Everyone has a story to tell and a message to share. The challenge most people face is
getting that story and message out of your head and presenting it in a way that resonates
with your audience.
1. Understanding what a personal statement is
Ask three different experts what a personal statement is and you will most likely get three different responses. Are they structured? Need to work on a specific kind of topic? My preferred definition is:
A personal statement is a short, non-fiction, autobiographical book that is characterised by affinities and conversational ways, answering the crucial question – ‘what made you who you are today?’
2. Find compelling topics
The best essay topics are often very relevant. The stories themselves are unique to the author’s experiences, but there are universal truths that speak to us just below the surface: face fears, fall in love, overcome obstacles, and discover something
new. The most captivating personal statement deals with the emotions and events that occur in everyone’s life.
3. Start strong – Grab their attention
As with any kind of writing, it’s important to engage the reader from the very first line. The hook, and opening paragraph, should establish (or at least hint at) your essay’s topic and set the scene and tone.
I stood at the centre of the stage, immediately suppressing any urge to move by repeatedly telling myself, “No going back now”.
4. Create an outline
All it takes to make sense of a synopsis is to listen to someone struggling to tell a personal story. A lot of times the stories don’t seem to make any real sense. A switchback where the narrator says, “But wait, I have to say that part first!” is perplexing. Outlines help you organise your thoughts before putting them across as text. Consider the opening hook and the statements it makes, and outline the sequence of events or gifts that support it. Just like any good fictional story, your essay should have an ascending plot. Increase your stakes with each paragraph until you reach a climax or inflection point. Plan to add a conclusion that evokes the reader’s emotional response.
5. Focus
Avoid general topics. Your essay may be about racism, but you must explain it through the lens of an incident of great personal significance to you. What have you learned from your experience with racism? What does that mean for you as an individual?
With a childhood rooted in domestic violence, it was necessary for me to develop a story and characters to explain the importance of creating physical and verbal boundaries in a creative and engaging way for children aged 4 and above. STOP – A Helpful Book on Setting Boundaries aims to educate children on physical and verbal boundaries, with the proceeds going towards domestic violence charities.
6. Show, not tell
Your challenge is to evoke those sensations and emotions without saying them outright.
“The air was thick with salt, endless bodies of water all around. Dark clouds concealed the moon, obscuring every fragment of hope.”
Your description is intended to help the reader experience the ambiance with you.
7. Write a thought-provoking conclusion
Your essay should conclude with your own reflection and analysis. What did you learn? How did the event or idea you described change your life or your understanding of life? It is not enough to say, “And then it happened.”
Lastly, the most important aspect to a personal statement, which most seem to overlook, is to proofread. No matter how good your writing skills may be, it is always helpful to ask others to read your own work and ensure you’ve solidified your story.
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