How to Craft Your Essay for the Tardus Beach Volleyball Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

Your essay should encompass four key material buckets: background, achievements, the gap, and personality.

• Background: Consider your journey in beach volleyball. What experiences shaped your passion for the sport? Reflect on your upbringing, educational experiences, and any mentors who influenced you.
• Achievements: Identify specific accomplishments in beach volleyball and academics. Use metrics where possible—such as tournament rankings, team leadership roles, or academic honors—to demonstrate your commitment and success.
• The Gap: Reflect on what you lack and how further study will help you bridge that gap. Consider skills or knowledge you wish to acquire through your education that will enhance your contributions to beach volleyball or your community.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with personal anecdotes that reveal your values and character. What motivates you? What challenges have you overcome? These details will help humanize your application.

Outlining Your Essay

Organize your thoughts into a clear outline. Start with an engaging introduction that draws the reader in with a specific moment or experience related to beach volleyball. Follow with body paragraphs that explore each of the four buckets, ensuring each paragraph focuses on a single idea. Conclude with a strong closing that reflects on your aspirations and the impact the scholarship will have on your journey.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft, aim for an active voice that emphasizes your role in your achievements and experiences. Use specific examples and avoid vague statements. Each paragraph should transition smoothly to the next, maintaining a logical flow. Remember to reflect on the significance of your experiences—answer the “So what?” question at the end of major sections to emphasize their relevance.

Revision & “So What?”

After drafting, take a break before revising. This distance will help you view your essay with fresh eyes. Look for clarity, coherence, and engagement. Ensure that each section contributes to a unified narrative about your journey and aspirations. Ask yourself if every paragraph answers the “So what?” question and reinforces your candidacy for the scholarship.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be wary of clichés and generalities. Avoid opening with tired phrases or vague expressions of passion. Ensure your essay is authentic and specific to your experiences. Additionally, steer clear of passive voice and bureaucratic language; your essay should reflect your unique voice and story.