Every scholarship application is perfectly unique, which is great for the people who have to read through thousands of them every year in order to decide to award it to! However, although they are unique and no doubt very personal, it must be mundane to read persona statement after personal statement if nothing catches your attention. Some will be well written, others will not, but that makes no difference if it cannot attract another individual’s attention!

A personal statement is actually your selling tool. It is all you have because the representatives or assessor who can discard an application at the drop of a hat will never meet you. You will not get a second chance to make a first impression so you have to make the most of what you have and the personal statement is it! Before you even start looking into the scholarships you will apply for, you should begin to plan out  your personal statement. It is the one thing that will speak about you so you have to make the most of it and more effort should going into composing a good one than anything else you will do relating to scholarships.

There are various ways to catch an assessor’s attention, but making the page really talk to them is the main way. Anything too fancy, like a different font will have them reaching for the scrap pile, but a great statement will prevent them from discarding your application. The first thing you should remember then is ensuring that your words are perfectly clear and flow well together. In other words, your personal statement must make perfect sense. If it does not make sense and instead is just a bunch of random words thrown together in the hope that it will work, I guarantee that it will not! It needs to flow in order to say something. It is the flow that makes it work, that makes it speak and that can give the assessor a good idea of who you actually are. If your statement is clear and flows well then it will
say so much bout you.

Flowing language denotes a conscientious individual who is capable of logical thought and reasoning. That person would not be impulsive but instead put his or her instincts to better use. He or she would also be capable of making sense of even the most complex of problems by simplifying them. Therefore, if you also make your language direct and straight to the point without adding floral extras that could most definitely be left out then you would also be honest and direct without being cutting. It would indicate that you do not procrastinate and are usually 100% focused on a task! You can see from the description of a specific style that you can say so much about yourself by simply implying it, thus leaving you more room to sell yourself in terms of your achievements!

It is well worth spending extra time on your personal statement, as you can see. If that is the most important part of your application, it could also feasibly win the assessors over, and that alone
could ultimately win you a scholarship. You should put a little of yourself in there, but by tailoring your style, you can get yourself noticed in a positive way.

More to Come ->-> so do visit shortly

Enthusiastically

Allan Gomes

]]> http://allangomes.wordpress.com/2008/10/16/the-scholarship-application-and-making-it-yours/feed/ 0 gomesee ) Hi Buddies http://allangomes.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/a-guide-to-scholarship-applications/ http://allangomes.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/a-guide-to-scholarship-applications/#comments Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:52:00 +0000 gomesee http://allangomes.wordpress.com/?p=111 ]]>

The Men In Red

Scholarship applications can be extremely complex and confusing. Not only does every different scholarship body want something different, but none of them seem to set the deadline dates for the same week, which no doubt would confuse you even more! When you are applying for college, it can seem like you are going round in an endless circle, trying to finish tasks that you have already started but seemingly getting nowhere. It can be a chore just to finish one application to a college, let alone fill in several for scholarships as well. However, help is at hand and you can make life easier for yourself with these basic tips:

Read every application carefully.

Every scholarship requires something different because no two are the same, so you cannot just fill out one for them all and hope that you will get a measure of success. It does not work like that. There will always be something different expected of you, whether there is a word limit on your personal statement or fewer letters of is recommendation. If you do not read it and comply with the guidelines then you application will be discarded straight away.

Prepare in advance.

Before you even begin to research scholarships in depth, you should practice your personal statement. Style is extremely important so you should write it out the summary before you plan to apply to ensure that get it completely right. If a personal statement reflects you then it is perfect for your applications. Keep the copy of the draft you wrote and then use that as a foundation on which to build your actually personal statements when it comes to applying for real.

Work with the space you have.

Try not to use continuation sheets on scholarship applications because the likelihood is then that representatives or assessors will get bored half way through. Try to keep all of the information to a minimum but include as many activities as you can in your list. You could even add a few into your personal statement if you run out of space. However, if you do not have enough space then leave out the ones that are not important, and plan this out in advance because there is nothing worse that Tipp-ex marks on an application.

Look at what they want.

You should always look at what the provider of the scholarship is asking or and give them what they want. Never ever lie on an application form but tailor your own personality traits to your advantage. If they are looking for someone with character then communicate that in your writing style. If they are looking for integrity then mention an example of it. Always back up what you have to say by just tailor what you know about yourself to what they are looking for in you!

Always give your reasons why you want to study a certain subject.

Many individuals fall down at this step because they do not justify their reasons for wanting to take a certain subject. There must be a reason behind your choice but failing to communicate it or failing to put your reasons across in a logical and well-reasoned way can ultimately ensure that you fall at the last hurdle!

Read it through.

