truth

Essays:

As I try to sound enthusiastic about my umpteenth college application, weary of this stress-filled gauntlet I chose, I try to find something new to say about the school.

For many of the college essays I wrote, I actually was excited. I’ve been worried about these applications since fifth grade: now was my time to shine.

However, I came to discover that, in order to sound like yourself, you have to pick one part of your identity and exaggerate it grossly, making it seem like that one topic is all that you care about.

For a girl with varied interests and who gets distracted easily by many things, especially shiny objects, this was no mean feat. I had to prioritize parts of my persona, something that felt quite awkward.

Fortunately, many colleges defined who they are and what they want from their students quite well, making it easier to tailor my response to their expectations.