Topic for obstacle faced?

[asquared]

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One of the toughest challenges I've had to face was when I was "kicked out" of a club. Here's the story:
I was part of my college's ambassadors program, which was selective and had an application process. During my first semester of service I put in all of the required minimum hours and attended all trainings. However, I had booked a trip abroad during winter break that caused me to miss the "mandatory" spring training. Even though I had explained this to the club coordinator and emailed him repeatedly with suggestions for making up the session, I heard nothing back. Assuming everything was fine, when I came back, I participated in some activities and about a month into the semester, I got a shocking email that I had been "let go" because of the training and false accusations of acting unprofessionally and meeting only the minimum requirements. (Note: another girl missed the training and was not let go) I spent about 2 months trying to meet with the coordinator to understand what had happened but he was totally unwilling to meet and rude. It took me going to the dean before he would meet with me. The meeting wasn't great but at least I was able to explain my stance and gain some kind of closure.

tl;dr Unfairly kicked out of club, had to fight to meet with coordinator and gain some kind of explanation.

Could I talk about this during secondaries, i.e. the process of getting help and closure/fighting for myself OR would it be looked negatively upon since, technically, I was booted?

Thanks in advance.

 

[asquared]

This wouldn't be my "personal challenge" essay... I'm thinking of including this for "toughest feedback" essays

 

[NeuResurgens]

While an adversity, it seems minor. What about something that affected you deeply or you struggled with?

What kind of experiences that many people have had are typically good to write about for the greatest challenge? I've had challenges but my life hasn't been "hard" (i.e. Poverty, discrimination as a minority, severe bullying, traumatic or otherwise death in the family, abuse etc.)

I haven't had anything like these, so I'm worried my personal challenge essays might come across as a weak minded privileged kid whining about how hard a relatively minor challenge was.

 

[caffeinemia]

One of these days, I wish someone would have the balls to say:

"I am the only child of parents who worked hard to provide me everything. They paid for all of my educational and social successes with good parenting and copious amounts of monetary support. All the bull that I could list as a challenge would really just be a trifle compared to the considerable challenges some of my peers have faced. I can't change that fact, so I would say that the toughest challenge in my life has been realizing that I need to do something for myself and for my world and get off of my privileged ass."

That would impress. 😀

 

[NeuResurgens]

One of these days, I wish someone would have the balls to say:

"I am the only child of parents who worked hard to provide me everything. They paid for all of my educational and social successes with good parenting and copious amounts of monetary support. All the bull that I could list as a challenge would really just be a trifle compared to the considerable challenges some of my peers have faced. I can't change that fact, so I would say that the toughest challenge in my life has been realizing that I need to do something for myself and for my world and get off of my privileged ass."

That would impress. 😀

I've literally considered this. I feel like a tool when I think about writing about my greatest challenge when I've had such a comparatively good life and with an awareness of what many other people go through.

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

One of these days, I wish someone would have the balls to say:

"I am the only child of parents who worked hard to provide me everything. They paid for all of my educational and social successes with good parenting and copious amounts of monetary support. All the bull that I could list as a challenge would really just be a trifle compared to the considerable challenges some of my peers have faced. I can't change that fact, so I would say that the toughest challenge in my life has been realizing that I need to do something for myself and for my world and get off of my privileged ass."

That would impress. 😀

For whom much is given, much is expected.

 

[ngc 2170]

One of these days, I wish someone would have the balls to say:

"I am the only child of parents who worked hard to provide me everything. They paid for all of my educational and social successes with good parenting and copious amounts of monetary support. All the bull that I could list as a challenge would really just be a trifle compared to the considerable challenges some of my peers have faced. I can't change that fact, so I would say that the toughest challenge in my life has been realizing that I need to do something for myself and for my world and get off of my privileged ass."

That would impress. 😀

My response to a "challenging obstacle" question during an interview was similar to what you describe (some modifications for my actual situation). I basically said that any challenges I could talk about would pale in comparison to what many others have to face. That said, I had a difficult time with adjusting to urban life in college from my small hometown.

