How to Write an Essay About Yourself

How to Write an Essay About Yourself: Nigerian Student Guide

Estimated reading time: 8-10 minutes

Why Personal Essays Matter for Nigerian Students

If you’re searching for how to write an essay about yourself, you’re likely facing one of several critical situations: applying to universities like UNILAG, University of Ibadan, or international institutions; applying for scholarships; or preparing for job applications. Whatever your reason, understand this clearly—your personal essay is often the deciding factor between acceptance and rejection.

In the Nigerian academic context, admissions officers and employers receive thousands of applications. What makes yours memorable? It’s not your grades alone (though they matter). It’s your ability to articulate who you are, what drives you, and why you’re worth investing in. Your personal essay is your voice on paper—the one thing that cannot be replicated by your transcript or test scores.

Here’s where many Nigerian students get stuck: they approach personal essays with the same formula they use for academic papers. They write generically about “making a difference” or “achieving success” without providing the specific, vivid details that make an admissions officer or hiring manager actually remember their application. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by this challenge, you’re not alone. This is precisely where PremiumResearchers can help. Our team of experienced writers specializes in crafting compelling personal narratives specifically for Nigerian students. We understand the nuances of Nigerian culture, educational standards, and what international admissions committees are looking for. Instead of struggling through this process alone, you can contact us to work with an expert who can transform your ideas into a standout essay.

Understanding the Structure of a Self-Introduction Essay

A well-organized essay is the foundation of effective self-presentation. Without proper structure, even the most compelling story can fall flat. The structure provides a roadmap for your reader and ensures your narrative flows logically from one idea to the next. Let’s break down the essential components:

1. The Introduction: Your First Impression Counts

Your introduction has one job: to grab attention and set the tone for everything that follows. Think of it as the hook that makes your reader want to continue. A weak introduction might read: “My name is Chioma, and I’m a hardworking student from Lagos.” This tells the reader nothing memorable.

A strong introduction, by contrast, draws the reader in immediately. For example: “The moment my father placed a broken solar panel in my hands and asked me to fix it, I didn’t know I was discovering my life’s purpose. I was twelve. Now, at eighteen, I’ve built solar charging stations in three rural communities across Nigeria, and the journey has only just begun.”

Your introduction should include:

• A compelling hook: Start with an anecdote, vivid image, or thought-provoking question that captures your audience’s attention. This is not the place for generic statements.
• Context: Briefly establish who you are and why you’re writing this essay. Are you applying to study engineering? Seeking a scholarship? Apply for a leadership role?
• Your thesis statement: Introduce the main argument or theme of your essay—what central truth about yourself will this essay reveal to the reader?

2. Body Paragraphs: Developing Your Narrative

The body is where you develop your story with depth and substance. Most personal essays benefit from three to four main body paragraphs, each focusing on a distinct theme:

• Personal Background and Formative Experiences: Discuss where you come from, significant experiences that shaped you, and the cultural or family context that influences your worldview. For Nigerian students, this might include how growing up in Nigeria, navigating the educational system, or overcoming specific challenges has built your character. Be specific—don’t just say “I come from a humble background.” Instead, describe the classroom without electricity or textbooks where you taught yourself advanced mathematics.
• Education, Skills, and Achievements: Highlight your academic journey and concrete accomplishments. However, move beyond listing achievements. Explain what you learned from each experience. Did you win a debate competition? Discuss not just that you won, but how preparing for that debate taught you critical thinking or public speaking skills that changed your perspective.
• Values, Passions, and Aspirations: What drives you at a fundamental level? What causes do you care about? What future do you envision for yourself and potentially for Nigeria? This section should reveal your character and motivation. If you’re passionate about entrepreneurship, education, technology, or social justice, this is where that passion becomes evident through concrete examples.

3. The Conclusion: Leaving a Lasting Impression

Your conclusion should tie your narrative together and leave the reader with a clear sense of who you are and what matters to you. Avoid simply summarizing what you’ve already said. Instead, reframe your thesis with new insight gained through the essay. End with a forward-looking statement that suggests your potential or a thought-provoking reflection that stays with the reader.

For example, instead of “In conclusion, I am a hardworking and passionate student,” try: “The journey that began with a broken solar panel has taught me that innovation isn’t about having the most resources—it’s about seeing possibilities where others see obstacles. That perspective is what I’ll bring to [university/organization/role], and it’s what will drive me to create solutions that matter.”

