" f
for good quality of life for its elderly population, it has been unsuccessf
& E8 D; e# e; X/ T, P ?ul at addressing this problem. Compared to other industrialized countries, J
' H# ]9 A3 v- H1 P q6 \: D4 eapan lags behind in programs for elders who are physically disabled, bedridd
* R5 B( p; P8 Z; G/ I; o6 X7 F% pen or in need of long term care. The current economic crisis is exacerbating ; _, X7 K b0 V. ^: y+ ]' i5 X/ p! \9 P
this situation as the government is cutting funding for elder programs. Thi / _ ~+ t4 `, Z3 ^ n
s problem resonates deeply with me, and I hope to someday work on finding a
6 X1 [7 h' u- L. Z& `# f3 b5 Osolution. It is for this reason that I am applying to the graduate program i
6 \7 I2 Y( L& d% j! M0 jn social work at Boston University: I seek the skills and knowledge I need t
% I) F* [6 d1 w4 h+ q% s7 U9 [o return to Japan and work for a social work service.My interest in the elde
8 i, v8 A3 v; m" @; [: mrly dates back to my childhood. Growing up with my grandparents greatly infl X3 A @ O. I1 H) j" e4 V
uenced my values and personality: they taught me to be self-motivated and di
4 F. l% c q2 Vsciplined. Their resilience and support has helped me to persevere even when
3 C# X3 H5 j. u" ^9 \. I% Yconfronted with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Because of their kindne * ?# `$ f( V8 I) K0 d
ss toward me I have a deep respect for them and for elderly people in genera
. B# P- O, Y: El. This is what motivates me to become involved in the field of social work. , v2 _9 b+ `9 w
Traditionally in Japanese society, the care of one’s parents is believed to
' X ?3 V ^2 q7 X" G' c3 ^7 w" W! ybe the children’s duty. After World War II, such traditions have evolved due
6 A9 J% u1 f9 @( K* ?to changes in family structure. No longer is the eldest child the only one ; K) p# y% t4 i5 A+ G
to inherit his parent’s property, and two-income families have become the no + o5 I) X( {8 l- T6 R
rm. These changes have left Japanese people at a loss as to how to care for
E8 t# C$ N; Otheir aging parents. The current response to this problem seems to be hospit 6 ^& I* B, L7 [& C, `
alization. Families increasingly hospitalize their elders who are physically 8 d! L/ l7 E+ u3 n% h1 y
disabled, bedridden or in need of long-term care. These individuals are usu
+ M1 p/ j. t$ M: Y+ r9 xally transferred to nursing homes, but because of sparse accommodations and
% s t) L* l1 B; H/ F) Qa one to two year wait list, they end up staying with family members who are ) R1 s: n, ?( ^% ?# ]; {! u7 i+ k/ G
often ill equipped to care for them. As a result, there are a number of inc D. {: u5 {# A) C, ?$ B L
idences of elder abuse by family members and elder suicide. Also, there are
/ f0 c/ r) N3 ^many other elderly people who live alone -- every year, many of them die wit ( C% m5 J7 t( x9 ^
h no one, not even their family members, having knowledge of their death.Cur $ q- L/ }+ ^: b, M! O8 H% p& x
rently there is no social welfare program in Japan that offers assistance to 9 c5 {4 f7 t" j5 X" S& q3 e
these elders and their families. In the light of these terrible problems, t
0 h$ C. L" f5 B$ Q# B( m0 l9 the need for such a program is obvious. My interest in social work is to find
! R' u( f$ h3 b8 e- l+ K6 mways to develop and improve the types of services available to the elderly
. a. B: G" O0 Din Japan at a systematic level. I want to be involved in the organizing, man & g6 B+ _; o$ g K0 o
aging, developing, shaping and planning of social policies related to the el . P! @# Y1 y( i5 q+ Q2 U4 y. K) d! e( H
derly. I believe the social work program at Boston University will allow me 2 W4 t( X% j) h2 M& Q. {9 A
to do that. By studying macro social work at Boston University, I will learn , v3 @* J/ ]" X/ G, V3 U: R. i
about established social systems, assessment and intervention strategies. I . ?! B2 g4 k6 Z6 S$ x9 h
n addition, Boston University’s emphasis on urban issues appeals to me immen ' H, m2 ]; Q o" g: f+ b1 D
sely. As I will be returning to work in Osaka, the second largest city in Ja
; K5 i& M6 x! S$ dpan, graduate work in this area will better equip me for the challenges I wi ' ~0 F/ W4 c2 T$ q& B4 r
ll be facing. To me, an urban mission is a commitment to identify and find s
9 m6 G8 W$ j& U) \$ e% D/ ~olutions to issues faced by urban areas. I believe I am well prepared for gr . t. i( K3 K1 P, P; @: a* y
aduate work. During my undergraduate study, I acquired the necessary backgro # _; {( T5 I* V5 K. w
und knowledge by taking advanced courses in the areas of psychology and soci + `% I, E8 w# _; i3 G
ology, including sociological research methods, social theory, statistics, p
3 C! M( U2 Y8 i3 g4 ] |sychological research, and psychotherapy. Along with these courses, I had an # O" Q+ C9 _5 s: Q
internship at the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, a non-profit . [) f, ~7 ]7 U6 @3 I
organization. I also volunteered at Sawayaka-en, a nursing service, and Asun q1 m: i. f- a
aro Children’s Mental Hospital in Japan. From this internship and my volunte ; j" g1 ]- @8 t# |6 I
er work, I have gained practical experience which I feel will contribute to
$ u/ ]: x( l1 P4 q& b. _my academic and professional success.I expect the graduate work at Boston Un 6 D+ D2 ]5 Z" ^2 w
iversity to be demanding, challenging, and ultimately rewarding. I look forw
1 \1 z+ V1 n( H0 Nard to the experience from an intellectual as well as social point of view -
5 E3 Z B+ |( F8 r# {; L- I hope to learn and grow as an individual and a macro social worker. I hop ) I- L. d$ m |0 _
e that I will be allowed to do so at Boston University.