The faculty interviewer seemed satisfied with that and even told me he appreciated my honesty/recognition that others face far greater obstacles than I have.

 

[asquared]

Wait... so back to my original post, would it be appropriate for an interview or a secondary?

 

[Hospitalized]

Don't think of it in terms of the actual events of the challenge rather what impacted you, how you handled it, etc. So for the OP here, expressing/explaining what it mean, why it meant, how it impacted you and, most importantly how you dealt with in terms of both action and psychological effects. For example, I had a brilliant student (like Sheldon level) who discussed getting his first B in a class, which just devastated him. Yet it led to a very frank discussion on the impact of never learning to fail and the importance of that missing lesson both for himself and for understanding others. Others I have heard about have been as seemingly trivial as losing a pet, breaking the one fragile tea cup that was given to her by a grandmother, etc.

Is it appropriate to expand on a topic that you touched on in your PS for a secondary prompt like this?

 

[LizzyM]

One of the toughest challenges I've had to face was when I was "kicked out" of a club. Here's the story:
I was part of my college's ambassadors program, which was selective and had an application process. During my first semester of service I put in all of the required minimum hours and attended all trainings. However, I had booked a trip abroad during winter break that caused me to miss the "mandatory" spring training. Even though I had explained this to the club coordinator and emailed him repeatedly with suggestions for making up the session, I heard nothing back. Assuming everything was fine, when I came back, I participated in some activities and about a month into the semester, I got a shocking email that I had been "let go" because of the training and false accusations of acting unprofessionally and meeting only the minimum requirements. (Note: another girl missed the training and was not let go) I spent about 2 months trying to meet with the coordinator to understand what had happened but he was totally unwilling to meet and rude. It took me going to the dean before he would meet with me. The meeting wasn't great but at least I was able to explain my stance and gain some kind of closure.

tl;dr Unfairly kicked out of club, had to fight to meet with coordinator and gain some kind of explanation.

Could I talk about this during secondaries, i.e. the process of getting help and closure/fighting for myself OR would it be looked negatively upon since, technically, I was booted?

Thanks in advance.

You faced a tough challenged and failed. First of all, the challenge was being being kicked out of a "club" for non-participation in mandatory activities and minimal participation otherwise and behaving in an unprofessional way. Tough "club"; I've never heard of a club with with so many requirements. Are you sure this wasn't a paid job, so to speak as it is at one school that I found on a Google search? So, you were selected for a minimum wage job that had required training sessions, you missed the training sessions, got fired, bitched about it, demanded and eventually got a meeting with a big boss, didn't get your job back but at least felt some closure. Nah, don't use this for an essay, it is really weak and doesn't show your problem solving skills or anything positive about yourself.

 

[Affiche]

there seems to be a lot of people choosing topics for this secondary that involves being accused of something that the applicant swears isn't true. I'm not an adcom, but IMHO that isn't an obstacle and it definitely isn't something you've overcome. Every time I read these secondary ideas, it sounds like the OP is refusing to take responsibility and it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Surely you don't want your secondary to cause adcoms to have the same reaction.

 

[Affiche]

Edit: double post

 

[asquared]

You faced a tough challenged and failed. First of all, the challenge was being being kicked out of a "club" for non-participation in mandatory activities and minimal participation otherwise and behaving in an unprofessional way. Tough "club"; I've never heard of a club with with so many requirements. Are you sure this wasn't a paid job, so to speak as it is at one school that I found on a Google search? So, you were selected for a minimum wage job that had required training sessions, you missed the training sessions, got fired, bitched about it, demanded and eventually got a meeting with a big boss, didn't get your job back but at least felt some closure. Nah, don't use this for an essay, it is really weak and doesn't show your problem solving skills or anything positive about yourself.

Ouch. No, that's not what happened, I don't think I accurately described what happened. However, I can see your point in that no matter how I try to explain what happened it's going to come across the wrong way.

