What? vs. Why?
Putting your college essay ideas to the test
I look down and see that I’m bleeding. The bully is laughing at me. His face is twisted and wrinkled as he howls. The lunch aid is across the basketball court, watching, observing. Do something. I try to hold back my anger but I’m trembling. Please help me! Instead she looks away. She won’t help me. No one will.
I worked with this student on their personal statement years ago and never forgot this decisive moment from their story.
Our brainstorming sessions started with the basic WHAT? of the story, which was how the student overcame being bullied in middle school.
Slowing down and digging into the sensory details of a specific instance of bullying enhanced the storytelling and revealed the larger significance of the story: The lunch aid who looked away!
That detail helped us identify WHY? the student wanted to tell this story. The experience wasn’t just about surviving being bullied but how that moment shaped the student’s character into someone who wouldn’t look away.
A great way to put your college essay ideas to the test is by identifying the WHAT? and WHY? for each story.
WHAT? = Plot/What is Happening
WHY? = Significance or “So, What?”
Why is the story important?
What does the window into your character reveal?
What is your mirror turn lamp? What will you shine forth?
Looking at the student essay example above, the WHAT? and WHY? would be:
WHAT? = Being bullied in middle school.
WHY? = I am not the type of person who looks away when others are in trouble.
Now you try!
Identify the WHAT? and WHY? (1-2 sentences each) for THREE story ideas.
Story Idea #1
WHAT? =
WHY? =
Story Idea #2
WHAT? =
WHY? =
Story Idea #3
WHAT? =
WHY? =
Do this exercise to help you determine not only WHY? each story is about but also find your WHY? to see if this is a story that needs to be told. How did this experience create a change in you?
I’d love to hear the WHAT? and WHY? of your story ideas. Feel free to comment below with your responses or message me directly!