Never send an application form for a scholarship without reading it through first. Make sure that you have said everything that you want to say and in a clear and concise but logical way so it is easy to read. If it passes your critical eye then It should pass theirs!

More to Come ->-> so do visit shortly

Cheers For Now

Allan Gomes

Some of my Buddies were asking me  how to apply and get scholarship – so let me put it straight – Money does seem to make the world go round these days and that is not always a good thing for anyone looking to advance himself or herself. If you cannot afford an education then you are missing out on the chance to fulfill your own potential. This can actually have a knock on effect on the rest of the surrounding area. You may have skills that could be of great service to another and yet never have the opportunity to develop them, and that is why it is extremely important to seek out any way possible of fulfilling your potential and developing yourself to the fullest extent. That is in fact where scholarships come in!

Scholarships and grants can provide a fantastic source of financial aid for individuals who either deserve it in terms of their talent or are struggling as a result of financial hardship. In some cases, the individual actually falls under both category headings. Regardless of where they fit into the scheme of things, talented individuals that need help can get it from a scholarship or grant.

A scholarship is a financial merit-based award that a student would have to apply for. The scholarship may be a package of financial aid to help the student. It could include housing and course materials as well as tuition, or just the tuition. It may only be a percentage of the tuition. This is dependent on the terms and conditions of the scholarship itself and what it offers. It may last for an academic year or for the duration of your degree course. However, it will always have conditions attached, and this will most likely relate to your grade point average. It would have to remain above a certain level for you to qualify for the scholarship.

A grant is totally different. Again, you would have to apply for it, but it would be a one off payment that would be awarded to you for a specific purpose. It may be a specific topic you are working on would be eligible for funding and you were given a grant of a set amount to help. You may be eligible for a housing grant if your family’s income level is below a certain level. Whatever the reason for the award, it is a one off payment of a set amount.

Scholarships can be applied for by anyone attending an academic institution for a period of time. The application forms are usually quite extensive and can take hours to fill in properly. One slight mistake on the form could get it discarded, so the most important thing for you to do is actually read through the instructions and comply with what it is asking from you to the letter! There will literally be thousands of candidates for any scholarship so you have to be able to make your application stand out from the crowd in order to obtain the funding. It does help if you have a gift for certain ones, but the majority just want to help someone who needs the funding and stand out from the crowd.

The one rule is do not lie. If you do they will find out during the course of their investigations and considerations, and your application will immediately be rejected! Always be honest and show your awards and merits up in the best light possible if you want results. It may also be worth applying for several scholarships and grants at any given time so that you are not putting your eggs in the one basket. It never hurts to have a back up, especially where college and money is concerned!

Scholarships and grants can be difficult to get to grips with if you have never had experience of them before so it is essential that you fully understand the process and concept before beginning to apply. Financing is important for college students these days so you owe it to yourself to do the best you can in terms of your application. It is your future after all!

More to Come ->-> so do visit shortly

Cheers For Now

Allan Gomes

Hi Buddies!!!

The Men In Red

The great news is that I am perfectly fine and normal with my injured leg. I am waiting for my ACL operation which will be fixed up in couple of days. I thank God for His kindness and my college WKU, Paula, Jeff and Mike for their sincere efforts, help and motivation as without them it would not had been possible for me to recover so fast.

Recently my good friend Parth from India is trying out to be a Tennis Instructor and I would like to share with him my views through this blog:

Should You Teach Tennis?

If you have ever considered yourself a stellar tennis player you may have had the idea of teaching tennis cross your mind.  The freedom and flexibility that this provides can be almost unmatched and it also provides a great excuse to play more tennis.  If you thoroughly enjoy the sport then this is the perfect thing to seriously consider.  However, before you go jumping into a new career there are some things that you should take into consideration to ensure that it is a good match for you and your personal goals in life.

The first consideration is do you really like tennis.  Some people simply tolerate tennis; if this is you then teaching tennis may not be the best idea.  Someone who is successful at tennis absolutely loves it and there are few things that they would rather be doing than play tennis.  This love is part of what drives the most successful instructors and it is also what has been known to produce the best coaches at the higher levels.  Ensuring that you love tennis is a great first step because as a teacher you will need to practice yourself, plus spend time on the court teaching others.

You should also consider your people skills.  While a teacher certainly does not need to win popularity contest based upon their individual style it is important that they at least know how to successfully talk to people.  Having good people skills will ensure that not only can you teach people, but you can also gain the trust of people as well.  Someone is not going to be likely to pay for an instructor whom they dislike.  It is important to treat people well in order to have students who return after the first lesson.  Of course you could always have poor people skills and still attempt at teaching; however you are not likely to be very successful, have few good references and also have problems with students returning after the initial lesson.

