2011 December 26th, Bucharest

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to apply for the Aspen Institute Italia scholarship. I am currently in the final year of undergraduate study at the National School of Political Science and Administration, Faculty of Political Science, Bucharest, Romania. Through my studies I became deeply passionate of the International Relations field, especially the role of the international organizations in maintaining worldwide peace and stability. As I wish to specialize in International Relations, I am very interested to apply to the Masters degree in International Relations, Diplomacy and International Organizations curriculum, at the University of Milan. The field of study and professional career which we choose in life are a result of our psychological profile. One of the features that define me is the need of harmony which I consider essential in our existence, from the family climate to the social one. This was reflected in my school and university options. I had chosen in high school to study social sciences because I considered important to understand myself and those surrounding me, from the individuals to the entire society, and I realized the increasing complexity of the relations between human communities and even states. Therefore, I chose to study the Faculty of Political Sciences considering that it combines the subtleties of all the other social sciences. The specialization in International Relations arose from the consideration of this discipline to be an expression of the search for balance and harmony in a world subjected to contradictory trends, in which culturally different states try to coexist and to promote their interests. In the future, I plan to build a professional career in Diplomacy, which I see as a field in constant change, characterized by mobility, unpredictability and challenges. This responds to my desire of involvement and self-improvement, to try new experiences and meet them successfully. Until now I materialized these aspirations by collaborating with students NGOs and being involved in extracurricular activities. During my first undergraduate year I was member of the Volunteers for Ideas and Projects NGO, which organizes conferences, seminars and a summer school for students on economic issues. I am currently a member of

BISMUN Association, an NGO which promotes United Nations values in the civil society through conferences and simulations of the decision-making process of international institutions. Through the Aspen Institute scholarship I have the chance to study in Italy, where I already had a great university experience during the Erasmus mobility at the Faculty of Political Science, Forl, in the academic year 2010 - 2011. On this occasion I admired the quality of the university system, the high standard training of university professors, the dialogue between professors and students. Italy is a constant lesson of history, arts and beauty. The common Latin origins and similar human temper led me to find a warm and familiar environment. I speak well Italian language because I have studied it in high school and improved it in Italy where I attended most courses and passed the exams in Italian. The MA in International Relations would be a great match to my interests and personal background in Political Science. Thank you very much for considering my request. I look forward to your positive response.

Yours faithfully, Eva Suzana Belu