To focus your statement, choose an event or experience (for example a volunteer experience or collaborative project or difficult challenge you had to overcome) that had an impact on your goals or demonstrates how you will be a strong contributor to the college community. Describe what that event reveals about you. What did you learn? How has it affected you? Has it influenced your goals, values, or strengths? If you are discussing a challenge you faced, focus on how you dealt with it and what that says about your character and how you grew as a person. You want your essay to tell a story that reveals who you are and why you are special. Be sure to talk about how you fit into a community. How did the event affect your relationship with others? Be original—remember—admissions counselors read thousands of essays. Avoid clichés so you and your story stand out from the rest. Begin Writing As you write the statement, refer to the information you wrote in your Graded Assignment Organizers from Unit 1. Read what you wrote about your goals, values, strengths, weaknesses, mindset, personality type, and career interests. Also refer to the results of your Personality Assessment and Career Interest Assessment. The information you gathered earlier will help you determine what to include in your essay. Write about 250 to 300 words. Keep in mind that this is not a formal essay. It does not need to be perfect and polished. You should, however, proof read it carefully for proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.