The CLE Writing Center hosted a Workshop on the topic of “Personal Statements”, attracting over 100 students to hear tips on how to accentuate the importance of themselves as both a person and a student. Matthew Jellick, who was the presenter, talked about the ability of “identifying a theme” in your narrative, and how you can use that to bridge past, present, and future personal and academic goals into a story which highlights strengths, but also gives credence to overcoming obstacles, too.
The CLE Writing Center offers one-on-one support for students (or faculty) who need assistance with writing Personal Statements. So, hosting a workshop on this topic was a natural choice, and the large turnout underscored the importance of this key piece of writing which oftentimes solidifies student acceptance to graduate school or internship opportunities. Going forward, we will continue to offer personalized help as well a extended workshops, believing that words have power, and how we use them can help shape our future.