You may be wondering; what is a vision statement? Why is it so personal?  If it's so personal, why do institutions ask for it? Does it increase my chances of getting that job?

Not to worry, we have the answers to all these questions. A personal vision statement is a brief summary of yourself and the goals that you want to attain. This summary should include the key attributes that will enable you to achieve your end goals. There is really no perfect way to write a personal statement since this is a document that varies according to what it is being used for. However, there are a few things you should include to ensure it comes out outstanding.

1.    Who are you?

The first thing that you should include in your personal statement is who you are. You want to give off the impression that you are aware of your interests, abilities, strengths, skills;  and that you are an impeccable candidate for that job, that school or that internship. However, avoid clichés and generic information, remember this is personal, there are no cheat codes. In addition to that, do not mention your flaws. I am not saying be over the top but it is advisable to refrain from portraying your weaknesses to your superiors. Lastly, do not include unnecessary personal information, I promise mentioning your five CATS will not get you in.

2.    What can you offer?

What do you have that they will benefit from? What are you bringing on the table? As much as this statement is about you, at the end of the day it is really about them and what they can gain from hiring or accepting you into their institution. That being said, sell yourself. Why you? Include skills and abilities that are relevant to the job or the course. If the job needs somebody with leadership skills, be exactly that. Put down previous work experiences or hobbies you have participated in in the past that showed that you can be a team leader. Use your past experiences to express your ideal candidacy.

3.    Why do you want this spot?

 Why does this role appeal to you? How are your goals aligned to this job or school? You want to look goal- oriented and focused. For this reason, you should include your goals and your ambitions in the personal statement. Aside from that, you should also let them know why you applied for this position. Why them? Linking these two will let them know that you know what you want. This is an exchange, help them help you.

4.    Be concise and grammatically correct.

This should go without saying. The way in which you write your personal statement is incredibly important. Do not lie or exaggerate, they will probably find out later. Be sure to use a professional tone, avoid grammatical errors, use consistent tense and be coherent. Make the statement easy to read and understand. Speak highly of yourself but don't be flamboyant. Remember that this is a PERSONAL statement. Avoid using generic templates and being vague. Customize this statement depending on what you are applying for and relax as you do this, don't think too much into it.

Many international colleges and universities desire every student to have a precise Personal Vision Statement. Whether you are studying locally or abroad, or pursuing any other post school option, it’s advisable to have it at hand! It is also a great basis for your CV.
I learned this through the career readiness course!  CAREER AND COLLEGE READINESS COURSE is an online transitional course for youth leaving high school into life after high school. The course is designed to impart skills to anyone aspiring to join tertiary education or any post-secondary training locally or internationally and other post high school options available. It is able to answer questions like; Who am I? What next after high school?  What are the different types of post high school options? What is College success? What if I don't go to college? The course takes Four (4) Weeks and has interactive activities to enrich your learning experiences. It helped me discover unlimited possibilities!

Mugure Waithaka is a 1st year student taking English and Creative Writing