Thank you for the advice.

 

[asquared]

On a different note, I had a different idea for the personal challenge essay: I got a name change when I was 15 for several reasons, the main being that I felt my first name didn't accurately reflect who I was. The process was difficult, like finding a new name and convincing people to call me a different name -- can this be a good topic for a personal challenge? I learned a lot about how I define myself and keeping an open mind.

 

[hoihaie]

On a different note, I had a different idea for the personal challenge essay: I got a name change when I was 15 for several reasons, the main being that I felt my first name didn't accurately reflect who I was. The process was difficult, like finding a new name and convincing people to call me a different name -- can this be a good topic for a personal challenge? I learned a lot about how I define myself and keeping an open mind.

out of curiosity... what type of change in your name? from average joe to average john? foreign to american? gender-related? native american to average joe? or vise versa?

 

[Goro]

I must agree with my young future colleague. Having two kids always makes me aware that there are two sides to every story.

there seems to be a lot of people choosing topics for this secondary that involves being accused of something that the applicant swears isn't true. I'm not an adcom, but IMHO that isn't an obstacle and it definitely isn't something you've overcome. Every time I read these secondary ideas, it sounds like the OP is refusing to take responsibility and it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Surely you don't want your secondary to cause adcoms to have the same reaction.

You're joking, right? If not, do you realize how trivial this sounds?

On a different note, I had a different idea for the personal challenge essay: I got a name change when I was 15 for several reasons, the main being that I felt my first name didn't accurately reflect who I was. The process was difficult, like finding a new name and convincing people to call me a different name -- can this be a good topic for a personal challenge? I learned a lot about how I define myself and keeping an open mind.

 

[Grace184]

One of the toughest challenges I've had to face was when I was "kicked out" of a club. Here's the story:
I was part of my college's ambassadors program, which was selective and had an application process. During my first semester of service I put in all of the required minimum hours and attended all trainings. However, I had booked a trip abroad during winter break that caused me to miss the "mandatory" spring training. Even though I had explained this to the club coordinator and emailed him repeatedly with suggestions for making up the session, I heard nothing back. Assuming everything was fine, when I came back, I participated in some activities and about a month into the semester, I got a shocking email that I had been "let go" because of the training and false accusations of acting unprofessionally and meeting only the minimum requirements. (Note: another girl missed the training and was not let go) I spent about 2 months trying to meet with the coordinator to understand what had happened but he was totally unwilling to meet and rude. It took me going to the dean before he would meet with me. The meeting wasn't great but at least I was able to explain my stance and gain some kind of closure.

tl;dr Unfairly kicked out of club, had to fight to meet with coordinator and gain some kind of explanation.

Could I talk about this during secondaries, i.e. the process of getting help and closure/fighting for myself OR would it be looked negatively upon since, technically, I was booted?

Thanks in advance.

Why is everything in "quotations?" That's "sketchy" and sounds like you are "bending the truth"

 

[Grace184]

On a different note, I had a different idea for the personal challenge essay: I got a name change when I was 15 for several reasons, the main being that I felt my first name didn't accurately reflect who I was. The process was difficult, like finding a new name and convincing people to call me a different name -- can this be a good topic for a personal challenge? I learned a lot about how I define myself and keeping an open mind.

No. Just no. Don't brainstorm on here. Make a list on paper and think it through really, really hard before posting.

 

[Inventor of Post-Its]

out of curiosity... what type of change in your name? from average joe to average john? foreign to american? gender-related? native american to average joe? or vise versa?

I don't think that's a question to ask just out of curiosity, I think it's essential to know to answer the question. If it's gender or race-related, that in itself can be a challenge. But if it's "I always just felt I was more of an Elizabeth than a Rebecca," then....I really hope someone wouldn't seriously write an essay about how hard that was on them.

