About Those Essays...

When I was in junior high, one of my sisters, a student at Bowling Green State University, decided to study abroad. When I think about that time, I can still see the green of our lawn and smell the chlorine from the pool. I feel the cool shade of the woods and hear the cicadas purring in the evening air. It must have been late summer.

I remember her talking about the scholarships she applied for and how important it was to write a compelling essay—one that grabbed the reader's attention right from the start (she was a lit major, after all). Her “hook” was a story about our uncle untangling her from a fishing net after he returned from his own study abroad trip. That small act of heroism sparked her curiosity about the world.

The story is the key.

A good story is what pulls people in. My first blog post is a good example. My dream had nothing to do with the overall message, but I was able to tie it all together. When writing my scholarship essay I wrote:

"There is a ring my grandmother always wore—a swirl of pearls mounted on gold leaves. When I was little, I believed it was from Italy, a purchase made by my world- traveling grandmother. When she died, the ring came to me. Today, it serves as a reminder of who she was: a woman who explored the world, refusing to let her gender or roles limit her potential. She created an example I strive to follow."

Making Noodles with Grandma- around 1998

I then went on to tell a little more about her story and then I shifted to my own:

“Today, like my grandmother, I am a young wife and mother. I love being a mom, but like my grandmother, I know ‘mother’ is not my only identity. I grew up as the sixth child of thirteen, and when I graduated high school, I didn’t have the opportunity to receive financial support for my education. While my grandmother set an educational precedent that defied her age, neither of my parents went to college. Slowly and steadily, as finances have allowed, I have been working toward my bachelor’s degree in fine arts. At almost thirty-three years old, my age, experiences, and my grandmother’s legacy have built in me the stamina to keep moving forward.”

The Heart of a Strong Essay

That’s what makes a strong scholarship essay—your story, told with sincerity. Of course, scholarships like the Gilman also ask for specific things: what program you’re joining, how it aligns with your goals, and—very importantly—why you need financial support.

Let me say this clearly: do not be afraid to explain your financial situation. These scholarships exist to remove barriers. If finances are a barrier for you, tell them. That’s not a weakness—it’s reality for many of us, and it’s why scholarships like these matter.

And when you finish your essay, try to return to where you began. Tie it all together. Here’s how I closed mine:

“As I look forward to one day being a wife and a mother and an artist and a teacher, all roles I find exciting, I live in the now, wearing my grandmother’s pearl ring. My mother tells me it is actually Moroccan, but I like the mystery that swirls behind its origins. Perhaps it was my grandmother herself who once told me it was Italian. Whether it’s Italian or Moroccan, bought in either location where my grandmother walked, the ring—and her memory—serve as a constant reminder that life is meant to be lived. Someday, the ring will belong to my daughter. I hope the story of it, along with the example I strive to set, will inspire her and my three sons to live fearlessly and embrace all the opportunities life has to offer. It would be a powerful legacy.”

Final Advice

If you’re writing a scholarship essay, start with something true. Something personal. A story only you can tell. Connect it to your goals, your needs, and your hopes.

Be honest. Be specific. And above all—be yourself.

Hope this helps! Now… on to Italy!

Sincerely,

Rebekah O.