Step 1: Read your statement, figure out the overarching theme, then cut out segments - stories, anecdotes, whatever - that don't relate to the overall theme
Step 2: Go through sentence by sentence. Ask yourself after each sentence, what is the point of this sentence? What am I trying to convey? How does it relate to my theme. Cut out things that don't have a point or are essentially repeating things you have already said
Step 3: "Why waste time, say lot word when few word do trick?" - people feel the need to be way more verbose when writing personal statements for some reason. You want your natural voice to come out, use normal words and descriptions. That can save a ton of characters. And relating to #2, if you can make the same point in 1 sentence that you are currently making in 3, then make the point in 1 sentence.
I only read for people I know personally and given you are around 2000 characters over the limit, you are much farther from being complete than where I like to come in anyways, but hopefully that advice helps you.
