1.1 Warm-up Exercises
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In This Section
A few quick ways to get you in the right headspace
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Read Time
~5 min
I call this section “warm-up exercises,” but that undersells them. They’re designed to get you out of your head and into the kind of open, honest mode that makes brainstorming exercises work better. A side effect: they’ll also help you practice saying true things about yourself, which is what a great personal statement asks you to do.
In a workshop? Your teacher, counselor, or facilitator will tell you which one to do. Working alone? Pick one — or just start with the first if you’re bad at decisions. 🙂
01
“I come from…”
02
“If you really knew me…”
Begin with the phrase “If you really knew me…” and share something you wouldn’t normally share. Be brave. Go as deep as you’re willing to go.
Working alone? Open a blank doc, type the phrase, and finish the sentence.
03
Gratitude check-in
Take turns sharing something you’re grateful for. The more specific and personal, the better.
Quick check-in: On a scale of 1–10, how honest were you just now? Worth a few seconds of reflection. Many of the best personal statements land in the 5–7 range on that scale.
Okay, on to brainstorming. →