Crafting Your Essay for the Lorri and Gary Reddick Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

Organize your thoughts into the four material buckets: background, achievements, gap, and personality.

• Background: Reflect on experiences that have shaped your educational journey. Consider family, community, or significant events that influenced your decision to attend Stetson University.
• Achievements: Identify key accomplishments in your academic and extracurricular life. Use specific metrics or outcomes to illustrate your impact, such as leadership roles, projects completed, or awards received.
• The Gap: Acknowledge any challenges or gaps in your experience that you hope to address through further study. Articulate how the scholarship will help bridge these gaps and enhance your educational pursuits.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with personal details that reveal your values and character. Share anecdotes or moments that showcase your resilience, creativity, or commitment to community service.

Outlining Your Essay

Once you have gathered material from the four buckets, create an outline for your essay. Start with an engaging opening that draws the reader in, such as a specific moment that highlights your journey. Follow with sections that logically flow from your background to your achievements, addressing the gap, and concluding with your personality. Each section should build upon the last, creating a cohesive narrative.

Drafting Voice and Structure

When drafting your essay, maintain an active voice and focus on clarity. Each paragraph should center around one main idea, supported by specific examples. Use transitions to guide readers through your narrative. Avoid clichés and generalizations; instead, focus on unique aspects of your experience that resonate with the scholarship's values.

Revision and the “So What?” Factor

After drafting, take a break before revising. Read your essay critically, asking yourself, “So what?” for each section. Ensure that your reflections demonstrate growth and insight. Consider whether your narrative effectively communicates why you deserve the scholarship and how it aligns with your future goals.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

As you finalize your essay, be mindful of common pitfalls:

• Avoid vague statements and empty passion; support your claims with concrete examples.
• Steer clear of passive voice; use active verbs to convey your role in your achievements.
• Do not invent experiences or embellish details; authenticity is crucial in scholarship essays.