 

[Affiche]

But if it's "I always just felt I was more of an Elizabeth than a Rebecca"

🤣🤣🤣

 

[Donald Juan]

On a different note, I had a different idea for the personal challenge essay: I got a name change when I was 15 for several reasons, the main being that I felt my first name didn't accurately reflect who I was. The process was difficult, like finding a new name and convincing people to call me a different name -- can this be a good topic for a personal challenge? I learned a lot about how I define myself and keeping an open mind.

I don't know if there is more to this story, but at face value it sounds like a terrible hardship to write about.

 

[Sourgrapesss]

On a different note, I had a different idea for the personal challenge essay: I got a name change when I was 15 for several reasons, the main being that I felt my first name didn't accurately reflect who I was. The process was difficult, like finding a new name and convincing people to call me a different name -- can this be a good topic for a personal challenge? I learned a lot about how I define myself and keeping an open mind.

lol

 

[starlite911]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but since it doesn't seem as if any solid topics are being suggested, I thought I'd ask a question about one here vs. starting a new thread.

Would writing about overcoming a fear of/aversion to public speaking be a good topic? I realize that in the realm of things, this isn't a huge obstacle or challenge. However, it is something I struggled with for awhile, enlisted resources to help me overcome it, and can provide evidence that I am now very adept and comfortable with public speaking. Although there are more dramatic aspects of my past I could probably write about, I think this is a topic about which I can speak to passionately and extensively, including the steps I took to overcome it, which is what the purpose of these prompts appear to be anyways.

However, I don't want it to appear too trivial. Thoughts?

 

[Sourgrapesss]

.

 

[jd989898]

I've been brainstorming for an adversity topic all day. After a lot of deliberation, I think I've finally settled on a story. It's not ideal, but it should do. Basically, I used to live in a house where the satellite signal was ABYSMAL. I mean I'd have to get up and adjust the antenna every 5 minutes (which essentially renders TV shows unwatchable because you keep missing pivotal points in the plot). Also, having to get up and sit down so many times made me more prone to losing the remote. Just as the signal comes in clear, the commercial starts and you have to get up once again to change the channel. It really doesn't sound that bad in writing, but it was honestly a nightmare. Nearly impossible to relax after a long day of volunteering/studying.

 

[Cotterpin]

Lol.

For real, though, I've been trying to decide what to write about for adversity essays and I've been debating with myself over whether quitting smoking (I was a heavy smoker for 8 years) counts as overcoming anything since it's my own damn fault I started smoking in the first place. Thoughts?

 

[deleted393595]

I've been brainstorming for an adversity topic all day. After a lot of deliberation, I think I've finally settled on a story. It's not ideal, but it should do. Basically, I used to live in a house where the satellite signal was ABYSMAL. I mean I'd have to get up and adjust the antenna every 5 minutes (which essentially renders TV shows unwatchable because you keep missing pivotal points in the plot). Also, having to get up and sit down so many times made me more prone to losing the remote. Just as the signal comes in clear, the commercial starts and you have to get up once again to change the channel. It really doesn't sound that bad in writing, but it was honestly a nightmare. Nearly impossible to relax after a long day of volunteering/studying.

Amplified or unamplified antenna?

 

[starlite911]

Lol.

For real, though, I've been trying to decide what to write about for adversity essays and I've been debating with myself over whether quitting smoking (I was a heavy smoker for 8 years) counts as overcoming anything since it's my own damn fault I started smoking in the first place. Thoughts?

For what it's worth, I think the essays are supposed to focus on the strategies you used to overcome something and how it made you a better person. Yes, you started smoking in the first place, but it's an addiction, which is hard to overcome, and you successfully used strategies to do so.

You might want to get another opinion from somehow who has more experience with this, however.

 

[caffeinemia]

I must agree with my young future colleague. Having two kids always makes me aware that there are two sides to every story.





You're joking, right? If not, do you realize how trivial this sounds?

So. what you're saying is... the cat-dad position to your children is taken? Dangit Goro.

 

[tunicaexterna]

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