To be honest I'm having some trouble with pre-writing some essays without seeming too generic. For example, one essay I'm finding difficult is the challenge essay. I've faced a lot of challenges in life but nothing has stood out to me that's worth writing. I'm wondering if it may be okay to just take a break from the academic side of the application and use some humor or less serious topics. Would it be appropriate to respond to the significant challenge prompt with the following funny story?:
When I was a child, my dad used to tell me and my siblings about a gorilla that lived in our dark, damp, and cluttered basement under the stairs. He’d threaten to put us downstairs with the gorilla if we misbehaved. I was so terrified that I wouldn’t dare step foot in the basement without every light on. The story worked for a while to keep us in line, but as the middle child of five, I naturally pushed boundaries. One day, I pushed my dad’s buttons so much that he scooped me up and started toward the basement, insisting I’d meet the gorilla. I remember kicking and screaming, begging him to change his mind. He set me down, locked the door, and left me in the dark. At first, I was petrified, convinced the gorilla was lurking nearby. But then I decided that if I could befriend the gorilla, I wouldn’t have to fear it. It was then I realized there was no gorilla, and the fear I had built up in my mind was entirely my own creation. This childhood story has stayed with me as a valuable metaphor. Whenever I’m scared or feel uncertain about my abilities, I think about the gorilla in the basement. I’ve learned to confront my fears and embrace the unknown rather than letting it paralyze me. Whether it’s starting something new or facing a difficult situation, I now approach challenges with resilience and curiosity. As I prepare for medical school, I know there will be daunting moments, but I’m ready to embrace them: gorillas and all.
*Note: I realize this is kinda a stupid story but I'm getting tired of writing the same generic essays that I know every other applicant will be writing about. What advice do people have for not being generic or sounding stereotypical?
When I was a child, my dad used to tell me and my siblings about a gorilla that lived in our dark, damp, and cluttered basement under the stairs. He’d threaten to put us downstairs with the gorilla if we misbehaved. I was so terrified that I wouldn’t dare step foot in the basement without every light on. The story worked for a while to keep us in line, but as the middle child of five, I naturally pushed boundaries. One day, I pushed my dad’s buttons so much that he scooped me up and started toward the basement, insisting I’d meet the gorilla. I remember kicking and screaming, begging him to change his mind. He set me down, locked the door, and left me in the dark. At first, I was petrified, convinced the gorilla was lurking nearby. But then I decided that if I could befriend the gorilla, I wouldn’t have to fear it. It was then I realized there was no gorilla, and the fear I had built up in my mind was entirely my own creation. This childhood story has stayed with me as a valuable metaphor. Whenever I’m scared or feel uncertain about my abilities, I think about the gorilla in the basement. I’ve learned to confront my fears and embrace the unknown rather than letting it paralyze me. Whether it’s starting something new or facing a difficult situation, I now approach challenges with resilience and curiosity. As I prepare for medical school, I know there will be daunting moments, but I’m ready to embrace them: gorillas and all.
*Note: I realize this is kinda a stupid story but I'm getting tired of writing the same generic essays that I know every other applicant will be writing about. What advice do people have for not being generic or sounding stereotypical?
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