Personal Statement - History and Spanish

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I wish to study Spanish and History at degree level as they fascinate me, but also because I have never been content with only knowing my own culture and history. As enthralling as Spanish and History A Level are, I yearn to be able to experience other cultures and learn about history outside of the classroom such as experiencing the Spanish festival of Semana Santa and learning about how History has shaped the world today.

To date my exploration of hispanophone culture includes films such as Como Agua Para Chocolate, which allowed an insight into Mexican social structures, as we see various acts of social commentary toward the tradition of the last daughter remaining unmarried. The theme of the supernatural is expressed by the spirits which appear to the main character, Tita whose cooking of magical dishes acts as a metaphor for her own creativity and passion. These themes fascinate me as they encapsulate the Spanish culture.

One of my most interesting experiences to date has been having a pen pal in Argentina. Speaking to my pen-pal via Skype allowed me to discuss everyday issues and world headlines with a native Spanish speaker. Other experiences include trips to Barcelona and Malaga, which allowed me to experience the Spanish culture whilst also speaking with the natives allowing me to use conversation skills that I would not have otherwise used in the school environment.

Unable to wait to study Irish history I decided to embark upon reading The Green Flag by Robert Kee at the age of 15 which covered topics from The Manchester Martyrs to Michael Collins.

My years spent studying History developed my interest in German and Russian history alongside various historical events from the Cuban missile crisis to the spilt of Korea. It was only when I began reading around these topics during my free time and delving further into the country's history I found I had a real enthusiasm for history on the whole as opposed to just the history of my own country, and wanted to explore more of the fascinating history that studying it at degree level offers.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

Alongside my ambition to study Spanish and History, I would love to continue and expand upon my other interests at university, which to date include competing in public speaking which allowed me to develop skills at constructing arguments and allowed me to build friendships whilst also satisfying my competitive nature.

Being a part of a Young Enterprise company within my school, allowed me to develop my organisational skills as I acted as secretary at our weekly meetings and was able to use my innovative nature within the business.

I have also been a member of SU for 4 years which allows me to put my creative side to use through organising events within a team of my peers whilst also working with younger individuals and adapting the society to their preferences.

Through my voluntary work, I have developed my interpersonal skills and my ability to adapt to situations, whether it is building houses for the underprivileged or working within the community to promote the charities. Therefore, I believe that studying Spanish and History at degree level will allow me to develop upon the enthusiasm and passion that I already have in these areas, making Spanish and History the clear choice for me.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Another interest of mine lies with sharing languages which resulted in me taking a Language Leaders course which allowed me to break down the language and share it with children of primary school age. It was a rewarding experience, which allowed me to take on tasks, such as making Spanish culture basic and interesting for children whilst also teaching Spanish greetings and basic vocabulary and eventually moving onto forming sentences. Talking to the children in Spanish provided invaluable experience in pronunciation and spoken grammar.

In my spare time I volunteer for charities such Habitat for Humanity and Marie Curie.

These opportunities to teach and volunteer have helped me develop wider skills valuable outside the classroom, including communication, leadership, and adaptability. They give me a practical context for my academic interests, helping me understand and relate cultural and historical knowledge to real-world experiences.

Universities applied to:

• Exeter (History and Spanish)
• St Andrews (Ancient History and Spanish)
• Queens (History and Hispanic Studies)
• Stirling (History and Spanish)
• Aberdeen (History and Spanish)

Grades achieved:

• German (AS) - Grade C
• History (A2) - Grade A
• Spanish (A2) - Grade B
• Religious Studies (A2) - Grade A

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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