How to Craft Your Essay for the Stiles Corporation Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

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

• Background: Reflect on your personal history, including experiences that shaped your educational journey. Consider family influences, community involvement, and any challenges you have faced.
• Achievements: Identify significant accomplishments that demonstrate your skills and commitment. Use metrics or specific outcomes to illustrate your impact, such as projects completed, leadership roles held, or community service hours contributed.
• The Gap: Acknowledge what you currently lack in your educational journey and how the scholarship will help you bridge that gap. Be specific about your goals and how further study aligns with your career aspirations.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with personal details that humanize your narrative. Share your values, interests, and motivations to give the committee insight into who you are beyond your achievements.

Outlining Your Essay

Once you have gathered your material, create an outline to organize your thoughts. A typical structure might include:

1. Introduction: Start with a concrete moment or scene that captures your journey or a pivotal experience.
2. Body Paragraphs: Dedicate each paragraph to one of the four buckets, ensuring you reflect on how each element contributes to your overall narrative.
3. Conclusion: Reinforce your commitment to your goals and how the scholarship will help you achieve them.

Drafting Voice and Style

When drafting your essay, use an active voice and clear, concise language. Avoid clichés and vague statements; instead, focus on specific examples that illustrate your points. Each paragraph should center around one main idea, with transitions that guide the reader through your narrative.

Revision and “So What?”

After completing your first draft, take a break before revising. Read your essay with fresh eyes and ask yourself, “So what?” after each major point. Ensure that every section of your essay clearly conveys its significance and contributes to your overall argument for why you deserve the scholarship.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

As you finalize your essay, be mindful of these common mistakes:

• Avoid starting with generic statements or clichés that do not add value to your narrative.
• Steer clear of vague language; instead, provide specific details and metrics where applicable.
• Do not overlook the importance of proofreading for grammar and clarity.