12 hours of writing-still no topic. HELP!

<p>I just wrote 2 essays with open prompts and I talked about: </p>

<li>how my parents never came to any of my school/ec events as a kid and how that made me more independent</li>
<li>how i became a better leader through my environmental club.</li>
</ol>

<p>The first is well written, but covers too common of a topic, and the second is too boring
After much outside critiquing, i realized that neither of these are strong enough for the schools I’m applying to (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.) </p>

<p>(please pick the 2 you think would be most interesting, memorable, and significant/encompassing many aspects of my character)</p>

<p>Possible topics:</p>

<p>significant person-through my holocaust art competition, i met the woman who I used as a starting point for my painting-i was surprised that she was at the ceremony, and she made me not only want to go to an east coast school, but also taught me forgiveness, courage, etc.</p>

<p>leadership-how i convinced people that digging through trash cans for water bottles is worthwhile</p>

<p>random-how i’ve had a digital watch forever and how i’ve learned to not let time control me</p>

<p>or </p>

<p>-my inability to read road maps because i lack spatial skills (this is for real. i get lost all the time) and how it has affected my definition of intelligence + my inability to do logic puzzles though i have straight As, helping me see the different qualities in my classmates/my capacity for growth?</p>

<p>family-how my father’s work in China has made me realize the way my own work was isolating myself from family/friends</p>

<p>DEF sig person IMO.</p>

<p>Then I really, really like the leadership thing if it is written well.</p>

<p>NOT the family one for various reasons and it is too late to type that much (unless you want the reasons of course)</p>

<p>The road maps one COULD be negative.... but very, very interesting.
The digital watch one could turn cliche. It needs to be written well and have a 'selling point'. So I guess my second choice would be one of the random ones.</p>

<p>Choose the topic that will allow you to write the most personal, detailed, honest and revealing essay.</p>

<p>Total strangers cannot know what will be most revealing of you. </p>

<p>
[quote]
The first is well written, but covers too common of a topic

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It's not the topic, it's what you do with the topic. </p>

<p>There are no cliche topics. There are only cliche treatments of topics.</p>

<p>Think about which topic would let you lead with an interesting scene or story--show, don't tell. For example, if you write about the woman you used as the starting point for your painting, you might start by putting yourself at the ceremony.</p>

<p>i like the one about the significant person.
i'm no expert on essays, but i think this is the one that'll really help you come alive and show your character</p>