How to Craft Your Essay for the Michelle A. Lawless Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

To create a compelling essay, gather material across four key areas:

• Background: Reflect on your personal history and experiences that shaped your interest in environmental issues. Consider pivotal moments, such as volunteer work, educational experiences, or personal challenges.
• Achievements: Identify specific accomplishments related to your environmental interests. Use metrics or outcomes to illustrate your impact, such as projects completed, initiatives led, or awards received.
• The Gap: Consider what you currently lack in terms of knowledge or experience and how further education at Broward College will help you bridge that gap. Be specific about your academic and career goals.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with personal anecdotes that reveal your values and passions. This will help the committee connect with you on a human level.

Outlining Your Essay

Structure your essay to ensure clarity and logical flow. A suggested outline could include:

1. Introduction: Start with a vivid scene or moment that illustrates your connection to environmental issues.
2. Background: Discuss your formative experiences and how they led you to pursue environmental studies.
3. Achievements: Highlight your relevant accomplishments, using specific examples and metrics.
4. The Gap: Explain what you hope to learn at Broward College and how it will help you achieve your goals.
5. Conclusion: Reflect on your commitment to making a difference and how the scholarship will enable you to contribute to environmental solutions.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft your essay, maintain an active voice and use specific language. Avoid vague statements and clichés. Instead of saying you are passionate about the environment, illustrate your passion through concrete examples and experiences. Each paragraph should focus on a single idea, with transitions that guide the reader through your narrative.

Revision & “So What?”

After drafting, take a step back to revise your essay. Ask yourself: What changed in you through these experiences? Why does it matter? Ensure that each section of your essay answers the “So what?” question, demonstrating the significance of your journey and how it relates to your future goals.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of these common mistakes:

• Avoid clichés and generic statements that do not add value to your narrative.
• Do not use passive voice when an active subject exists; this weakens your writing.
• Ensure all facts and experiences are truthful and verifiable. Do not embellish your accomplishments.
• Steer clear of overly complex language or bureaucratic phrasing; clarity is key.