How to Write Your Essay for the Mollie Hazen Tucker Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

Organizing your thoughts into four key areas can help you create a well-rounded essay:

• Background: Reflect on your upbringing, education, and experiences that have shaped your identity. Consider how your connection to the Episcopal Diocese has influenced your life.
• Achievements: Identify specific accomplishments that demonstrate your leadership, commitment, and impact. Use metrics and outcomes to illustrate your contributions, such as community service hours or roles held in school organizations.
• The Gap: Acknowledge areas where you seek growth or improvement. Articulate why further study is essential for your development and how this scholarship will help bridge that gap.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with personal anecdotes that reveal your values and character. Highlight what makes you unique and how your experiences have prepared you to contribute to your community.

Creating an Outline

Once you have gathered your thoughts, create a structured outline. Start with an engaging opening that draws the reader in with a specific moment or scene. Follow with sections that address each of the four buckets, ensuring each paragraph has a clear focus and flows logically to the next. Conclude with a strong closing that reflects on your journey and future aspirations.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft your essay, maintain an active voice and use specific language that conveys your experiences authentically. Avoid clichés and vague statements. Instead of saying you are passionate about something, demonstrate it through concrete examples and reflections on how those experiences have shaped your path.

Revision and “So What?”

After drafting, take a step back and review your work critically. Ask yourself, “So what?” for each major point. Ensure that every section reflects not only what you have done but also what you have learned and how you intend to impact your community moving forward. This reflection will deepen the significance of your narrative.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of several common mistakes:

• Avoid starting with generic statements or clichés.
• Steer clear of passive voice; always identify the actor in your sentences.
• Do not include invented facts or embellishments; authenticity is key.
• Ensure your essay is cohesive, with each paragraph supporting your overall narrative.