Essay Therapy

The past month has been consumed with non-stop application reading.  The hundreds and hundreds of recommendations differ slightly, but are generally template oriented and say very much the same thing.  It’s the essays that really tell a student’s story.  And this year, more than in past years, students are telling a story.  And some of the stories are tough.

We read our share of essays about athletics or parents being an influential part of an applicant’s life, or about a wonderful family vacation.  However, it’s the stories that obviously require a student to open themselves up that really get your attention.  I’m calling it “essay therapy”.  And I think this year my applicants are taking full advantage of it. 

In the past few weeks I’ve read essays about school shootings, drug addiction, depression, family abuse, pregnancies, being homeless, bullying, family deaths, cancer, not having an identity, family members with disabilities, and even about a father not calling home for a birthday.  These essays make me realize how much students deal with and how well many of them are able to hold things together.  These same students are accomplishing amazing things in the classroom, on the athletic fields, on the stage, in their community, and yes with their families. 

When students show a willingness to open up and write eloquently about their lives it makes me confident that they are capable of handling the challenges of college and will be able to overcome other obstacles that get in their way.  Students that have overcome hardships and difficulties and are willing to make those accomplishments part of their story is generally ready to take on more.  I wouldn’t wish these difficulties in life on others, but it’s clear that these students have coped with, or are coping with their struggles in a way that will ultimately make them stronger.

Perhaps writing a college essay about such difficult topics makes couping easier.  In some cases it may even bring closure to a situation.  By putting it down on paper it makes a student realize that any situation, no matter how horrible, is part of their story.  It also requires to student to realize how a situation has changed them and that part of that change is possibly positive. 

These essays are tough to read, I’m sure tough to write, but even tougher to live through.  I hope that your holiday season provides you with nothing but happy times!  Happy Holidays!!!!!!