This post began as an introduction to a new Common App essay example I wrote for this blog. My intention was to illustrate how to write a themed essay. But as I started to explain how a theme is a nice approach for students who have not experienced and overcome difficulty, that foundation morphed into this essay.
When I first meet with students to discuss their personal statements, many express concern that they lack a “challenge” to write about—a life experience to reflect upon that showcases their ability to plow through and bounce back. And, if they have lived through a difficult time, they worry admissions officers won’t view their recovery as that exceptional since thousands of students have experienced a similar event. Divorce, coming out, not making a team, and now COVID are viewed as overdone topics that—unless nuanced or cleverly spun—no longer make a standout essay despite being well-written.
Illustrating one’s resilience has become a crown jewel of personal statements. But let’s get something straight: the hardship is not what makes the essay exceptional. The hardship is circumstance. Admissions officers are not judging the impact a lived experience has had on an applicant nor are they evaluating how defining a moment is to another person. Admissions officers are interested in what the student did to overcome the difficulty.
In a challenge-based essay, the event is the mechanism the student uses to narrate their personal constitution. These applicants offer original perspective and insight about their inner strength, and it’s that distinctive expression that captivates admissions officers. The essay is less about what happened and more about the student taking ownership of the situation, learning from it, and reflecting. They aren’t telling a story—it’s their story.
Here’s the thing: we all have resilience. It is part of the human condition. Sooner or later, life calls upon all of us to use ours. If you tense up, if you hold your breath when you’re stressed, if you cry easily—these are your responses to big moments. They do not make you any less resilient. It might not have been pretty and you might not have done it as gracefully as you’d hoped, but you found a way to make it through all of your trials and tribulations so far. That is resilience.
It is implied in every essay. Growing up isn’t easy. Even in the absence of hard moments we all learn lessons. Every experience—big or small—shapes us whether we realize it at the time or not.
And that’s the point of the personal statement.
Colleges and universities want to know more about who you are, what lessons you have learned, what is important to you, and how you have come to be you and less about what has happened to you. The personal statement is an opportunity for students to explain where they are in their personhood. It is a 650-word outward display of what’s on the inside. Earth-shattering revelations are not expected--honest vulnerability is.
There isn’t one way into the hearts of admissions officers, and there isn’t one way for students to tell their story. Whether the words easily pour out or it’s a months-long journey to find them, writing the personal statement is yet another experience that makes you…well…YOU.
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