Don't cook up grass when it was all grace

Dear Opportunity Hunters,The time has changed, and gone are the days of using only stories of poverty and hunger as the narrative in your statement of purpose or application essays. Am I saying you should deny your story?. No. I am saying that organizations are no longer giving out opportunities because you suffered the most out of all the applicants.While you can tell the stories of suffering and how you are deserving of great opportunities, most organizations still want to see what you have done—the initiatives you have and the value you plan to add to your chosen field of impact.I recently reviewed the application portfolio for a young man, and I saw lies all over his statement. This young man grew up in privilege and wealth, trying to tell a story of poverty and grass to win a scholarship. I had to ask him to use his advantaged background to tell a unique story and, above all, speak more about his actions and reflect on his academic journey. He had to confess after my feedback that he had always thought that "poverty" story sells. He got the scholarship without any "I suffer" story.What makes a story compelling and convincing to read is not necessarily the transition from poverty to plenty or grass to grace. A story can be persuasive and teach people lessons if it is only a story of grace. There is nothing terrible in acknowledging your advantage and privileges. It is insincere to make up grass stories where it was grace all through. Creating hunger stories in a story of abundance is robbery. There is power in abundance as well.A story is complete without the narratives of suffering, poverty and hunger. Tell the story the way it is.He gives understanding to the simple.Oluwaseun David ADEPOJU