Statement of Purpose Ending

I completed my first, second, and third drafts of my SOP today, with Robert's editing input. One goal of my essay is to simultaneously demonstrate that I am a mature, skilled, knowledgeable individual with a successful professional career who is yet aware that going into academic psychology, I am starting over as a student with much to learn. Making the last round of changes this evening, I decided that I didn't quite like the way the essay ended. I had referenced something about "contributing to the research" being done in the department, by which I meant being a valuable assistant but which sounded a bit too much like the language I used earlier to imply my interest in eventually contributing to psychological research as my career goal.

Sally: "I guess I can't rewrite this to say that I am eager to be their helpful minion."

Robert: "No, I think you would be better off leaving it out entirely. You want to come across as eager but not Igor."

Sally: "But I make a really good minion. My Igor impersonation scared my co-workers [at my summer job] with its power. Well, something they will have to wait to discover after they accept me into the program."

Robert: "Deputy henchman."

Sally: "Chief flunky."

Robert: "Assistant lackey."

Sally: "I want to be senior minion and have assistant lackeys of my own."