What Makes You Unique: Standing Out in a Competitive Landscape

Every student who applies to a top university or scholarship program believes they have something unique to offer. Yet many personal essays sound identical. Why? Because students focus on what they think admissions committees want to hear rather than what makes them genuinely distinctive.

The truth is this: your unique story is the intersection of your specific background, experiences, values, and perspective. Two students might both come from Lagos, attend similar schools, and have similar GPAs. But their personal essays will be completely different because their lived experiences and how they’ve processed those experiences are unique.

Be Genuinely Authentic

Authenticity is magnetic. When you write from a place of truth, your words resonate with readers in ways that polished but hollow writing never can. This means being vulnerable enough to discuss failures, doubts, and challenges—not just successes. Did you fail an important exam? Discuss it. Did you struggle with depression or family hardship? If it’s relevant to your story, include it. Admissions officers and hiring managers respect honesty because it demonstrates maturity and self-awareness.

Highlight Experiences That Transformed You

Not all experiences are equally valuable for a personal essay. Focus on experiences that genuinely changed your perspective or capabilities. This could be:

• A challenging situation you navigated and what it taught you about resilience
• A moment when you realized something fundamental about yourself or the world
• A project or initiative you led that revealed your capacity for impact
• A cultural or family experience unique to your Nigerian context that shaped your values
• An obstacle you overcame and how that experience built your character

Showcase What You’re Genuinely Passionate About

Passion is evident in writing. You can tell when someone is genuinely excited about something versus when they’re just listing accomplishments. If you’re passionate about technology, medicine, social entrepreneurship, agriculture, or any field, let that passion show through concrete examples. Instead of “I’m passionate about education,” write about how you’ve spent weekend afternoons teaching underprivileged kids coding, and describe the specific moment when one student’s face lit up after successfully running her first program.

Telling Your Story Compellingly

Here’s a critical insight: the facts of your story matter far less than how you tell it. Two students might have identical circumstances—both grew up in low-income households, both attend the same school, both plan to study engineering. Yet one student’s essay is riveting while the other is forgettable. The difference is in the storytelling.

Use Vivid, Specific Descriptions

Generic descriptions make readers skim. Vivid, specific descriptions make them stop and pay attention. Let’s compare:

Generic: “I enjoyed my time in school and learned a lot.”

Vivid: “Every morning, I walked three kilometers to school through the red dust of Kano, my secondhand textbook tucked under one arm. The classroom was hot—stifling—with forty students crammed into a space meant for twenty. Yet when my mathematics teacher explained quadratic equations using only chalk and worn cardboard, something clicked. I saw the elegance in the formula, the logic beneath the symbols. That day, mathematics stopped being a subject to pass and became a language through which I could unlock the world.”

See the difference? The second version isn’t longer, but it’s infinitely more interesting because it uses sensory details and specific imagery. When you describe your experiences, show the reader what you saw, heard, felt, and thought. Paint a picture with your words.

Incorporate Meaningful Anecdotes

An anecdote is a brief, illustrative story. Personal anecdotes are powerful tools because they show character and values in action rather than simply asserting them. Instead of writing “I am a leader and I inspire others,” tell the story of a specific moment when you led. What did you do? What was the challenge? What was the outcome? What did you learn?

For example: “I’ll never forget the day I proposed a peer tutoring system to my school principal. She was skeptical—we had no budget, no resources. But I showed her data on student dropout rates and explained how peer tutors could provide support at zero cost. Three months later, we had forty peer tutors working with struggling students. By year-end, our pass rate in mathematics had improved by 12%. That experience taught me that change doesn’t require enormous resources—it requires vision, persistence, and faith in people.”

Notice how this anecdote demonstrates leadership, strategic thinking, and impact simultaneously. It’s far more powerful than simply stating those qualities.

Balance Between Personal and Professional

The appropriate balance depends on your context. A university personal statement for undergraduate admission can lean heavily on personal insights, emotional truth, and formative experiences. A scholarship essay might blend personal narrative with professional aspirations. A job application personal statement should emphasize skills, achievements, and how your background prepares you for the specific role.

