You Are the Perfect You

When writing your personal essay, you want to project your true self.  Be real.  You are an expert on yourself.  You can change the way that you act and the way that you react to others, BUT your physical characteristics make up the perfect you. My philosophy is that if you are kind to others and smile a lot,  you will be considered a beautiful person.

$40,000 Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship

This is the Cadillac of scholarships!!!  If you are an exceptional student and given of yourself to others, you might qualify for this amazing award. Please check with me if you would like some coaching.

Deadline on Monday!!

You still have time to apply for the Democratic Women of the Desert.  Can you use $500?  They are awarding FIVE $500 scholarships.  

Special Note for the Lecture Class

REMEMBER to bring your updated Portfolio to class on Tuesday, November 04, 2014.  This is worth a hundred (100) points of the final grade.  In other words, you must have your updated Portfolio in on time or forfeit full credit on your rubric.  (You might want to check your syllabus and rubric.)

Your Essay -- Putting the Pieces Together

The time has come to put all of the pieces together.  Time to write your complete 1st draft of your Personal Essay.  I started you off with the ending -- why are you the most deserving candidate? Unless you know why you should be selected for a scholarship, you won't be able to convince the judges.

The next very likely question on your scholarship application will be to describe why you are in college and how you were inspired to select your major.  (Who or what inspired you?)  Also, what are your short and long term goals?

The next very important question -- Have you had a bump in the road (a special challenge)?  Describe it.  What did you learn about yourself? Has that experience made you a better person and why?

Then, the first paragraph was the last assignment.  How do you "hook" the reader?  Without being theatrical, how do engage the person who is judging your paper?  What do you write to make her want to continue reading?  How does it relate to the rest of your writing?  You have heard me say over and over that the first paragraph needs to be POWERFUL.  Remember your story needs to be interesting.  You want the reader to say "WOW" when she completes the reading.

OK, it is time to get to work!  I'm not expecting a finished copy -- this is the first draft of the most important document in your scholarship application..  Give it serious thought and make it flow. Choose your words carefully; don't repeat words; be authentic; and speak from the heart.

This assignment is for both sections of the Scholarship Class --  Section 8316 (Lecture) and 8318 (Online).  Create it in a WORD document.  Please email to eandrews@dc.rr.com.  The deadline is Wednesday, November 05, 2014.

Tips to Consider When Writing Your Personal Essay

While reading an article which was NOT about writing a Personal Statement, I picked up some tips that might help you when writng your essay.

• Go against the normal order of things. When your audience can anticipate what you are going to say next, it becomes uninteresting.
• When writing create a bit of suspense.
• Cliches make for boring reading.
• Speak the truth--be authentic.  Be true to yourself.
• Share what you feel not what you think.
• How did something smell, taste or sound?
• Describe how something looked.
• Speak from your heart.

What's Your Excuse?

This is a long video, but well worth taking the time to listen.  Your assignment before you view this powerful message by Kyle Maynard is to write two to three paragraphs on what is keeping you from applying for at least two scholarships a week.  What is keeping you from  completing your assignments on time?  If you are in the lecture class, what is keeping you from getting to class on time or having perfect attendance?

Please submit your response via email -- eandrews@dc.rr.com -- due on Wednesday, November 5, 2014