Don’t Make These 3 Mistakes in the Introductory Paragraph
As you write your personal statement, you might be wondering how you should start your essay. First, let’s cover a few ways you shouldn’t start your essay:
1. Don’t start with a famous quote. This is too generic and overused.
2. Don’t mention that someone you know died.* It’s ok to touch on this later on in the essay — after all, it probably is a big reason that influenced your decision to become a PA. However, this is a theme that shows up again and again in personal statements, and you don’t want your personal statement to sound like everyone else’s.
3. Don’t be overly dramatic. Did you describe a scene where an ambulance’s lights are flashing and sirens are blaring? This might seem like an exciting, engaging way to start your personal statement, but remember that for the evaluators reading your essay, ambulances’ lights and sirens are probably run-of-the-mill. Did you perform CPR or the Heimlich maneuver and potentially save someone’s life? That’s great, but you don’t want to begin your personal statement by painting yourself as a hero.
Now that we’ve covered a few things to avoid in the introductory paragraph, here’s what I recommend instead. The first paragraph of your personal statement should engage the reader and draw them in. One of the best ways to do this is by telling an anecdote and setting the scene with a vivid description. Focus on the senses. How does it taste, touch, sound, smell, feel? Think of it like the opening scene of a movie (but again, make sure to avoid being overly dramatic).
Write a few different introductory paragraphs and see which one you like best. Imagine an evaluator reading each one and ask yourself, “Are they bored, or are they enjoying getting to know me? Am I making a good first impression?” You don’t have to commit to anything yet. Keep writing your personal statement, and as you do, it might become more clear how it should start. Stay tuned for more tips on how to turn your dream of becoming a PA into a reality!
*This is a tough subject, and one I have personal experience with, so I’m going to write another article that delves into this more — keep an eye out!