As a book lover, visiting libraries always brings me joy. It was a delightful moment when last month, I had a chance to visit the U.S. Embassy library for an essay writing workshop held there. It was like bringing together my two favorite activities: reading and writing.
The event was organized by EducationUSA Indonesia, an official education center that provides accurate and up-to-date information about studying in the United States. It was held over two days within two weeks and aimed at people aspiring to pursue a master’s degree in the U.S.
During the sessions, participants would learn how to write an essay for a personal statement and a motivation letter to apply for universities in the U.S. and scholarships, particularly the Fulbright Scholarship.
I signed up for the workshop without hesitation, even though I had nothing to do with pursuing a master’s degree in the U.S.
MyAmerica: A Cozy Corner of the U.S. Embassy
Unlike other embassies, which combine a library and a culture center in one place, the U.S. Embassy separates the culture center (@america) at Pacific Place, while the library (MyAmerica) is inside the U.S. Embassy itself.
The event was held at 2.30 P.M., but I deliberately came earlier as I wanted to explore the library. Since it was my first time visiting an embassy, and I was told that it would be a security procedure while entering the place, I was confused and slightly nervous. I almost went into the wrong room twice.
When I entered the room, a large wooden Statue of Liberty standing next to the glass wall immediately caught my eye, as if it welcomed me.
The room was bright, mainly lit by the sunlight streaming through the glass wall. White hexagon tables with chairs around them filled the space, giving it a clean yet inviting look.
Looking to the right, there are plenty of books on the bookshelves. I immediately turned my starry eyes toward them. After getting to know other participants sitting on the chairs, I started browsing the collection.
Just like I expected, there were only books and magazines related to America and from American authors. In the fiction section, I found a book by Josh Grisham, Dan Brown, Suzanne Collins, etc. In the academic section, there were books about how to write successful application essays, be accepted into U.S. universities, and so on.
I picked an encyclopedia book about native American tribes, which was fascinating. A book titled The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women also captivated me. The cozy vibe made it easy to lose track of time while flipping through the pages.
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Time to Write
Day One: How to Write a Compelling Essay
Before the main session began, a spokesperson from EducationUSA gave a brief speech about the organisation, its aim, and how it could help Indonesian students pursuing higher education in the U.S.
He also emphasised that no cost would be charged, which answered my curiosity about the consultation fee when I encountered the EducationUSA corner at @america at Pacific Place.
The primary speaker was Kharishar Kahfi (Mas Kuka), Deputy Editor at The Jakarta Post and a master’s degree Fulbright awardee, who completed a Master of Science Journalism at New York University.
I was so excited to know his credibility in his writing background.
Mas Kuka delivered many points in the workshop, including explaining that the core principles are essential for clarity and impact.
These principles, called the 5 Cs of (English) Essay Writing, provide a robust framework for structuring effective writing.
The first one he mentioned was Concise. A clear essay doesn’t waste space. It says what matters and leaves out what doesn’t. That’s especially true for a Fulbright essay, which fits on just one page. You don’t have room to wander.
Then he continued to the Comprehensive point. He said that the essay should fully answer the question and show your own point of view. It’s okay to give a bit of context, but don’t let it take over your main idea.
Coherence is the third one, and it’s about flow. Every paragraph should feel like a natural continuation of the one before it. If the ideas connect smoothly, the reader won’t notice the structure; they’ll keep reading.
Next, an excellent essay is Concrete. Instead of vague statements, he suggested that we bring in real examples. Something specific that readers can picture or relate to.
And finally, there’s Connection. The best essays make readers feel something. They link your experience to something larger. It may be a shared goal or a value people can understand.
These principles can be applied in a personal statement and a study objectives essay, two essay requirements in the Fulbright Scholarship.
At the end of the first day, the committee asked us to write an essay, which Mas Kuka would review during the second session, scheduled two weeks later. The selected essays would receive detailed feedback from him.
Day Two: Reviewing Essays and Learning from Feedback
Long story short, my essay was among those selected by Mas Kuka, and he shared his feedback with everyone. I felt both excited for the feedback and nervous because I wasn’t confident about my writing.
In my essay, I present the challenges I faced to get my higher education as I come from an underprivileged family, and how I finally overcame them.
I also mentioned the initiative I’ve been working on, Perempuan Belajar (She Learns), which comes from my uneasiness based on the reality of how my relatives, especially the girls, still face challenges to get higher education, and how, actually, they have the eagerness to thrive but have no opportunity.
And how I’m eager to contribute to tackling the problem. I ended the essay by explaining why I needed to study in the U.S to achieve the goal.
Mas Kuka highlighted the key areas for improvement in my writing. First, he appreciated that I could incorporate a figure or study in the essay by pointing out the figure’s main point or message, then how I used a relatable example to bring the attention back, which fulfilled the relevance point.
However, he criticized the ending as it made him think I was writing the essay as a pitch for the platform Perempuan Belajar, not myself. Additionally, regarding grammar, he reminded us to be more careful about the effective use of adverbs and adjectives.
Ultimately, the most critical takeaway from Mas Kuka’s session—and the part I was most grateful for—was the explicit, insightful critique that regardless of the topic or the scale of the initiative, an essay for a personal application must always relate to the core conviction of the author, demanding a final draft that prioritizes my personal drive and voice over the program I founded.
A Little Talk on Writing
At the end of the session, we somehow ended up gathering around one table, where Mas Kuka shared some tips on how to practice writing effectively.
I was over the moon when he mentioned the blog as a valuable platform to do it, a space where we can share our writing with people on the internet.
He explained that blogging wasn’t the same as writing in a diary, where you didn’t feel the need to make your writing perfect because you were sure no one would read it.
Nevertheless, it was also not as rigid as academic writing. You could express your ideas freely on the blog.
In conclusion, blogging would give you both freedom and the motivation to keep improving your writing.
Thank you, EducationUSA and Mas Kuka, for opening the door to understanding Fulbright essays — something I once knew nothing about — and for inspiring me to keep learning and improving my writing.
