Scholarship / A personal life experience with the lessons and experience you gained from it; scholarship essay [2]

Question: Describe a personal life experience that has had particular significance for you and highlight the reason(s) it was significant, whether it had an impact on others, and any insights or understandings you gained from it. (800 word maximum)

I had no idea how much altering the environment might affect a gathering of individuals. This was a common experience for me in both my head student role and my basketball adventure. Before every game in a team sports event, I would take the initiative to bring my squad around for a pep talk. This was noteworthy in part because it required me to get out of my comfort zone and interact with students whom I didn't know well. Our basketball team needed this because we didn't have a strong team dynamic and everyone was acting independently, missing a sense of community. During practices, some people wore headphones, while others used their phones, some people even arrived to practice thirty minutes late. I've since realized that in order for this team to come close to doing anything, a change is necessary.

It was uneasy at first. I don't have to do this, my mind keeps telling me. "What if they don't listen? What if they don't care?" is all it says. My mind is making up these own fantasies, so why not ask myself, "What if they listen? What if they care?" It's these hypothetical questions that motivate me to take action. I begin by introducing myself to students and getting to know them better by posing straightforward questions like "What's your name?" and "How long have you been playing for?" that genuinely foster a feeling of being a part of. Gradually, a feeling of community was established. I recalled that instead of implementing significant changes, we begin with tiny ones-marginal gains-that eventually add up to a bigger shift. As I got to know them better, I started some enjoyable basketball games at the conclusion of practices. Of these, I'm most pleased of the one in which a player makes both free throws and the team is spared from having to run. I can still picture those identical expressions and those applauses for their teammate who was in 'danger'. "You got this, let the ball fly, trust yourself," are some of the statements that demonstrate how I have helped the squad members feel like they belong.

Every practice ended with an "after pep talk," in which I gathered the entire team to discuss my thoughts on the practice that day, including what went well and what could be improved. Before, when the bell came, they would simply head to the locker room, grab their change, and head home without saying goodbye-as if heading to practice was a duty. Since the sense of community has been built, none of this ever happens again, and they all know that this talk is a must. During our talk, I was particularly pleased with them for the times when they spoke up and offered their ideas-especially the more reserved ones-because it demonstrates that they genuinely care about our team.

This led to our team placing second in the Ho Chi Minh Basketball Championship and taking first in a charity competition. In the end, we performed as a team, stayed in sync, and coordinated plays and strategies. Surprisingly, it was the quieter players who approached the players at the end of the championship and said, "Get in, we have something to say," rather than me who rallied the team. It is evident that I have had an influence on them since, contrary to what previously seemed inconceivable, other people are now taking the initiative.

This has taught me that a leader is not someone who is in charge and issues directives; rather, a leader is someone whose main objective is to bring out the best in each member of an organization so that everyone is working toward a common objective. Additionally, it fosters a sense of community and trust since players know how to support one another when their opponents criticize one another. They did this because they knew the other player would do the same for them. A leader holds that anyone may be a leader, that there is no such thing as a hierarchy, and that each person's function is equally important. To make a change is to take initiative, to be courageous enough to step out of their comfort zone to help the team achieve greater success.

1) is it too long?
2) was it answering the question?
Thanks for reviewing this and I would appreciate a lot of your help

Scholarship / Personal Statement about leadership and goals for scholarship [2]

Question: Please provide a personal statement that explains why you are an exceptional candidate for the ... scholarship. Your statement must speak to your personal or professional goals, leadership skills, commitment to volunteer work and/or extracurricular activities. 3000 character limit.

'There is a time to let things happen, and a time to make things happen.' Quoted from Hugh Prather, an American writer.I have adopted this quotation as my motto in recent years, and it has mostly shown to be accurate in my life.

This quote was prevalent in my basketball journey where before, my basketball team was lacking a sense of community and everyone was acting independently. During practices, some people wore headphones, while others used their phones, some people even arrived to practice thirty minutes late. I've since realized that in order for this team to come close to doing anything, a change is necessary. And I have to be the one to initiate action.

I began asking simple questions that actually encourage a sense of community, such "What's your name?" and "How long have you been playing for?" Moreover, I started holding team meetings and pep talks before and after drills and games so that we could evaluate our performance. Our team finished second in the Ho Chi Minh City basketball championship as a result, and to my surprise, the more reserved players spoke up at the end and called a team meeting, illustrating the full scope of my influence in this situation. Even though I know I didn't have to, I can't help but feel bad about the amount of unrealized potential this team have. I used to let things happen, but these days I make things happen.

In my work as Head Student, the fallacy of waiting for the proper moment has helped me to see things more clearly. Our house finished third out of the four before Christmas 2023 because I let the pupils do their own work in the hopes that they would gain house points on their own without any encouragement, motivation, or awareness of events that qualify for house points. Following that, I assigned my student mentors the responsibility of organizing a weekly tutor quiz for house points and promoting Global Campus projects. We placed first in January 2024 as a result of the successful promotion of a culture of earning house points, particularly through assembly speeches and frequent form-time visits with students to strengthen our bonds.

I will keep reminding myself of this quotation since it will be useful in the future and help me achieve my career goal of working in the finance industry. I am excited to use what I have learned in this subject to my real life and am eager to continue learning by taking the initiative and acting without waiting for instructions. I can assist myself and businesses in gaining a better understanding of how the market and businesses function by conducting transparent and reliable information collection and analysis. While I'm willing to step outside of my comfort zone to grow as a person and as an organization, my interpersonal skills will be crucial in the social aspects of teamwork and meeting new people. One of my long-term goals is to launch my own company and become financially independent, and this will help me get there.

1) Does it address all parts of the question?
2) Are there any unnecessary parts?
3) What should I do to better improve it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated:)