STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Just as Ivan Pavlov revealed the power of associations in shaping behavior, I’ve
found that the connections we make—between ideas, experiences, and people—
are what drive meaningful change, both in research and in life. Scorching through
the website of FLAME University, Pune and talking to their alumni, the
University’s philosophy, rooted in their belief that education should liberate
minds and allow individuals to explore their passions, resonates with me. Their
emphasis on experiential learning, self - discovery, intellectual curiosity, and their
aim to prepare their students for real – world challenges through hands on
experiences and strong focus on research and innovation, is exactly the kind of
exposure I am searching for in an institution– A place where ideas are exchanged,
new perceptions are shaped, and unhackneyed experiences are made along with
people from diverse cultures.
Throughout my academic journey, I’ve discovered that learning is much like
cognitive behavioral therapy: it’s not just about absorbing information but
actively reshaping my thoughts to tackle challenges– which is why I find that
FLAME University’s curriculum builds a robust base for my academic aspirations
as well as my quest to become a global citizen that not only focuses on personal
goals, but finds a purpose of life in helping people and benefitting the society.
The unique programs offered by FLAME, which offer a platform to reach beyond
the traditional boundaries, incorporate divergent thinking and collaboration along
with the flexibility to choose from diverse courses and fostering an
interdisciplinary approach, aligns with my career goals as well as personal aims.
I’d like to recount an experience I had in my Psychology internship at Fortis
Hospital, wherein I had to play the role of both a therapist and a client, trying to
enact a general therapy session, taking into account the first few steps that a
therapist has to perform- Rapport formation, ways to initiate contact, such as a
question like “Hi, what has brought you here today?” , family history, etc. This
experience later helped me incorporate it in an interschool competition I
attended and won first prize in, wherein I had to play the role of a therapist
performing a specific type of therapy, on my partner who played the role of a
client. My chosen type was Behavioral therapy. This was quite challenging as I had
no professional training on how to deal with a client, and I found it hard not to
form opinions about the situation presented. What I did notice though, was that I
had no problem separating my personal beliefs and feelings with what the
situation demanded, and my client’s thought process while talking to them. This
experience helped me envision a clear path of goals ahead of me, what I expect
from life, as well as what I, as a responsible human being should give back to the
society. I have had a very inquisitive mind and an innate ability to communicate
with others since a tender age. I usually express my thoughts and feelings through
writing, which I consider a very powerful tactic in influencing as well as impacting
people. I have integrated this skill of mine along with my love for literature in a
blog, wherein I write about social issues in the form of articles/research papers. I
also have a keen interest in partaking in NGOs and non - profit organizations that
work for the betterment of the environment, and the lesser privileged, especially
children. These interests of mine, amalgamated with my communication skills,
helped me become an organizer and panelist of a workshop held for middle
school children as a counselling session about the various problems they face,
along with a panelist for the NGO, Seeds of Hope and Action (SOHA) who had an
exhibition about SDGs and raising awareness about climate change.
In my academic journey, group projects have always given me immense joy, as it
provides for me a center stage to showcase my organizational skills and creative
side. Another example of what sparks my interest in academics are the
investigatory projects and experiments/Psychological tests. In my opinion, they
are highly holistic forms of experiential learning, which successfully help us
understand topics and acquire skills. I find myself to be quite enthusiastic while
performing these projects or experiments, and usually always taking charge.
My academic journey has been less about grades, and more about the skills I have
built while trying to tackle difficult subjects. I have understood that instead of rote
learning and cramming, I find myself to be more productive when I set
immediate, short, and achievable goals. I also have a higher inclination towards
co-curricular activities such as Model United Nations, which compliments my
subjects, various interschool competitions as the above narrated, learning French,
and extra-curricular activities such as singing, or role playing. As I have mentioned
earlier, I have set a proper timeline of my aim of becoming a successful individual
in all walks of life, as well as performing my duty of humanity as a citizen of this
earth. My goals for the future are divided across—
 1. short-term goals such as gaining experience by working at mental health
clinics, university counselling office or research labs, participating in
research projects and studies;
2. Developing skills such as strong research, writing and divergent thinking
skills, learning about various psychological theories and perceptions, and
improving on communication and interpersonal skills;
3. Networking by attending fests and connecting with different
professionals in the field;
4. Long - term goals consisting of aiming for high grades to increase my
chances of admission at a prestigious university abroad for my Masters
and focusing on specializing in a specific field of Psychology such as
Counselling, Expressive arts based therapist, or organizational.

FLAME University’s curriculum is custom made according to a student’s liking. A

Bachelor of Arts focuses more on developing important skills such as
communication, reading, and analyzing of the subject. I find that the courses
offered by the University, resonate with my goals very well. By choosing
Psychology and /or International Relations, I will be able to get an interdisciplinary
perspective on human behavior and global dynamics like political and social
interactions. Without a doubt, I look forward to the analysis and exploration of
these subjects in greater depth. Moreover, the magnificent campus as well as the
diverse culture present at this University will give me a chance to explore new
ideas and perceptions.

Tenets, such as creativity, innovation and effective communication are the

success mantras in a student’s sojourn.
A. Creativity: It is an off shoot of imagination, which can help explore new
possibilities and opportunities during the learning process. It can make the
learning experience more interesting.
B. Innovation: Innovative thinking assists in taking a path less ventured into,
experiment, think and churn out-of-the box solutions of problems and
challenges.
 C. Effective Communication: Listening and understanding is the foremost in
effective communication. It is a big enabler in getting a perspective,
providing key inputs, solutions and having a collaborative approach, while
working in groups or projects. It builds a strong relationship in which one
can understand human values.

During my life, I have experienced many highs and lows, and having firmly put
these issues behind me, formed me into a determined individual with a passion to
succeed in what I do and a real desire to help others. From my experiences, I have
learnt a set of personal skills such as empathy and open-mindedness. As
described by my friends and family, I have a strong personality, with a knack for
interpersonal skills and writing. In the same way Gestalt psychology teaches us
that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, I’ve found that understanding
human behavior requires seeing beyond isolated moments—it's the patterns that
tell the real story.