How to Craft Your Essay for the Austin Ekern Memorial Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

To create a compelling essay, gather material from the following four buckets:

• Background: Reflect on your personal history. What experiences have shaped your identity and educational journey? Consider family, community, and cultural influences.
• Achievements: List your accomplishments, both academic and extracurricular. Focus on measurable outcomes, such as leadership roles, community service hours, or awards received.
• The Gap: Identify areas where you seek growth. What skills or knowledge do you need to develop further? Articulate why further study at FSU is essential for your future.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with personal details that reveal your character. What values drive you? What unique perspectives do you bring?

Outlining Your Essay

Once you have gathered your material, create an outline. A strong essay typically follows this structure:

1. Introduction: Start with a specific moment or scene that captures your journey. Avoid generic statements and instead open with a vivid description that engages the reader.
2. Body Paragraphs: Dedicate each paragraph to one of the four buckets. Use the STAR method to detail achievements and challenges, ensuring each paragraph has a clear focus and logical flow.
3. Conclusion: Reflect on how the scholarship will impact your future. What commitments will you make to give back to your community or field of study?

Drafting Voice

As you draft, maintain an active voice and specific language. Avoid vague phrases and clichés. Instead of saying, “I have always wanted to help others,” illustrate a specific instance where you made a difference. This not only shows your passion but also provides evidence of your commitment.

Revision & “So What?”

After drafting, take time to revise. Focus on clarity and coherence. Read your essay aloud to catch awkward phrasing and ensure it flows well. Ask yourself, “So what?” for each section. Does it clearly convey your message? Does it reflect your growth and aspirations? Seek feedback from peers or mentors who can provide constructive criticism.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of these common mistakes:

• Using clichés or overly broad statements.
• Failing to provide specific examples or metrics.
• Neglecting to connect your experiences to the scholarship’s goals.
• Overcomplicating language; keep it clear and concise.