How to Write a Winning Essay for the Charles N. Claar Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

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

• Background: Reflect on your personal history, including experiences that have shaped your interest in facility management. Consider family influences, educational experiences, or early jobs that sparked your passion.
• Achievements: List significant accomplishments related to facility management or leadership roles. Quantify your achievements with metrics or specific outcomes to illustrate your impact.
• The Gap: Identify any gaps in your current knowledge or skills that further education will address. Explain why this scholarship is essential for your academic and professional growth.
• Personality: Share personal anecdotes that reveal your values, work ethic, and commitment to the field. Specific stories can help humanize your application and make it memorable.

Outline Your Essay

Organize your thoughts into a clear outline. A suggested structure might include:

1. Introduction: Start with a compelling moment or experience that draws the reader in.
2. Background: Discuss your journey and what led you to pursue facility management.
3. Achievements: Highlight key accomplishments and their impact on your personal and professional development.
4. The Gap: Explain the need for further education and how this scholarship plays a crucial role.
5. Conclusion: Reflect on your aspirations and how you plan to contribute to the field of facility management.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft your essay, maintain an active voice and focus on clarity. Avoid jargon and ensure that each paragraph contains a single idea that supports your overall narrative. Use transitions to guide the reader through your essay logically. Remember to answer the “So what?” question in each section, reflecting on the significance of your experiences and choices.

Revision and “So What?”

After drafting, set your essay aside for a day or two before revising. During revision, check for clarity, coherence, and engagement. Ensure that each paragraph contributes to your overarching narrative. Ask yourself what insights you gained from your experiences and how they shape your future goals in facility management.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

When writing your essay, steer clear of the following:

• Using clichés or vague statements that lack specificity.
• Filling your essay with empty passion without concrete examples.
• Writing in passive voice; instead, use active voice to emphasize your role in your achievements.
• Including invented facts or details that cannot be verified.