You may want to start directly with a retelling of a key past experience or the moment you realized a life lesson. It can be a poetic or powerful way to start your essay and engage your reader right away. An anecdote is a very short story that carries moral or symbolic weight.Begin your essay with a hook that will draw the reader in, such as a striking anecdote or fact that relates to your experience. Both of these thesis statements are good because they tell your readers exactly what to expect in clear detail.For example, “Growing up surrounded by my mother’s traditional cooking and cultural habits that have been passed down through the generations of my family, I realized I wanted to discover and honor the traditions of other, ancient cultures with a career in archaeology.” You can also phrase your thesis in terms of lessons you have yet to learn, or seek to learn through the program you are applying for.For example, “Although growing up in foster care in a troubled neighborhood was challenging and difficult, it taught me that I can be more than my upbringing or my background through hard work, perseverance, and education.” Try to phrase your thesis in terms of a lesson learned.It acts a road map for your paper and should answer the question, “What is this essay about?” It should show that you have thought about your experience you are going to share and have drawn conclusions from your reflections. A thesis statement will convey to your reader the points or arguments you are going to make in your essay, including the theme of the essay. If you are writing a life story for a specific school assignment, such as in a composition course, ask your teacher about the assignment requirements.īrainstorm your thesis statement.Your essay should show you can create a meaningful piece of writing that interests your reader, conveys a unique message, and flows well. The essay will also show the admissions committee how well you can write and structure an essay.Your essay allows you to make your application unique and individual to you, through your personal story. Your transcript, your letters of recommendation, and your resume will provide an overview of your work experience, interests, and academic record. If you are writing a personal essay for a college application, it should serve to give the admissions committee a sense of who you are, beyond the basics of your application file.The essay should tell the reader what is important to you, what your values are, and any life experiences that influenced the way you experience the world. An autobiographical essay, also called a personal narrative essay, should tell the reader about your life, personality, values and goals.