Sop - statement of purpose free essay sample

In my salad days cramming down lessons to replicate it on to the answer papers was the only way I thought I could clear my examinations. This idea of studying changed during my 7th grade when my chemistry teacher Ms. Annapushpam taught me that the basic elements of science and study are to understand the content and to question everything. â€Å"The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand† as quoted by Frank Herbert aptly describes the transformation. The joy of a discovery overrides the hardships encountered along its way. As the habit of questioning was instilled, I acknowledged the importance of placing a why before a how. I was most fascinated by her thought provoking teaching methods and I started loving the subject and began taking notice of its inevitable and widespread usage. Unrelenting love for the subject helped me score 97/100 in science in the 10th central board exams, ranking among top 1% of the students in the country. From my childhood I was inspired by my father Mr N. Rajendran, himself being a mathematics teacher guided me in mathematics and I found it facile to score high. Genetically inherited natural flair of analytical ability and quantitative aptitude helped me secure a centum in the 12th grade state exams. I chose to study (B.Tech ) Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals in Alagappa College of Technology, Anna University, one of the most prestigious, top ranked and reputed institutions in India. Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals is a unique course in Anna University that sandwiches the base of chemical engineering courses with many petroleum engineering courses. I strongly believe that the fluid and solid operations, reaction engineering, catalysis, thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer courses will provide a backbone for the master’s degree in chemical engineering I’m eager to pursue. Out of these subjects chemical reaction engineering and catalytic reaction engineering are the courses that I’ve found to be immensely interesting and highly research oriented. I underwent a one month summer internship at CPCL (Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited), Chennai, in manufacturing refinery (I II). The rigorous lessons in the training were about the processes in the LPG recovery unit, crude distillation unit, power and utilities section and research and development (RD) section. I gained knowledge about preheater, desalter, heat exchanger, atmospheric distillation unit, vacuum distillation unit, flare system, cooling tower, demineralisation and reverse osmosis plant, importance of the different storage tanks and various safety and exigency strategies. My second internship was at MPL (Manali Petrochemicals limited), Chennai, is the chief producer of propylene oxide, propylene glycol (mono-,di- and tri- propylene glycol) and polyol (Flexible, rigid and elastomers). I had gone to industrial visits at FACT (Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore limited), MRPL (Manglore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited) and at TPL (Tamil Nadu Petroproducts Limited) . Having undergone industrial training I have been able to apply theoretical knowledge to the best of my abilities in real life situations. As a chemical engineer I hold myself responsible for reducing the environmental degradation in the process of industrial development. My minuscule contribution to emphasize environmental protection and conversion of waste into fuel is my mini project â€Å"Biodiesel recovery from leather fleshing and slaughterhouse solid waste† using the steps of hydrolysis and trans-esterification. I did my final year project on â€Å"Manufacture of Sodium Sulphate (1Tonne/Day)† and I took up this project to get exposed to the overall working of a plant. The project comprised of the different methods of production, process selection, material and energy balance, equipment design, safety aspects, cost estimation and plant location. In the equipment design section I designed feed tanks, furnace, agitator vessel, rotary drum filter, crystalliser, rotary drier and storage tanks which helped me understand the importance of choice of the equipment for better yield. Visit to Sai Yasika Biochem situated in chennai and producing Sodium Sulphate, as one of its products, gave the project a new perspective. I, being a member of Petroleum Conservation and Research Association (PCRA) of India, helped in conducting audit processes at Anna University. I’m also proficient with softwares such as MATLAB, Photoshop CS5 and programming languages like C and C++. Despite the packed academic schedule I always found time to engage myself in various co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. I served as a cadet of the National Cadet Corps (NCC)-army platoon and enthusiastically participated in their drills and activities. I was selected as the convener of PETROVISION’12, a national level technical symposium, a position which tested my leadership and my organizing abilities to the hilt. I was also the Industrial visit coordinator for my department. I was an active participant in the blood donation camp conducted by the National Social Service (NSS). I have always believed that ‘a healthy mind and healthy body go hand in hand’. I played Table tennis at the district level during my school days. I enjoyed playing the beautiful game of soccer and as the quote goes, You will be closer to heaven through football than by gita by Swami Vivekananda, the sport honed my character as a whole. I played central defensive midfielder for the college team and captained the team for two academic years. Binding the team both on and off the field augmented my leadership abilities and the team brought many laurels to the college viz. combined team winners of Anna University Inter-zonal tournament, winners of Annafest’12, winners of Mitafest’12 open tournament and semi-finalist of state level Vels cup tournament. The more I delve into my subjects the more intriguing I found them. This has led to a perpetual fascination to study this subject. The chemical engineering department of the National University of Singapore is well known for its focus on research especially in the topics of reaction engineering and catalysis which happens to be my areas of interest. I will strive to make the most of the opportunity that the university grants me.