ABout share your story*

Update:

The Share Your Story submission deadline has passed. Low-income students have submitted over 4,500 college essays. We are currently reading and judging the essays, and will select the eight most excellent submissions for scholarship awards and the top 150 for publication in the Share Your Story book. Students will be notified of scholarship awards via email and funds will be disbursed in late 2011/early 2012. Students will be notified if their essay is a finalist for book publication in the spring of 2012. 

Inception:

The idea for Share Your Story was borne from my college counseling work at a public high school in South Central Los Angeles. While helping seniors brainstorm for college essays, I discovered that most of my students had no idea how to answer or structure typical college application essay questions about their lives, dreams, inspirations and accomplishments. The many existing “How To” essay books commonly include personal statements by students from high socioeconomic backgrounds about topics that were foreign to my students. Once the writing process evolved, my students’ essays told stories of their lives – funny, sad, terrifying, challenging, and inspiring. They all ended with the same theme – the students’ goals were to attend college and forever change their futures.

Mission:

I realized that I was in one of thousands of schools across the country filled with students of different cultural backgrounds but similar demographics. A compilation book of the top college essays written by these students, as well as a brief bio of each young author will provide a valuable, inspiring reference resource for students and educators. Aware of these students’ need for college funds, I included a scholarship component with the program.

Feel free to contact me with any questions via our email address:

Questions@ShareYourStoryEssays.com 

Sincerely, 

Julia Moody Share Your Story, Los Angeles