When thinking about any competitive award, you must be able to express your why. When expressing this why, you want to go a few levels deep and really think about what you hope to gain from the experience or funding that you would not get elsewhere. What is the big (or small) question that you are hoping to answer? What kind of impact do you hope to have long term? How would this funding opportunity uniquely help you answer that question or give you the tools needed to be a change agent? In your essays, reviewers do not want to read a list of your accomplishments. Most awards require a résumé/CV. While it is tempting to list everything you have done, your essays should focus on specific experiences and how they’ve developed your skillset or knowledge as it relates to your particular focus area. Don’t be afraid to share the details that make the experience unique to you and background.