I’m really struggling about what to write about for my college essay. I read that you aren’t supposed to talk about mental health because it can make colleges worry about how you’ll be on campus. I do struggle a lot with depression, but I didn’t really want to write about that anyway because it only affects my life negatively and doesn’t really show anything positive about me.
However, I do have an idea about writing it about panic attacks about presenting in front of the class. I’ve always been a nervous presenter, but from around 8th grade to 10th grade it was debilitating. I wouldn’t physically be able to speak because my throat would close up because of how nervous it made me. However, I joined debate club to force myself to become a better public speaker. The more I practiced and forced myself to speak in front of people during debate, I got more confident and comfortable presenting. During school I wasn’t having panic attacks anymore and now I am able to present without freaking out.
I’m concerned about this topic for a couple reasons, so tell me what you think. First, I didn’t do debate anymore after 10th grade, not because I didn’t want to but because I didn’t have time or a partner. I also was never really good and we lost most of our rounds. I’m also still not the best public speaker, as I still get nervous and shy. Usually stories like these in college essays seem to end with “but then I got better and better at debate and became the state champion and discovered my passion for public speaking and now I’m the president of the debate club and I want to major in public speaking.” None of this is me. Also, I don’t want to highlight the fact that I get anxious and panicky when it comes to speaking in front of people because that’s not exactly a favorable quality for a potential college student. I probably won’t refer to them as “panic attacks” but I’ll just explain that I would get really nervous (so they don’t know that I have a mental disorder).
I’m just trying to get a few opinions. I’ve been struggling for months to think of a good topic because I guess I’m just not that interesting. People keep saying “it doesn’t have to be a life changing, crazy experience” but I can’t even think of anything small that would be significant to write about in any way. Anyways, thanks for reading and for any advice you could provide!
I’m not sure the impression you want to give admissions officers is “the panic attack kid”, especially if this was several years ago. I’d keep fishing for a less “controversial” topic, one that is relevant to who you are now.
Yeah, that was my line of thinking too. Thanks, I’ll keep thinking. Hopefully, eventually I’ll come up with something (though this is due tomorrow for my English class so I better think fast). I’m more of a “thinker” than a “do-er” haha. If only that could be a good topic, although “girl that can never make up her mind and get anything done” probably isn’t a very favorable impression for admissions either!
Oh, too bad! I liked what you wrote and think it could’ve made a good essay. I wouldn’t be overly concerned that every experience doesn’t have a happy ending - life isn’t perfect, I think this sounds more genuine than a “I used to be panic stricken by public speaking, now I’m the captain of the debate team” essay
I don’t think that it matters that you are not part of the debate club any more. You joined it for a specific reason, it fulfilled that function for you, your life moved on and you continue to use what it taught you even if you don’t participate any more. I assume you keep up the friendships, but other extracurriculars have taken up your time? You don’t have to phrase it as ‘panic attacks’, just talk about the symptoms you used to exhibit that you don’t have any more.
I think the essay could be about how you joined debate to get over a fear of public speaking. And that, even though you didn’t make States or Nationals, you pushed yourself to do something you knew was good for you, so the activity made a huge difference in your life.
Calling it a “fear of public speaking” is simply admitting to one of the fears shared by most of the adult population; it doesn’t highlight mental health issues. And your story DOES have a happy ending… you’re more comfortable speaking in front of a group. Again, not every success has to end with a trophy. So you showed up, didn’t get a trophy, but still considered this a personal success because you grew and got past a fear.
@bjkmom@ninakatarina@Flo123 Thanks for all of your advice! I actually did end up writing on that topic for my English class. Now that I’m starting to really apply for colleges I have to go trim it down and edit it and then I’ll see how it ends up sounding. I might use this topic after all. Thanks!