Hey everyone, I'm planning to answer Prompt 2 of the Common App ('The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?'). I'm kind of stuck on choosing a topic and how to write about it. Can anyone share some insight on how to tackle this prompt?
Hey there! I completely understand the challenge of selecting a topic for this prompt, but don't worry, I'm here to help. When approaching this prompt, it's essential to focus on personal growth and reflection. Here are some steps to get you started:
1. Brainstorm potential topics: Think about challenges, setbacks, or failures you've experienced that significantly impacted you. These can include anything from academic struggles, personal conflicts, extracurricular setbacks, or even challenging experiences in your community or family.
2. Reflect on your growth: Once you've identified a few potential topics, consider the lessons you learned or how you've grown from each experience. Personal growth and self-awareness are key aspects that admission officers will be looking for in your essay.
3. Be specific: After selecting a topic and identifying your growth, zero in on a specific moment, event, or situation within that experience. This will allow you to provide a detailed and engaging narrative.
4. Focus on your emotions: Describe your emotions associated with the challenge, setback, or failure, and be genuine in expressing these feelings. This will help the reader empathize with you and understand your thought process.
5. Conclude with a takeaway: End your essay by summarizing the important lessons you learned from your experience and how these lessons have contributed to future successes or shaped who you are today. This will give your essay a strong, forward-looking conclusion.
As an example, let's say you struggled with a difficult math course in your sophomore year and, despite your efforts, didn't achieve the grade you wanted. You could describe the specific challenges faced in the class, how you felt when you didn't meet your expectations and the steps you took to overcome the setback (studying smarter, seeking tutoring, etc.). Finally, you could mention how this experience taught you the importance of persistence and adapting to new strategies which, in turn, helped you improve in future math classes or other areas of your life.
Good luck! Remember to be genuine, reflective, and personal while writing your essay.
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