Think About Yourself… What matters the most to you in your future life? What are you most proud about in your present life?

Step 1A: Brainstorm Focus on what you want to be later in your life: What are your dreams and aspirations? What is your purpose in life? What are your goals for the type of life you’ll live? Do you want to be an example to your siblings or community? Brainstorm your answers to these questions. Don’t edit yourself. Just write.

Step 1B: Tell a Story UC Prompt 1: Describe the world you come from – for example, your family, community, or school (pick one) – and tell how your world influenced you to want the future you desire. What helped to shape your dreams and aspirations? The more straightforward prompt (answer this): Tell what you want to be or do in your life and why. Write non-stop for 20 minutes; force yourself to keep telling the story about what you want to be and why.

Step 2: What makes you proud? UC Prompt 2: Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are? This time I want you to write non-stop for 15 minutes; just tell the story of that one thing that makes you proud of the person you are right now.

You’ve finished the hard part Believe it or not… That's it! You've just written a rough draft for your personal statement/college application essay! Later you will refine it further, but you’ve done the hard part.