1. Introduction: Personal Background and Motivation

• Who are you? Briefly introduce yourself, including your name, hometown, and cultural background.

• What drives you? Share a personal anecdote or experience that ignited your passion for your chosen field of study.

• Why Waikato? Explain why you have chosen the University and how it aligns with your academic and career goals.

Example: "Growing up in Papamoa, I developed a deep appreciation for environmental conservation, which inspired me to pursue a degree in Environmental Science at the University of Waikato, renowned for its commitment to sustainability."

2. Academic Achievements and Career Aspirations

• Academic Excellence: Highlight your NCEA Level 2 and 3 results, including any Merit or Excellence endorsements.

• Career Goals: Outline your short-term and long-term career objectives.

• Alignment with Scholarship: Discuss how your academic achievements and goals align with the scholarship's criteria.

Example: "Achieving Excellence endorsements in both Biology and Chemistry has solidified my aspiration to become a biomedical researcher, contributing to advancements in healthcare."

3. Leadership and Community Involvement

• Leadership Roles: Detail any leadership positions held in school or community organizations.

• Community Service: Describe your involvement in community service or volunteer work.

• Impact: Reflect on how these experiences have shaped your personal growth and commitment to making a difference.

Example: "As the head of the school's environmental club, I led initiatives that reduced our school's carbon footprint, fostering a culture of sustainability among students."

4. Overcoming Challenges and Personal Growth

• Challenges Faced: Share any significant obstacles you've overcome, such as financial hardship, health issues, or personal setbacks.

• Resilience: Explain how you demonstrated resilience and what you learned from these experiences.

• Scholarship Relevance: Connect these experiences to the scholarship's emphasis on supporting students facing extraordinary personal circumstances.

Example: "Balancing part-time work to support my family while maintaining top grades taught me time management and perseverance, qualities I bring to my academic pursuits."

5. Conclusion: Future Contribution and Scholarship Impact

• University Contribution: Describe how you plan to contribute to the University community.

• Scholarship Impact: Explain how receiving the scholarship will support your academic journey and enable you to achieve your goals.

• Commitment: Reiterate your dedication to your field of study and your intent to give back to the community.

Example: "This scholarship will alleviate financial burdens, allowing me to focus on my studies and participate actively in university initiatives, ultimately enabling me to mentor future students from underrepresented backgrounds."

Additional Tips

• Authenticity: Be genuine and honest in your responses; let your true self shine through.

• Specificity: Provide concrete examples to illustrate your points.

• Clarity: Ensure your statement is well-organized and free of grammatical errors.

• Feedback: Seek input from teachers, mentors, or family members to refine your statement.

Remember this is just a guide, you don't have to follow it ' step by step' but it will help to get you started and piece together information about yourself. Make suer your answers cover the criteria of each scholarship.