<p>Do you think for the mistake or mistaken idea question, I can use an example where I was exposed to something for the first time... like for example being exposed to poverty for the first time... is that a type of self-discovery or is this whole topic thwe wrong way to go?</p>
<p>I think that's just the sort of thing that might work well. Much depends on how well you show them who you are and what you discovered about yourself and your world.</p>
<p>bummpppp anymore opinions?</p>
<p>I think the only thing with "being exposed to poverty" is that it may sound a little hypocritical if you weren't exposed first hand but instead went on a field trip and saw homeless people living in boxes. I mean, unless you started doing community service and started donating your blood money to organizations to help with the poverty, it doesn't seem like you learned THAT much. Then again, I don't know your experience and reaction.</p>
<p>Also, it's good to not make yourself sound preachy.</p>
<p>It's very hard to write about an issue like poverty. We're all aware of it, we all think it's bad, and there isn't much that can be said about it in 500 words. It would be very difficult to write something about it that isn't trite. If you, yourself, became homeless, that might be different.</p>
<p>That's just an example, but in general, the "self-discovery" idea could definitely work. Personally, I think that small issues (i.e., not poverty) work best for such essays. I'm writing about an experience I had in gym class one day, and so far, it's going very well. But yeah, as long as you're a good writer and you're careful, you can write a good college essay about anything.</p>
<p>I agree with the previous posts, but I think the poverty thing could work if the experieces you relate are extremely real and not hypocritical. If you think something major changed in you as the result of the experience, then you're more likely to be able to write convincingly about it and show them who you are, than if you chose a less personal topic.</p>