Developing and maintaining a relationship between yourself and future references will require an active effort throughout your career as a student. Equipping these references with the pieces of you they need to write an informed letter will take planning as each deadline draws closer. The rewards you gain from these efforts, whether entrance to graduate school or winning a Fulbright Fellowship, can be immense. The personal statement presents an opportunity for you to speak about yourself. Your essay should show that you have ideas and opinions, are able to think logically, and can express yourself clearly, with economy and elegance.
Clear writing is the result of clear thinking.
The first and most important task is to decide what you want to say. This is a short essay. You must be highly selective. Consider carefully what you wish to impress upon the reader. Remember the nature of your audience.