What makes a strong 'story' in the EI narrative?

• A. A list of numbers and dates.
• B. An overall description of activities.
• C. A clear arc from challenge to action to impact, with participant voices.
• D. A focus on the team’s accolades.

Answer: (C)

A strong EI narrative sticks to a clear arc: a challenge you faced, the actions you took to address it, and the impact that followed, all brought to life with the voices of people involved. This arc shows not just what you did, but why you did it, how you decided on your approach, and what changed as a result. Including participant voices—quotes or reflections from students, mentors, or beneficiaries—gives authenticity and lets readers feel the real human effect of the work, not just the abstract outcome. Numbers or dates by themselves don’t tell the story of problem-solving or the learning that happened along the way, and a simple list of activities misses the decisions, obstacles, and shifts that led to results. Focusing on accolades shifts attention away from the actual problem and the hands-on impact. When you weave challenge, action, and impact together with genuine voices, the narrative becomes credible, relatable, and memorable.