<p>I have an essay from a previous application centering around a quote from my grandmother- “give things their own teeth”- i.e. don’t become too comfortable, allow certain goals to get under your skin; don’t be afraid to want something or to struggle for it. The essay discusses an experience of mine in which I was struggling in an audiovisual class (holding the quality of work to a standard that wasn’t especially attainable given the limited resources; basically deeming my footage unusable) and gradually came to grasp its meaning, accepted that I would stuggle, and was ultimately very successful. It’s currently roughly four times the recommended length, but I’ve been told it’s compelling as is and wouldn’t be difficult to cut (it was an expansion of a 250-word piece in the first place). </p>
<p>I’m wondering if it would reflect well to select my own quote in this case or if it might come across as obviously recycled piece.</p>