Food banks change lives in many ways
I grew up in a decidedly middle-class family. We’re not wealthy by any accounts, but I don’t remember a single time when we had to be frugal when shopping for groceries. I never had to wonder if I’d get that cake or candy. Whatever toys I wanted when I was a kid, I got them.
Before I turned 15, I’d already been to 6 countries. My parents both work in investment banking, so going abroad for holidays was never an issue. Whenever I struggled with any subject at school, I simply had to tell my mom, and she’d find a tutor to help me catch up and excel.
Two years ago, I went to the local food bank to volunteer with my classmates. And that was a wake-up call for me: not everyone is as lucky as I am.
Of course, I knew that poverty exists, in the same way as I knew that the sky is blue or that humans need oxygen. Yet, it’s one thing to read about it and a completely different one to talk with those struggling to put food on their tables face to face.
Suddenly, my GPA of 4.1 and the trophies that I helped win as the captain of the school’s women’s football team seemed unimportant. Some of the food bank visitors told me stories of their time at school, and a few of them also had good grades – and a promising future. Then came the pandemic, the layoffs, or the medical debt; the circumstances varied from person to person.
Those few hours opened my eyes to the injustices of this world. Shortly after that, I decided I had to make something of my privilege. And so, as I continued volunteering at that food bank every other week, I settled on pursuing a career in government.
My ultimate dream is to bring on a systematic change in how we treat those living below the poverty line. That can mean a higher minimum wage or a more robust safety net (e.g., food stamps). It can also involve dealing with skyrocketing rent costs, health insurance costs, medical debt, student debt… I know there’s no single cure.
If I get accepted to your institution, I won’t hesitate when selecting my major: I already know that your Government major is exactly what I need to start working toward my life’s goal. Although I’m aware that one person can’t bring on a radical change, I aspire to someday join a new generation of elected officials who make our country better for all people – not just the middle class and the wealthy.
In closing, Although I do not come from a disadvantaged background, I am painfully aware of the persisting inequality in our society. And while I don’t presume to know intimately what it’s like to live below the poverty line, I want to work closely with those who do to make their lives better – even if a bit. Your Government major is my best bet.
How to write an essay about yourself: 5 tips to find success
Did you like the example above? You can write one like that yourself – yes, even if you don’t believe so yet! All you need to do is follow these five tips from our experts.
- Make It Personal
An essay about yourself is obviously meant to be personal. Often enough, though, students don’t share any compelling details about their past, their aspirations, or their personal growth. So, bare your soul if you’re ready to – or, at least, share some personal experiences that shaped you.
That said, remember that you don’t have to describe your past traumatic experiences in detail – or at all – if you don’t want to.
- Tell a Story
Too many personal essays start with, “My name is…” and continue with a disjointed description of the author’s self-perceived traits. Instead of following in those footsteps, write your essay as a story. It can be the story of how you overcame a challenge or how you settled on pursuing a specific career.
- Don’t Skim Over the Details
A good story is specific, and details are key to making it so. So, mention places, add quotes, or describe how a certain event unfolded step by step. Your goal should be to transport the reader to the scene you’ve set. Just make sure to maintain the privacy of the people you want to mention: you can change their names or write only the first name.
- Invest Time into Editing
When you write an essay about yourself for a college application, you may be tempted to mention as many facts about yourself and your accomplishments as possible. But they may be too distracting or push you over the word count limit.
So, follow one of the golden rules of editing: “Kill your darlings.” It means deleting words, phrases, and whole paragraphs if they get in the way of the main narrative.
- Stay Authentic
If you start asking yourself, “But what do they want to read?”, stop right there and purge that thought from your mind. To be personal, an essay has to focus on what you want to tell your readers about, instead.
What to Do If You Get Stuck
Writer’s block can befall even the most experienced writers; that’s just the reality of the writing process. So, don’t beat yourself up if you get stuck! Instead, try these three tactics for dealing with writer’s block:
- Write a journal entry. Following a journaling prompt can help you do two things: get fresh ideas for the essay’s contents and overcome the fear of writing itself.
- Take a break. If you’re too overwhelmed by the act of writing or the perspective of telling a personal story, close the document and spend some time away from it. Move your body, go for a walk, or do something – anything – else.
- Get inspired. Read a personal essay from a published author, make a mind map of all the potential ideas for your essay, or check out examples and prompts online.
Finally, keep in mind that you’re always running a risk of taking longer to write your personal essay than you think. So, here’s one of the golden rules on how to write an essay about yourself: start working on it early! That way, you’ll have enough time to let it sit, polish it off – and overcome writer’s block if it strikes you.