【Career Development Centre of Student Affairs Office】Further Study Insider (3): Writing a Compelling Introduction to Your Personal Statement
【學生事務部 生涯發展中心】 升學情報（三）：打造吸引人眼球的個人陳述引言
Your introduction sets the tone for your entire personal statement. It is important to capture the reader’s interest from the start. Here are some strategies for creating a compelling introduction:
# Personal AnecdoteShare a short, relevant story from your life that sparked your interest in the field. For example, describe a moment during an internship when you realised your passion for research. This approach humanises your essay and provides a memorable hook that sets you apart from other candidates.
# Thought-Provoking QuestionAsk a question that challenges conventional thinking in your field. For example, you could start with, “What if we could revolutionise urban planning to significantly reduce environmental impact?” This technique intrigues the reader and demonstrates your critical thinking skills, inviting them to engage with your narrative on a deeper level.
# Unique InsightBegin with a striking observation or fact related to your field of study. For example, “Despite advances in technology, why do we still face significant barriers to equitable access to healthcare?” This demonstrates your knowledge and curiosity about the field and highlights an area you are passionate about exploring further.
# Avoid Generic StatementsStay away from cliches like “I have always been interested in X” or ” I have dreamed of studying Y since I was a child”. Be specific and personal to stand out. Instead of saying, “I have always been fascinated by biology”, say, “My fascination with biology began in high school when I conducted an independent study on the effects of pollution on local ecosystems”.
引言為整篇個人陳述奠定基調。從一開始就吸引讀者的興趣非常重要。為了吸引讀者，以下是一些實用的引言撰寫技巧：
# 融入個人經歷不妨分享一個激發你對該領域感興趣的真實小故事。比如，講述一次實習經歷中，你如何偶然間發現了自己對研究的熱愛。這樣的故事能讓你的陳述充滿人情味，為整篇文章奠定一個獨特且難忘的基調，使你與其他申請者有所區別。
# 提出引人深思的提問提出一個挑戰你所在領域傳統思維的問題。例如，你可以以這樣的語句作為開頭：＂倘若我們能夠徹底革新城市規劃，大幅度減輕對環境的負擔，世界將會怎樣？＂這樣的問題不僅能立刻吸引讀者的注意力，還能展現你的批判性思維，吸引他們更深入理解你的敘述。
# 展現獨特見解以你研究領域內的一個新穎觀點或鮮為人知的事實作為開篇。例如，＂在技術日新月異的今天，為何我們在實現醫療公平方面仍面臨重重困難？＂這樣的開頭不僅展示了你對該領域的深刻理解和好奇心，也透露出你對該領域進一步探索的渴望。
# 避免空洞無物的表述切記不要使用諸如＂我一直對 X 很感興趣＂或者 ＂我從小就夢想學習 Y＂這樣的泛泛之詞。應當使用具體、個性化的表述，方能讓你的申請脫穎而出。例如將＂我一直對生物學著迷＂轉化為＂我對生物學的熱愛始於高中時期，當時我獨立開展了一項關於污染對當地生態系統影響的研究＂。
