How to Craft Your Essay for the Eric Maurice Brandon Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

To create a well-rounded essay, gather material across four key areas:

• Background: Identify formative experiences that shaped your values and goals. Consider family influences, education, and community involvement.
• Achievements: List significant accomplishments, focusing on metrics and outcomes. Highlight leadership roles, projects, or initiatives where you made a measurable impact.
• The Gap: Reflect on areas where you seek growth. What skills or knowledge do you lack that this scholarship will help you acquire? Be specific about how further education aligns with your career aspirations.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with personal anecdotes that reveal your character. Share moments of resilience, empathy, or insight that illustrate your commitment to making a difference.

Structuring Your Essay

Begin with a captivating opening that draws the reader in. Use a specific moment or experience rather than a general statement. Each paragraph should focus on one main idea, ensuring a logical flow from one section to the next. For example, transition from your background to achievements by explaining how your past experiences led to your current successes.

Drafting Voice and Reflection

As you draft, maintain an active voice. Use concrete language that conveys your experiences and insights. After each significant point, reflect on its importance—answer the “So what?” question. This reflection demonstrates your self-awareness and the impact of your experiences on your future goals.

Revision and “So What?”

Once your draft is complete, take a break before revising. This distance will help you view your work objectively. Look for clarity and coherence, ensuring each section contributes to the overall narrative. Check that your reflections answer the “So what?” for each major point, reinforcing how your experiences connect to your aspirations.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of clichés and vague expressions. Avoid starting with phrases like “From a young age” or “I have always been passionate about.” Instead, focus on specific experiences. Also, ensure every claim is backed by evidence; avoid empty declarations of passion without concrete examples. Lastly, never invent facts or embellish your achievements; authenticity is crucial.