<p>I have these essay ideas for my common app essays, do you guys think these would make strong essays? I would love some input</p>
<p>I went to a currency auction last summer in NYC. Due to laws and regulations I had to have someone over 18 with me if I place bids over $1,000, so I had my mother come. I just registered and got my bidder paddle when I was in the lot viewing room checking out some lots and taking notes. Suddenly without warning a member of the auction staff came into the room in a panic, and rather rudely asked me “what do you think you’re doing?” I simply replied “I’m viewing my lots”. He picked up my bidder paddle which was sitting next to me and said something along the lines of “Sorry, to bid in our auction you must of legal age”. I said that I understood, and that my mother, who was sitting right next to me, would be doing the bidding (its sort of complicated how this stuff works, I can raise my paddle, but technically since she is my mother and over 18 she is technically the one bidding, and the one responsible for any debts incurred). Eventually after some talking he angrily walked away. I later placed my bids and won a few lots, but I was in a bad mood and was embittered toward the auction company from that point on…
What I learned from this experience is that as I pursue my goals in life, fulfill my ambitions, there will be those who stand in my way. Similarly, the best way to earn respect is to deserve it, and I learned that I can cope and prosper in hostile environments. </p>
<p>I guess for my second essay I could write about my high school wrestling experience. </p>
<p>Basically, since middle school I always wanted to wrestle, but to be honest I was too fat and/or out of shape to be comfortable competing in sports. So, over the summer and before wrestling season I made if my mission to lose weight and get in shape to join the wrestling team. My freshman year I joined the wrestling team, and somehow made it onto the varsity squad (I was the only freshman). That was the good part, the bad part is I lost every single match, badly. I was up against high school juniors and seniors, I basically went into each match knowing that I would lose. When you wrestle in front of a crowd there are really no excuses. There are no team mates to cover up for you, when you get pinned, when you lose, it is simply you there being defeated and watching your opponents hand raise in victory.
So, then once the season was over and into the summer I started working out more and training for the next season. Then, the very first match of my sophomore year I pinned my first opponent. Finally, I am now a senior and I am captain of the team. I went from losing every single match my freshman year to being team captain.
This experience taught me humility, and I guess more importantly I have nothing to lose from failure. It virtually removed me fear of failure, I became much more outgoing. I asked out girls, I even started the badminton team at my school.</p>
<p>Do you guys think these are strong essay ideas? I’m mostly applying to schools in the south. Also, my GPA is a bit low (3.3/4.0) but my test scores are great, would stellar essays help my chances with the schools I want to go to?</p>