Writing an outstanding essay for the Teach for Nigeria Fellowship application can be brain-tasking. You will need to invest your time to write, review and fine-tune it.
In this post, I broke down each essay question and shared how to answer them appropriately. I also added samples to guide your thought process.
Disclaimer: Kindly note that this post is only to guide you in crafting a stellar application for the fellowship. Do not copy and paste the examples given. The reviewer would detect plagiarism and you may be disqualified.
I would advise you to create a word document to answer the questions before uploading it in the answer spaces. Alternatively, the application form allows you to save the progress of your work to continue later.
Also, make sure you take note of the word limit to each answer. Some have a maximum of 250 words, while others have 500 words. You do not need to exhaust the word limit. Just ensure you have answered the questions well.
On completion of the essay, you should get someone to review your answers before final submission. Ensure your essay is error free.
You can make use of this tool to check your grammar usage.
Question 1
Briefly describe your personal achievements over the course of this employment that you are most proud of. (max. 250 words)
This question is asking you to describe your achievements at your last employment. Before you start writing, highlight about five or more achievements you are proud of. Select any three that reflect; problem-solving, leadership, empathy, resilience, initiative, etc., and describe it in 250 words or less.
Here is an example,
- Being a school administrator, I am most proud that I exposed my students to opportunities that benefitted them academically, physically, and mentally. These opportunities are scholarships, interschool debate and quiz competitions, interschool sports, excursions.
- Most profound moment for me was the scholarship from the Youth Assured Foundation to one of our students who excelled among other students in Ogun State. All these resulted in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor development of the students.
- As a Menstrual Hygiene Management Educator and Advocate, I created a Menstrual Hygiene Club in the school for girls where we periodically hold workshops and training; we also included menstrual products (pads) in the first aid box.
Question 2
Briefly describe your responsibilities (max. 250 word)
In this section, you should describe your work duties. Highlight what your job description was. Be as concise as you can be. Start with action verbs.
Find an example below,
Oversaw the day-to-day activities of the school to ensure effective delivery of teaching and learning.
Supervised, assessed, mentored teachers and other school staff in learning and applying new skills through meaningful professional development.
Developed and implemented disciplinary measures to minimize misbehaviour among students.
Chaired administrative functions such as management meetings, registration, and other related activities.
Liaised with government agencies and stakeholders on the growth and delivery of quality education in the school.
Question 3
Share an example of something you have been a part of, created or led that you consider being leadership experience. What did you achieve, how did you do it and why do you consider it groundbreaking? Please use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action and Results) approach.
I consider this question easy because you have an approach to follow. Please note that this question is not asking for the definition of STAR. It is simply asking you to share an example of something you have been a part of, created or led that you consider a leadership experience in an order of Situation, Task, Action, and the Result.
I need you to note that the leadership experience asked for does not necessarily mean that you were holding a position of authority.
The recruiter wants to know how you take responsibility, initiative. How you collaborate with other people towards a common goal.
Situation: a time you performed a job or faced a challenge at work. It can be a time you worked on a group project or a menace in your community. This situation can be a work experience, a volunteer position, or any other relevant event. Be as specific as possible.
Task: Describe what you did in that situation. Perhaps you had to mobilise people towards solving the problem or you helped your group to complete a project within a time frame.
Action: What actions did you take, your activities towards the situation you mentioned earlier. State how you completed the task. Be specific about what you did, avoid being generic with your answer.
Result: Finally, you are to describe the outcomes or results generated by the action taken. It may be helpful to emphasize what you accomplished, the impact of your intervention or what you learned.
Here is an example,
S
In August 2020, I observed the inappropriate disposal of waste at the popular Ogijo market and car park which serves about a hundred thousand people in the community. This resulted in flood as drainages are blocked, an unhealthy environment that abhorred sicknesses, also air and land pollution.
T
Being a self-motivated individual with a strong desire for social change, I led an initiative (Ogijo Youth for Change) with a vision to address the menace observed, which is to create a sustainable and clean environment. We started as a small group of 4 and we were able to onboard over 45 passionate young persons as volunteers to be part of this initiative.
A
On a set date, I led the team in cleaning the market and the car park, we also ensured that the waste collected were properly disposed. We then sensitised and educated the market women, drivers, and motor park officials on appropriate ways to waste disposal.
During the sensitization, we implored the market women and their stakeholders to be more deliberate about the already established weekly sanitation. We also provided trash nylons and containers which are placed at strategic locations for proper waste disposal.