However, even in professional contexts, a touch of personality makes your essay memorable. You’re not writing a resume—you’re writing a narrative that brings your resume to life.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Understanding what not to do is as important as understanding what to do. Here are the pitfalls that repeatedly undermine Nigerian students’ personal essays:

Mistake 1: Being Too Generic and Relying on Clichés

Avoid statements like “I want to make a difference in the world,” “I’m a hardworking student,” or “I’ve always been passionate about helping others.” Every other applicant has written these exact phrases. Instead, get specific. If you want to make a difference, in what specific area? To whom? Through what concrete actions?

Don’t write: “I hope to contribute to society as a doctor.”

Do write: “Growing up, I watched my grandmother lose her sight to cataracts—a condition easily treatable but ignored in rural areas due to lack of access to eye care. I realized that becoming a physician isn’t enough. I want to establish mobile eye clinics in underserved communities across Nigeria, combining quality care with education about preventative eye health.”

Mistake 2: Poor Proofreading and Grammatical Errors

Your personal essay is a reflection of your attention to detail and professionalism. Grammatical errors, typos, and inconsistent formatting send a message that you either didn’t care enough to review your work or lack the writing skills necessary for success. Read your essay aloud at least twice. Better yet, have someone you trust review it for clarity and errors. Pay attention to commonly confused words (there/their/they’re, your/you’re, its/it’s) and ensure your verb tenses are consistent.

Mistake 3: Failing to Answer the Specific Prompt

Whether you’re applying to a university, scholarship program, or job, read the prompt carefully. If the prompt asks “Describe a challenge you’ve overcome,” don’t write an essay about your greatest achievement instead. If it asks “Why are you interested in our program specifically?” don’t write a generic essay about your field of interest. Answering the exact question asked demonstrates listening skills and attention to detail.

Mistake 4: Oversharing or Including Inappropriate Content

While authenticity matters, discretion also matters. There’s a difference between being vulnerable and being inappropriately personal. Consider your audience and the context. What’s appropriate to share with an admissions committee might not be appropriate for a job application. Similarly, avoid criticizing others, making political statements unrelated to your narrative, or sharing information that could be perceived as unprofessional.

Mistake 5: Using Passive Voice and Weak Verbs

Passive voice weakens your narrative. Instead of “I was chosen to lead the project,” write “I proposed and led the project.” Active verbs create energy and show agency. Compare: “Mistakes were made” (passive, weak) versus “I made mistakes and learned from them” (active, powerful).

Sample Essays for Different Contexts

1. University Application Essay Sample

“I was fourteen when the power grid failed in my neighborhood for three consecutive months. No electricity meant no internet, no lighting, no refrigeration. But it also meant something unexpected: clarity. Without the constant hum of devices, I spent my evenings reading by candlelight and thinking deeply about the world around me. I read about renewable energy, agricultural innovation, and how technology could solve problems rather than create them. That extended blackout—which I once cursed—became my awakening.

Today, I’m applying to study Environmental Engineering because I want to design sustainable solutions that actually work in contexts like Nigeria. Not theoretical concepts in laboratories, but practical innovations that transform lives. Last year, I partnered with two classmates to install solar panels on our school buildings and train students to maintain them. We cut the school’s electricity costs by 40% and created a vocational skills program. This project taught me that engineering isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about empowering communities to solve their own problems.

I choose your institution because of your commitment to practical, applied research that benefits developing nations. I want to study under mentors who believe that engineering should serve humanity. I want to be part of a community where my background as a Nigerian student isn’t a limitation but an asset—a perspective that can drive innovation addressing real-world challenges. In your program, I see the opportunity to transform my passion into expertise and my expertise into impact.”

2. Job Application Essay Sample

“When I graduated with a degree in Economics two years ago, I thought I wanted to work for a multinational corporation. The prestige, the salary, the title—they all seemed like the definition of success. Then I interned at a fintech startup trying to bring financial services to rural Nigeria. I spent days in villages interviewing farmers about their financial challenges, and I realized something crucial: I wasn’t interested in making rich companies richer. I was interested in solving real problems for real people.

That experience shaped everything that followed. At my current role with TechForge Solutions, I lead the market analysis team for our financial inclusion initiative. I’ve analyzed trends affecting over 500,000 customers, identified underserved market segments, and contributed to strategies that increased user engagement by 34%. But beyond the metrics, I’m proud that our work has enabled thousands of Nigerians to access credit and savings tools previously unavailable to them.

