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What Should I Put In A Narrative Biography?


Mary-Kathryn

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Mary-Kathryn

Hi all,

 

I could use some practical pointers on what to put in my narrative biography one community has asked me for. I'm assuming they do not want a blow-by-blow account of my life (at age 49 that would be one big boring biography LOL) So what are the main points I should bring up?

 

Kathryn

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I am probably not the best person to give advice on this, as I've never written one of these things, but I see no one else has responded, so I will tell you what I'd do.

 

Write a history of your relationship with God. If you focus in on that, it will help you decide what other details from your life are relevant/irrelevant. So you have 4 brothers: Did that impact your relationship with God? No? Then don't mention it. Your dad was really anti-Church. Did that influence your relationship with God? Yes? Then mention it. You had a Catholic co-worker in your third job who really inspired you, ultimately leading you back to the Church? Mention it. Absolutely nothing happened in your first two jobs that influenced your relationship with God? Don't mention them.

 

Remember that sisters have you write these things as a way of getting to know you. They don't want your whole life story because, if you join them, you'll all have the rest of your lives to get to know each other. Essays are really conversation-starters. It helps them figure out where you're coming from. And in a convent/monastery, the most important thing about where you're coming from is God's role in that, and how you see that role.

 

So that's what I'd do. I don't know if that helps...

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Pax_et bonum

This is what the sisters gave me to follow for my autobiography for my application for entrance:

tumblr_mk3jcquKJz1qda7j7o1_1280.jpg

tumblr_mk3jcquKJz1qda7j7o2_1280.jpg

 

Maybe you won't want to follow it exactly, but maybe it can give you a few ideas?

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Mary-Kathryn

Curiousing and Pax_et Bonum,

 

Thank you so much for the time you put into your replies!  This will definitely help e.

 

Curiousing-I really appreciate how your post really focuses in on whether or not I should include a life event or work--Instead of cramming everything in there I can use your post as a guide

 

Pax-et Bonum- LOVED the document you included in your post. The application I filled out already asked for some of those things (family history, employment history) but others it has not and I will touch on those also.

 

Again thank you for all your help-now I can sit down and feel more relaxed and focused.

 

 

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