Tony Bermeo

               Anthony Bermeo University of Leeds Personal Statement

                         Global Change: Embracing the Inevitable

As a Bermeo, I was bred to embrace the inevitable. That is, our world is rapidly changing. We are living in a period where reservations for international travel can be booked and paid for via handheld device in minutes. It is finally possible to travel over oceans and reach continents thousands of miles away in less than 8 hours while the consumer has the option to enjoy refreshments and browse the web while in transit. It is now probable to reach foreign countries and enjoy sights and sounds without the restriction of a language barrier due to the distant reach of Globalization. Global trade and international business have become the backbone of some economies. The world is not the same as it was twenty years ago, and it will not be the same tomorrow. These significant changes are detrimental to how we function as a global market, and how successful our progression into the future will be. As we cite these changes, we are capable of delving deeper towards the root of the predicament thus allowing us to prepare for the exciting, yet unsure future. As a Bermeo, my heritage has prepared me for this risk. My ancestors have been innovating, changing, and adapting within their chosen fields since their beginnings. Bermeo dates back to the year 1236. A small town located in the Biscay province of Spain, Bermeo was plagued with rare natural resources and limited sources of income. With few options and the massive Bay of Biscay at their disposal, the small town innovated and turned themselves into a high volume port city specializing in deep-sea fishing and the preservation of seafood. Today, Bermeo is known for its deep-sea success and is one of the busiest ports in Spain. My early ancestors definitely linked the name Bermeo with synonymous words such as innovation, prosperity, and fortitude. This followed suit throughout the years, as my distant grandparents came to the United States in search of more prosperity and fortune. Business is truly in our blood. My family understands the importance of an education; education comes first. They understand that the key to being successful within the field of business requires excellent schooling. My grandfather received his Bachelor’s degree in Business in New York City and My father and both of his siblings received Bachelor degrees in various fields relating to business in New Jersey. My grandfather’s entire career was in the internationally oriented field of foreign exchange, and a multinational corporation employed him. My father and uncle both followed suit. I envied my elder family members as they spoke intelligently about such things as the stock exchange and derivative markets. They would seemingly predict the future based on analytical market research and seemed to make market trends appear like a basic math equation. Now it is my turn. Having been studying during some of the most influential worldwide catastrophes of modern time, I consider myself lucky. While such happenings as the US mortgage crisis,

the bailout of both Ireland and Greece, and the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull virtually crippled the global economy for a significant period of time, it provided a large amount of quality material for which I was able to learn and research about global economies, worldwide happenings, and analyze and interpret real world situations. In other words, I was able to fuel a hobby of mine. The truth is that I truly have a passion for International Business. We have successfully adapted to life in the United States. In fact, my grandparents were raised here, and my mother and father were born and raised here. We have adapted so well, that “Bermeo” has become associated with some less than desirable synonyms along the way. We tend to be unadventurous and are afraid to leave our comfort zones. In addition, we tend to fear change. I feel that our European heritage is one to embrace, and a large portion of our success can be traced back to our willingness to change and innovate accordingly in order to survive and continue our growth. I would like nothing more than to reunite my family with its strongly rooted morals, values and willingness to explore our endless options all while working with international professors to sharpen my skills in International Business at the University of Leeds. I pride myself on my ability to cope with change, and my appreciation for the world which we live in. With each new generation of Bermeo’s brings more success. We do not settle for less than we should, and we never will; we simply cannot. We are constantly changing, learning, and growing as a family enterprise. A Master’s degree from the University of Leeds in International Business would allow me to develop the skill set necessary to continue this growth and development as we prepare for the unsure future for which we are at the forefront. In addition, with the completion of my degree begins a new chapter in the Bermeo family. I will be the first male in my family to achieve such an honor. Such an accomplishment is necessary for my successors to continue to excel down the track of ultimate success as well. Leeds, which is home to a diverse student body and world-renowned Universities, is the perfect environment as I continue my education. I consider myself a well-read and well-traveled individual having spent six fantastic months in Leeds during a study abroad session through Rowan University. This is when I realized that Leeds will help me grow and develop as the businessperson I truly am. I spent my time embracing the rich culture, meeting people from around the world, and working with professors to broaden my outlook on various aspects of business. In addition, I was blessed with the ability to travel and explore mainland Europe where I was exposed to how many different high volume financial cities conducted business. Such cities include London, Scotland, Vienna, Salzburg, Dublin, Berlin, Munich, Prague, Tallinn, and many more. The sky is truly the limit. In today’s day and age, the sky is a limit that, with hard work, is within reach. The University of Leeds has the ability to help me reach the limit that I work so hard to achieve. Hard work and dedication are keys to my success thus far. International Business has shown me aspects of the world that I would not be familiar

with otherwise, and I am ready to embrace not only my culture and its deep rooted morals, but the hard road ahead of me as I seek out the ultimate prize; my Master’s degree.