You are also going to need to look into the certification process to become a certified teacher.  This may seem frivolous if you only plan to teach occasionally, but it shows that you are dedicated to teaching the proper methods rather than simply turning someone loose on the tennis court with a racquet and a few balls.  By being a certified teacher you can command higher rates for your time, plus you show your perspective students that you care before they have even met you.

The final thing you need to consider before taking on a new career is exactly what your skill level is.  If you are just a beginner at tennis yourself then it is impossible for you to teach someone else.  This means you are going to have to wait on your career change until you have the skills necessary to really successfully teach someone else.  If you are a highly skilled player then this is not a concern for you, but the old saying of the blind leading the blind is never good.  Especially in the situation where someone is paying you to teach them a skill, if you do not have all of the techniques mastered yourself you will not be able to teach someone else.  If you are at least an advanced player you generally have enough skill, there is no reason to not teach just because you are not a professional tennis player.

Enthusiastically

Allan Gomes

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So True

“Remember, if you are not playing your heart out, someone else is. And when you meet him, he will win.”

Improving Your Tennis Serve – Made Easy

I have a decent serve and all credit goes to my basic coach Mr. V K Rawat and Mr. Hemant Bendre. There are a few quick and simple steps that you can do that will help you to dramatically increase your tennis score. However it is important to actually practice the steps rather than just read them. If you take the time to practice these quick steps you will see an almost immediate improvement in your tennis serve and you will notice that you entire game will improve overall.

The first thing that you need to do is to always relax your arm and your wrist. If you are tensed, stressed out or easily excited you will notice that your arm will be quite tense. This will actually hinder your serve. Rather than acting like a wound up arm with more power, you will notice a definite decrease in the power that you have in your arm. This is the opposite effect from what you want. It is essential that you relax your arm and wrist. It is considered that as much as 20% of the power in your serve comes directly from the wrist, if your wrist is tight or tense you will lose as much as 15% of that power immediately. This is a huge hurt when you are trying to squeeze as much power as possible.

The next step is you need to practice your arm motion until you have a nice smooth and fluid movement. If your serve is jerky you are going to lose some of the power that you have gained by relaxing your arm and wrist. You need to practice this over and over again; however you should not practice this if you are overly tired. When you are over tired you will notice that your arm is much heavier and it is a lot harder to get the smooth and flowing movement that you really need in order to successfully serve the ball.

Jumping during your serve is also important. In fact this is one of the single most powerful movements that you can do in order to improve the overall power of your serve. If you are trying to really maximize your serve then you need to ensure that you are jumping as you serve. However, you also need to ensure that you are wearing a good pair of sturdy tennis shoes with plenty of cushion in the soles to protect your foot as you come down on impact with the court. This can provide a lot of relief to your knees as you land and will soften the blow to your body while still giving you the most power possible in your serve.

The final thing that you can do the most to maximize your serve is ensure that you are lining up your body with the service box that you are aiming for. If you are turning your body towards the stands or even the field across the way you are simply not going to be able to hit the service box like you need to in order to have a successful serve. This is something that is not negotiable; you need to aim the ball and to do that you need to turn your body in the direction of your target. This may take a bit of practice but if you practice your body facing you will see that it gets much easier over time and your serve improves dramatically.

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“There’s always one shot that I can rely on when I’m not hitting the ball that well, is my serve.”

Pete Sampras

]]> http://allangomes.wordpress.com/2008/08/31/improving-your-tennis-serve-made-easy/feed/ 0 gomesee http://allangomes.wordpress.com/2008/08/24/tennis-success/ http://allangomes.wordpress.com/2008/08/24/tennis-success/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:17:06 +0000 gomesee http://allangomes.wordpress.com/?p=43 ]]>

Tennis _ My Passion

Most of my Buddies know that at present I am nursing my injury on the right knee which I had while Practicing with Andy True, my good friend at Bowling Green. Well, now I am recovering very fast after having a minor operation from an expert sports injury Surgeon Dr. Nilesh Shah and a reconfirmation from Physio Dr. Shetty and my Physical Trainer Vishwas Sir that I will be able to play in next 6 months.

I hereby also congratulate Vaidhik Munsha on winning his first ITF Title – Doubles – I tell you buddies it is really very exciting and when I won my first ITF Title I felt on the top of the world as at that particular phase of my life I was facing hell of odds which most of you all know it.

I was just pondering on tennis and tennis success lying on the bed and here it goes…

Everyone knows that whatever you do, success would depend on the way you look at it. This means that you can achieve success with an open mind and some amount of self confidence. However, you lose if you have any attitude issues with no self confidence. This thought can be applied to tennis as well. What seems to be a complicated issue can be brought under control if you are patient and self confident. However, if you do not approach the game with some self-confidence you are likely to fail. What can be done to improve your personal approach towards this game especially since this is going to be an influencing factor in the final results? Several things can be taken up by you to improve on this area so that every game of tennis is going to be an experience by itself.

