Tell us about the professional relationship you have built and maintained. How was the relationship formed and what made it important ? How did you contribute to this relationship and what did you gain? How have you sustained or developed this relationship over time ? How will these skills help you build connections within the chevening community and beyond ?
The prompt is really asking about consistency, trust, and emotional maturity. The committee wants to understand how you invest in people over time, especially when relationships become difficult, inconvenient, or require effort to sustain. A strong response is not just about describing a close relationship, but showing what it taught you about loyalty, communication, patience, responsibility, or growth.
The best essays usually focus on specific moments that reveal the depth of the relationship naturally, while also helping the reviewer understand your character more deeply.
Paragraph 1
A Curios Beginning
Open with the first meeting naturally. The relationship should begin through curiosity, admiration, or intellectual interest rather than emotional exaggeration. Establish why this person stood out to you and what pushed you to continue the connection after the event ended.
What to include in your essay:
Paragraph 2
How the Relationship Was Built
This paragraph is where the relationship begins to deepen. Show consistency, intentional communication, and genuine effort over time. The strongest essays make the relationship feel active rather than accidental.
What to include in your essay:
Paragraph 3
Mutual Value and Contribution
A strong relationship essay should not feel one-sided. This paragraph explains how you also contributed value to the relationship, making it feel mutual rather than dependent.
What to include in your essay:
Paragraph 4
What the Relationship Taught You
Close with a reflection. The final paragraph should explain the lasting impact of the relationship and what it taught you about meaningful connections, mentorship, and intentional networking.
What to include in your essay:
PARAGRAPH 1
Two years ago, I attended a youth empowerment and leadership conference where I met Dr Alimi Omar, who was a senior advisor at the state ministry of Youth and Social Development. As a young professional myself, I had a lot of questions, and I recall asking him during his panel session, but due to time constraints, he couldn’t answer my question. I was told to meet him after the conference. Sadly, I still didn’t get the opportunity to meet him after the conference, and that’s when I decided to send an email.
Technique:
This paragraph introduces the relationship through curiosity and initiative rather than emotion. The relationship begins because the applicant intentionally chooses to continue the interaction after the conference ends.
Breakdown:
PARAGRAPH 1
Two years ago, I attended a youth empowerment and leadership conference where I met Dr Alimi Omar, who was a senior advisor at the state ministry of Youth and Social Development. As a young professional myself, I had a lot of questions, and I recall asking him during his panel session, but due to time constraints, he couldn’t answer my question. I was told to meet him after the conference. Sadly, I still didn’t get the opportunity to meet him after the conference, and that’s when I decided to send an email.
This paragraph introduces the relationship through curiosity and initiative rather than emotion. The relationship begins because the applicant intentionally chooses to continue the interaction after the conference ends.
Breakdown: