What topics should I stay away from?

OnMyWay2013
Thu, 14 Aug 2014 22:06:20 +0000

I think any “cliche” can be written in a unique way, and having a unique topic will not in itself make your essay good. But some things I have seen frequently, specifically for challenges that have been overcome:


Racial / Cultural : Dealing with coming to a new country, being a first-generation immigrant stuck between the parents’ home country and America, coming to accept the parents’ country / cultural, being privileged and travelling to a poorer country, and minorities using their hair as a metaphor for their identity
Academic : Learning to speak English, struggling in a class, dealing with a learning disability, overcoming a fear of public speaking
Extracurriculars : Having a tough job, having to audition or prepare for a selective team, club, or performance
Personal : Dealing with loss of a family member or friend, dealing with physical illness / injury, mental illness or addiction, accepting or breaking free from introversion or shyness, coping with poverty, divorce or parental abandonment / abuse, dealing with stereotypes