<p>Hi, I was writing an essay about how I used to have no confidence in myself because of the way I was treated in middle school but how I've grown into a more confident person through high school</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts about bringing up old weaknesses in essays, as it could be bad to display these, right? Will this sound too much like a sob story of what a loser I used to be? Will people think I still am just a generally unconfident person?</p>
<p>It’s not inherently good or bad to talk about this. If you feel motivated to write about this, that’s OK.</p>
<p>The focus of the essay should not be on what a loser you used to be. The focus should be on your transformation into confident winner. They’ll believe that you are the type of person that you show them you are.</p>
<p>This is just my personal take, but I would shy away from topics like this on an college essay. If I was an adcom I’d ask myself what would happen to the applicant if they ended up on a dorm floor where the kids weren’t friendly? Would all the old demons resurface? And just about nobody is a perfect angel or demon; if I was reading an essay along the lines you suggested in the back of my mind would be the question of whether the author may have contributed to the problem, however unententionally.</p>
<p>Better, IMHO, to focus on positives about you and your life. But like I said, that’s just my opinion.</p>
<p>On the contrary, adcoms love to see transformation and maturity. However, be sure the essay comes off leaving the reader positive. Focus on the change and the confidence now, without omitting your past that you feel is important. </p>
<p>It won’t be a sob story if you don’t write it like one. :)</p>
<p>I agree with mikemac. This doesn’t sound like an ‘overcoming adversity’ essay as much as a typical ‘middle schoolers were mean to me 3 years ago, but I got over it.’ Middle schoolers are pretty much mean to everyone and surviving middle school is surely an achievement we can all be proud of, but not one that differentiates you significantly from all the other applicants. I’d find some more unique challenge that you’ve overcome and how how did it to write about.</p>
<p>The key idea is: what transformed you? Some experience, some effort you made despite having to overcome fears, or? The personal statement is supposed to “show not tell.” Meaning, you don’t ask the readers to take it on your say so. You show them, through an experience (or several) that they can engage with. And, you prove out the chages in some worthwhile way. You want them to see it in your essay, believe it and, like you for it. Not just get a lengthy bio. Don’t spend more than the bare minimum on the old weakness- a line or two is ok. The point should be the turning point and how it allowed you to evolve.</p>
<p>I agree that it could be a dangerous topic to take on, but only in that it would have to be done very well. If this is truly what you feel most passionate about tackling in your college essay, do it. But be careful that it focuses on the positive, and tells a story only YOU could tell, in a way only YOU could tell it.</p>