Some tips for your presentation
We know that the air of youth has gathered many plans in your soul and this is a time to take steps to turn them into reality. We have gathered for you successful texts and informed advice so that the writing of your story is easy, and in the end we can enjoy together its coherence and relevance. Our advice is that the length of the text should be around 200-250 words and we further reveal tips & tricks that will make it easier for you to organize your ideas:
1. Introduction
As in any informative text, whether an academic essay or a journalistic writing, the first sentence must inform the audience what it is about and what will follow. So, in the first sentence of the presentation, say who you are and where you are going.
a) ‘My name is Damian Stan and I am from Baia Mare. I graduated high school this year and am going to study at University of Aberdeen, UK. At the Baccalaureate Exam I obtained a grade of 9.83, with a grade of 10 in Organic Chemistry and I want to study in the Biochemistry program. '
b) ‘Mă numesc Ionuț Buciuman și anul acesta am terminat clasa a 12-a la Colegiul Național “Vasile Lucaciu” din Baia Mare. Aș dori să îmi continui studiile în inginerie la University of Manchester, unde am fost acceptat după ce am obținut 9.80 la bacalaureat la matematică și fizică.’
2. The personal story: a memory, an anecdote, a revelation
This is a very important part of the presentation. Here you have the opportunity to arouse emotions, interest and curiosity in those who will know you, potential financiers. To generate empathy, sympathy and the desire to be supported, tell your story in a personal way. Connect the dream of studying abroad with a story started long time ago, a personal story that made you develop a curiosity in the chosen field of study, a revealing moment when you realised that you are fit for these studies, a problem / social dilemma that affects you and that you can solve through these studies, etc.
a) ‘My passion for mathematics started as a child and is related to the very close relationship I had with my parents and the childhood games I played with my father. For example, when building a puzzle, I calculated the probability of choosing the correct piece in a single move. In the fifth grade, our family's situation changed radically with my father's death from cancer. Although even now I could not understand why this had to happen to us, the advice he gave me remained with me, such as always following my passions and the results will come as well. Thus, from the fifth grade, I started to participate in the Mathematics Olympiad, where I took prizes at local and county level, and in the seventh and eighth grades I took the first prize at the County Center of Excellence in Mathematics. In the tenth grade I even managed to get the Bronze medal at the Mathematics Olympiad, the country phase. At the same time I discovered my passion for Informatics, participating in the County Informatics Olympiad during high school’ (Adelin Stanca)
b) ‘Throughout high school I focused on helping the community I was part of, leading teams and charities, such as founding and maintaining the Interact Bucharest Cișmigiu club or leading cultural projects for young people within ARCEN. I joined the One World Romania organisation out of the desire to understand the real problems in the world, beyond my horizon. Educationally, I found a good place to study at the Paleologu House, a private educational foundation, where I study philosophy, the history of religions, political science, classical art and dialectics. I was also selected in the Aspire Academy program in 2017, named the most prestigious and selective entrepreneurship and leadership program in Romania, where so far I am involved in supporting young people with potential. In 2018, I was selected in the Oxford for Romania program, a holistic program for eminent Romanian students who are offered a special perspective on student life at a top educational institution. (Luca Onică)
c) ‘My first contact with geography, as I know it, was vexillology, the discipline that studies flags. I remember that, from the time I was a child, everything that was colorful seemed to catch my eye. In high school I was involved in an online quiz about flags with a few colleagues and, after that, through competitiveness, I managed to train my visual thinking by remembering the flags of all countries. At the same time, this aroused a constant curiosity for geography and now I could say that I have developed an indisputable passion for the whole subject. During high school I participated in various editions of school competitions and Olympics, and in the twelfth grade I won a Special Prize at the National Geography Olympiad and participated in the dam for the national team.' (Oliviu Hetea)
3. Why is the university you chose important for continuing your personal story?
Now we know your story, you showed us the path that brought you to this point. Here is a foray into the future. "Draw" the direction you want your story to follow and tell us what the desired outcome looks like. We are curious to find out how the study and the chosen university will help to continue this story and how it turns into a successful one, in your vision.
a) ‘Taking these passions to the next level, studying in London at Imperial College, is a huge opportunity for my career, but also an opportunity to follow the advice offered by my father as a child’ (Adelin Stanca)
b) ‘University of Manchester offers me the ideal environment to develop both personally and academically because I was looking for an university in Romania where I could study what I wanted, but, unfortunately, there is no such possibility at the moment. And all that stands in my way is the lack of money.' (Ionuț Buciuman)
4. What do you need to follow your dream?
This is when you invite the reader / audience to be a part of your story. What do you need for your story to come to life and for the dream to come true? And how can you be supported?
a) ‘Although the tuition fee is borne by the University, I have no source of income to be able to cover my costs with accommodation, food and transport and for these I need your support’ (Adelin Stanca)
b) ‘Even though tuition is not paid in Scotland, the costs of a student in the UK are high, which my family cannot afford to cover. I'm motivated to make a living in Scotland through part-time jobs outside of school hours but I still have a difference I can't cover. This funding will help me fulfill my dream and live my future for which the only obstacle would be money.' (Damian Stan)
c) ‘Continuing my story requires a sum of money that, unfortunately, I cannot afford. My dream can be secured by a financial fund necessary for my departure to study in Manchester which I hope I can obtain with your help. This financial support will provide me with the foundation on which I will begin to build over the next four years through work, study and the same passion for geography.’ (Oliviu Hetea)
So it's important to connect emotionally with those who read your story, that's why you need to write something personal, with a relevant example from your life, to show your pragmatic side, provide concrete information (figures, measurable results, clear objectives) and demonstrate that you have the notion of the impact you can generate.
Some donors are eager to support when it resonates with your personal story, others when they can measure the added value you can have in your future career, and others want to "see" how you can contribute to society and how you will integrate the concept of pay it forward.
We look forward to getting to know you better, good luck!
The Adoptamstudenti.ro team
A text by Larisa Sonieru and Carmen Dumitrescu