I’m drawn to your organization because of your stated commitment to ethical business practices and social impact alongside profitability. Your recent initiative focusing on smallholder farmer financing aligns perfectly with my professional mission and personal values. I want to bring my analytical skills, market insights, and genuine passion for financial inclusion to your team. I’m not just looking for a job—I’m looking for the opportunity to do work that matters, and your organization offers exactly that.”

The Writing Process: Step-by-Step Implementation

Step 1: Brainstorm and Reflect

Before writing, spend time reflecting on your life. What experiences have shaped you? What do you value? What challenges have you overcome? What are you passionate about? Write down everything, even if it seems disconnected. At this stage, quantity matters more than quality. You’re mining for material.

Consider these reflection questions:

• What is a moment you felt truly alive or engaged?
• When have you failed, and what did that teach you?
• What injustice or problem in your community frustrates you?
• Who has influenced you most, and how?
• What would people who know you say about your character?
• What do you want to be remembered for?

Step 2: Identify Your Core Message

From your brainstorming, what’s the central theme you want to communicate? It might be something like “My resilience has been my greatest teacher,” or “I’m driven to solve problems that others overlook,” or “Community matters more to me than personal success.” This core message becomes your north star—everything in your essay should reinforce this central truth.

Step 3: Create an Outline

Outline your essay before writing. Your outline doesn’t need to be formal. It might look like this:

• Introduction: Hook (specific anecdote), context, thesis
• Body 1: Background and formative experience—example of overcoming obstacles in my community
• Body 2: Skills and achievements—how my education has prepared me for my goals
• Body 3: Values and aspirations—what I want to contribute to society
• Conclusion: Reframe thesis with new insight, forward-looking statement

Step 4: Write Your First Draft Without Editing

Your goal in the first draft is to get ideas on paper, not to write perfectly. Don’t stop to critique yourself or rework sentences. Write from beginning to end. This draft will likely be rough, and that’s fine. You can’t edit what doesn’t exist.

Step 5: Revise for Clarity and Impact

Once you have a draft, read it with fresh eyes (ideally after a day or two of not working on it). Ask yourself:

• Does this essay clearly communicate who I am and what I value?
• Are my stories and examples specific and vivid?
• Does each paragraph advance my central message?
• Is anything unclear or confusing?
• Does my conclusion leave a memorable final impression?

Cut anything that doesn’t serve your narrative, even if it’s well-written. Cut instances of telling and replace them with showing (vivid examples). Strengthen weak verbs and vague statements.

Step 6: Polish and Proofread

Check grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Read aloud to catch awkward phrasing. Have at least one other person review for errors and clarity. Look for consistency in voice and tone.

When to Seek Professional Help

Here’s a truth many Nigerian students hesitate to acknowledge: not everyone excels at personal essay writing, and that doesn’t reflect your intelligence or capability. Some people are naturally gifted storytellers; others need guidance to craft their narratives effectively. There’s no shame in seeking professional support.

You should consider professional help if:

• You’ve written multiple drafts but still feel like something’s missing—your essay isn’t capturing your true self
• You’re struggling to move from telling to showing, from generic to specific
• You have limited time and need expert guidance on how to maximize impact quickly
• English is not your first language and you want to ensure your writing is polished and clear
• You’re applying to highly competitive programs and want every advantage
• You’re juggling multiple applications with different prompts and need help tailoring each one

This is where PremiumResearchers’ essay writing services become invaluable. Our team doesn’t write essays for you—that would be unethical and would result in work that doesn’t authentically represent you. Instead, we work with you collaboratively. We help you identify your most compelling stories, develop those stories with vivid, specific details, structure your narrative for maximum impact, and polish your writing until it shines.

Our writers understand the Nigerian context deeply. We know the challenges Nigerian students face, the unique opportunities you’ve had, and what admissions committees and employers are looking for. We’ve worked with students from UNILAG, University of Ibadan, Covenant University, and many other institutions. We’ve also helped students secure scholarships to international universities and land positions at top companies.

The investment in professional essay writing often pays dividends through scholarships, acceptances, and opportunities that would have been missed otherwise. If you’re serious about standing out, get in touch with us to discuss how we can help elevate your personal essay.

Frequently Asked Questions