PERSONAL STATEMENT POWER-UP

Introduction: Whether you're applying for internships, scholarships, jobs, or promotions, the ability to craft a compelling personal narrative is key. College admissions officers, scholarship application reviewers, and potential employers value candidates who can articulate their strengths, goals, and unique contributions clearly and authentically.

Your personal statement is your opportunity to stand out from the crowd and demonstrate what makes you uniquely valuable. This Fleischer Scholars Skillbuilder will help you develop the storytelling skills that successful professionals use throughout their careers to advocate for themselves and communicate their worth.

Your Task: Identify your top 3 strengths

Choose one of these scenarios to work with:

Option A - Internship Application: You're applying for a competitive summer internship program and need to write a 250-word personal statement that answers: "Why are you the ideal candidate for this program, and how will it help you achieve your goals?"

Option B - Scholarship Application: You're applying for a $5,000 scholarship and need to write a 250-word personal statement that answers: "Describe a challenge you've overcome and how it has prepared you for future success."

For either option, remember that the selection committee will read hundreds of applications, so yours needs to grab their attention immediately while showing your genuine passion and potential.

Step 1: Write down quick answers to these questions:

• What's one specific moment that sparked your interest in your chosen field? ( 1-2 sentences)

• What's one skill or quality that friends/family always mention about you? (1 word + brief example)

• What's one goal you're excited to achieve in the next 2 years? (1 sentence)

• What's one challenge you've overcome that taught you something valuable? (1-2 sentences)

Circle the answer that feels most authentic and energizing to you – this will be your "hook."

Step 2: Use the Challenge - Action - Result (CAR) method to write 4-6 sentences about your circled hook. (See our CAR graphic here.)

Challenge: What situation/problem/opportunity did you face? (1-2 sentences) 

Action: What specific steps did you take to overcome the problem or challenge and turn it into a growth experience? (2-3 sentences describing your actions, decisions, or approach) 

Result: What did you achieve or learn/discover about yourself? (1-2 sentences connecting to your future goals)

Keep it to 4-6 sentences total. Focus on being specific rather than perfect! Ensure you are using power words like achieved, developed, initiated, collaborated, overcame, or discovered.

Step 3: Add 1-2 sentences that answer:

• How does this experience connect to what you want to do in your internship/college/career?

• What specific value would you bring to this opportunity?

Read your complete mini-statement aloud to yourself. Does it sound like YOU talking, or like someone trying to impress people?

BONUS: Use this prompt with an AI tool to review your personal statement: 

"Please review my personal statement draft and suggest ways to make my examples more specific and my voice more authentic. Don't rewrite it - just give me feedback on clarity and impact."

Quickly review the AI suggestions and identify:

• One suggestion that would genuinely improve your statement

• One suggestion you disagree with (and why)

• Whether your authentic voice still comes through
  

Submit Your Response: Submit your document (or a link to it) that shares your mini statement.