All that is required is your love for the game and an open mind in your approach. If you just half attempt the sport then you will increase the chances of getting hurt, decrease your chances of success and wish you had never picked up a tennis racquet. If you approach with a positive mindset, you are going to put yourself in a much better position to be successful, regardless of how long you have been playing. A player who approaches the game with a positive attitude is like to play a better game than some one who is in a bad mood.

Mistakes should not worry you as making them is part of any game. Even pros make mistakes on the field. Take them as opportunities for learning more about the game. If you find that the mistakes are concentrated mainly on your sense of timing of moving the racquet, think of how you can improve on your timing. If you start taking every error as lessons for improving on an area, then gradually you would develop a mature overall outlook. If this makes you feel better, remember that even the professional tennis players make mistakes, perform badly and want to quit the game.

If you play for too long, avoid burn out. This is applicable to any hobby, sport, job or activity. If you play tennis every moment of your waking hours, burn out is unavoidable. Going shopping, hanging out with friends, lounging in the couch and watching TV are some activities which you could indulge in when you are not playing. These activities help you feel relaxed so that you can play tennis again with a clean mind-frame. The time which you spend carrying out these activities can be as valuable as the time you spend on the court.

What I have learned is – If you can, You can – If you can’t, you can’t. It is all mind’s game.

Be Back Soon

Positively

Allan Gomes

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Yup

“If you’re not a competitor, you’ve just got to go home. “

-Venus Williams

]]> http://allangomes.wordpress.com/2008/08/24/tennis-success/feed/ 0 gomesee Tennis _ My Passion http://allangomes.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/tennis-made-simple-for-buddies/ http://allangomes.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/tennis-made-simple-for-buddies/#comments Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:45:08 +0000 gomesee http://allangomes.wordpress.com/?p=23 ]]> Hey buddies,

When I was 5 years of age I was in the State Skating Team and was very good in road racing but some how tennis fascinated me more and started to play when I was seven and since then I have cherished this sport as my love and life one can say tennis is my second skin

In this Tennis ‘Category’ I will be sharing my views on tennis and allied subjects, yep, it is only possible due to internet technology and bloging arrangement.

Well…

Tennis is one of the most basic forms of sports where anyone can take part and enjoy. It is a fairly simple game to understand, however what stops most of us from ever becoming masters of tennis is the physical aspects! During a competitive tournament, there can be some effective tips you can use to prevent the early feelings of dismay when you realize that you are losing out on a game. Getting to know the rules of the game is good since it will let you understand the game better the next time you watch it.

The court that is being used for the game must be a regulation court. This ensures that the size and maintenance is standard and therefore does not affect the position of a player on the court as far as winning is concerned. There will be a net placed in the middle and two service lines placed in the middle. Next, there is the baseline located at the outer edge of the court, running parallel to the net. This is the spot where the players start the game.

Along both sides of the court are lines that mark the outer edges, and they are called the alleys. Get to know the difference between singles and double. If the ball hits the alley during a singles game, it is considered out. The alley can be use without penalty in a doubles tennis game. There is a big difference in how the overall result will be between the singles and the doubles match. This is a two player game and one will serve the ball. To make a successful serve, you need to serve the ball to the other side and hit the service box.

You can locate the service box at the right hand side of each player; it is actually quite a small box. A successful serve needs to hit this box. In fact, the ball must not only hit this service box, but must bounce off at least once for it to be considered a successful serve. Those that do not fulfill this criterion must be repeated.

Once the ball has been successfully served, then comes the exciting part of the entire game. Now the players will have to hit it across the net back and forth until one of them fails to return it. A point will be scored every time the opponent fails to return the ball or when the ball they hit touches the alley in a singles tennis match. Your opponent will get a point every time you fail to return the ball.

Every time the balls missed, there will be a need to serve it and each player will take turns to do it. This means both players will have equal chance to serve. And that is just a brief explanation of how tennis is being played

Now just go out on Tennis Court and ENJOY

Hummmmm

You know my dad pushed me to believe that I was going to be the best. I just never thought of life without tennis, even looking forward.
- Andre Agassi Quote

The Men In Red

Hi, this is Allan Gomes from Ahmedabad the vibrant city of India. Well, I have finished my Schooling from St Xavier’s School and High School from New Samarth English School from Ahmedabad. At present I am pursuing my college from Western Kentucky, USA. I am also in the College Tennis team and having great time here. Thanks for stopping at my blog, you can contact me on allan_gomes88@hotmail.com

Positively
Allan Gomes

Geeee

“I can’t change history, I don’t want to change history. I can only change the future. I’m working on that. “
- Boris Becker