I'm writing a college essay on the lessons I've taken away from challenges I've faced. Is there any advice to make this essay stand out or specific examples you've seen work well? Thanks for any guidance in advance!
Hello! It's good to see that you're working on your college essay, and tackling lessons learned from obstacles can be a compelling topic. Here are a few suggestions to make it impactful and engaging:
1. Be specific and personal: Select a challenge you've faced that is personal and significant to you, rather than a general difficulty that many people experience. Make sure you convey the unique aspects and emotions related to the obstacle, so the reader can connect and empathize with your story.
2. Show growth and self-awareness: Your essay should highlight how overcoming the challenge has helped you mature and gain insight. Reflect on the lessons you learned, and how they have shaped your perspective, attitude, and behavior. Admissions officers want to see how you can learn from your experiences and use them for personal growth.
3. Make it action-oriented: Instead of just explaining the obstacle and what you learned, demonstrate how you put these lessons into practice. Show how you applied the knowledge or skill in a real-world scenario. This could be anything from initiating a project in school, to joining a club or volunteer activity, or becoming more resilient in your daily life.
One example of a successful essay might be about a student who faced difficulties due to a disability. The student could explain how the disability initially limited their academic or extracurricular involvement, but later led them to discover their passion for advocacy. They could then detail how they started a club in school to raise awareness about the disability, and how this experience taught them the value of perseverance, empathy, and leadership.
To learn more about this prompt, read this blog post: https://blog.collegevine.com/why-this-common-app-essay-worked-prompt-2-the-lessons-we-take/
In summary, to make an essay about lessons taken from obstacles stand out, be specific and personal in describing the challenge, focus on personal growth and self-awareness, and illustrate how the lessons learned were applied to real-life situations. Ensure that your essay paints a vivid picture and leaves the reader with a strong sense of your character, growth, and passion. Best of luck with your essay!
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