R
Through this activity, we encouraged proper waste disposal among the traders and drivers. which reduced pollution and erosion to its barest minimum. We ignited the spirit of volunteerism among ourselves. It was also an opportunity for youths without volunteering experience to volunteer.
Question 4
Why do you want to join Teach for Nigeria Fellowship? Please provide answers that highlight your wider interests, experiences and what you look forward to. (max. 500 words)
This is an integral part of the essay. This is where you pitch your interest on why you want to join the fellowship. You will need to reflect well on this to be able to convince the recruiter.
You can learn more about the problem that made TFN start here. It will help you know what you are getting into and WHY you want to join the fellowship. Do not forget to highlight what interests you, your experiences and what you look forward to achieving with the fellowship.
Below is an example to guide your thought.
The rate at which the education system in Nigeria is dwindling is alarming. It hurts when I see children who would have been brilliant perform at the barest minimum cause they do not have an enabling environment. Many of these children need special attention to catch up with their counterparts and survive in the globally competitive world.
The most hurtful part for me was the great divide between privilege and less privilege during the pandemic. Most of the children in our rural communities were roaming the street without access to technology to facilitate learning, this like other times put these children at disadvantage.
Therefore, I desire to join the Teach for Nigeria Fellowship to gain experience and expertise in problem-solving and experiential leadership. It would also provide me with an avenue to help these children learn effectively. To lay a good academic foundation through my leadership, empathy, and presentation skills in a digital way of learning.
It is also my desire to be a part of the change Teach for Nigeria needs to achieve educational equity and excellence in Nigeria.
Question 5
Where do you see yourself in five years? Be open to sharing your career goals, and how the Teach for Nigeria Fellowship program would be of benefit to your long-term plan. (max. 250 words)
I believe this question is clear enough. You are to share your aspiration for the next five years.
What will you be doing? How will the fellowship contribute to your growth and success? You might want to add the skills you must have developed and how you hope to use them.
Please note that this question is not asking if you would be married or living a comfortable life. Of course you would be. But, this questions needs you to write about your career, what you see yourself achieving. How the fellowship would have set you in that path.
Be specific rather than being generic about your goals. Make sure you connect it to how the fellowship would benefit your long-term career goal.
Example:
In five years, I see myself as a leader grooming people for greatness in my community in education, menstrual hygiene, and sports.
I see myself impacting the immediate generation with skills needed for survival in the 21st Century, such as creativity, problem-solving and the ability to have a futuristic mindset.
I want to be the change in my environment, affecting lives positively.
Furthermore, I will be an innovative teacher-leader leveraging Teach for Nigeria’s platform to take on new challenges towards bridging the gap of educational inequity in the country.
In the future, the Teach for Nigeria fellowship would have fortified me with relevant skills and experience to work as a stakeholder in the education sector.
I will contribute meaningfully to Education policies to enhance students learning and teachers’ welfare which will eventually transform the face of education in the country.
Therefore, I desire to be part of the change agent Teach for Nigeria needs to see that ‘One day every Nigerian child will attain an excellent education.
Was this information helpful? Kindly drop a comment in the section below.
The information in this link would guide you on the next stage of recruitment process. I wish you the best in your application.
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Click here if you would like to read about my experience in the fellowship.
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So helpful, explicit, simple and impactful
This is so helpful and it is self explanatory
Very instructive and enlightening.
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The guidelines was so excited and meaningful
Very explicit. Thanks for wonderful idea.
Very helpful and prepare and tailored my mind towards the expectations at the training centre
I nice read. Very detailed. If I had access to this piece 2017/2018, I would have been a fellow by now.
Thanks Lekan (B B!)
Well penned, concise and very insightful! Thank you for writing.
Thank you for taking your time to read.
Very insightful!
Thanks so much for this tips, sir.
Good ideas
Am indeed motivated
Thank you for reading, I am glad it motivated you.
The guidelines was helpful, thanks for sharing.
This article is very useful. Thank you.
Thank you for reading, I am glad you found it useful.
Thank you so much. This is really helpful and it’s insightful too.
Thank you for reading, I am glad you found it helpful and insightful.
Amazing it is helpful you have boosted my motivation I can do it till the end God help me
The guidelines was helpful
Thank you for reading.
Excellent approach. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for the guidance.
Hope to implement this in subsequent essays.
You are welcome. Thank you for reading too. I am glad it was helpful.
This is awesome!
Very explicit and self explanatory.
I appreciate your efforts. Thank you.
So helpful, explicit, simple and impactful