Why You Don’t Have to Write about Trauma/Challenges in Your College Essays (and What to Do Instead)

Summary

This video script emphasizes that a great personal statement doesn't require writing about traumatic experiences. Instead, it should showcase a student's unique values and qualities, such as leadership, curiosity, and creativity. The speaker uses an essay example to illustrate how a student can weave different identities and values into their narrative, providing insight into their character beyond what's listed in their application. The script offers a step-by-step approach to writing an identity-style essay, encouraging students to explore their various identities and the values they represent, ultimately reflecting on the skills and values developed through these experiences.

Takeaways

• 📚 You don't need to write about traumatic challenges to create a great personal statement. You can write about any topic that shows your personality and interests.
• 🔍 The essay should highlight specific qualities or values that you will bring to the college campus, such as leadership, creativity, or intellectual curiosity.
• 🏀 The example essay discusses the student's love for basketball but also reveals their hidden passion for literature and writing, showing a multifaceted personality.
• 🌟 The essay demonstrates how to weave in different values such as leadership, curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and commitment to service.
• 💡 Insight is crucial in a personal statement. It involves revealing something about yourself that isn't obvious from other parts of your application.
• 🏆 Challenges can be mentioned in the essay, but they should not be the central focus. Instead, focus on the skills or qualities you've developed as a result of those challenges.
• 📈 The personal statement can provide context and insight into activities listed on your application, helping to paint a more complete picture of who you are.
• 📚 Reading and writing are shown as significant parts of the student's life, demonstrating intellectual vitality and a commitment to personal growth.
• 🌐 The student's exploration of East Asian culture and philosophy, as well as their involvement in various online discussion groups and writing competitions, shows a broad range of interests and a desire to learn.
• 🏡 The decision to homeschool after an injury allowed the student to explore their many interests more deeply, illustrating adaptability and a commitment to personal development.
• 🌱 The essay concludes by reflecting on what the student has learned from their various identities, emphasizing the skills and values they've gained and how they plan to use them to help others.

Q & A

What is the main point the video transcript is trying to convey about writing a personal statement?

The main point is that students do not need to write about traumatic challenges to create a great personal statement. They can write compelling essays on a variety of topics, including personal interests and experiences.

What are some examples of non-traumatic topics mentioned for personal statements?

Examples include an incredible trip, a childhood dream of flying, and interactions with animals in the environment.

What are the two things the speaker asks the audience to focus on while reading the example essay?

The audience should focus on identifying the values the student brings to the college campus and noticing how the student briefly discusses challenges without making them the central focus of the essay.

What does the speaker mean by 'values' in the context of the personal statement?

By 'values,' the speaker refers to specific qualities or characteristics that the student will contribute to the college campus, such as leadership, curiosity, creativity, and commitment to service.

How does the example essay demonstrate the student's leadership value?

The student demonstrates leadership by mentioning being the team captain of almost every team they played on and being the coach's right-hand person.

What is the significance of the student's interest in literature and writing in the example essay?

The student's interest in literature and writing shows their curiosity, creativity, and intellectual vitality, which are values they bring to the college campus.

What is the student's approach to discussing challenges in the example essay?

The student briefly mentions challenges, such as being bullied and experiencing sports injuries, but does not focus the entire essay on them. Instead, they highlight the skills and qualities they developed as a result of these challenges.

Why is it beneficial to mention challenges in a personal statement without focusing the entire essay on them?

This approach allows the student to honor their experiences without being defined solely by their challenges, presenting a more holistic view of their identity and growth.

What is the 'If You Really Knew Me' exercise mentioned in the transcript?

The 'If You Really Knew Me' exercise is a tool to help students brainstorm their different identities and the values they could showcase in their personal statement.

What is the structure of the simple outline suggested for writing an 'identity style' essay?

The structure involves writing a paragraph on each identity and the values associated with it, possibly including a moment that reflects how people respond to the expression of these identities, and concluding with what these identities have taught the student.

What resources does the speaker offer for students interested in further guidance on writing their personal statement?

The speaker offers a longer guide that accompanies the video, a podcast for a deeper dive into the topic, and mentions free one-on-one essay help for students on their website, collegeessayguy.com.