"cliche" essay topic=suicide?

<p>i recently read a post in the harvard forum that said writing a cliche essay such as one's passion for an EC, etc. can be suicide when applying to college. this suprised me, as i had just finished my first draft of my common app. essay which talks about my passion for a sport: horseback riding. I talk about the times i have fallen off a horse and bruised my confidence and never wanted to ride again, but still overcame my fears to continue riding and continue doing what i love to do. i also want to parallel this to my life and how i have overcome obstacles with my dad living in Korea most of the year and having to take care of my family, tough times in 9th grade, etc.
i am very passionate about riding. i have been riding since i was 9 years old.
is this essay topic just too typical?
thanks for your opinions.</p>

<p>I'm writing about my passion for justice and social equality. As of now I'm content with it, and I have no plans what so ever to change the topic, even if it is tired and worn out:)</p>

<p>nah. its good. teh reason essays are like that is because that is all that really works.</p>

<p>im also confused like.. is cliche bad.. or is it better stick to the tired n tested essays...</p>

<p>Don't write about suicide unless you have personal experience with it (ie with a family member or a close friend)</p>

<p>I might go with the riding essay if that's what you're really passionate about, but the "overcoming an obstacle" essay has been/will be done so many times it'll probably be boring to the readers.</p>

<p>^^^^lolz^^^</p>

<p>overcoming obstacles... i'm sorry but you better write one fantastic essay. overused.... by a lot.</p>

<p>There is no need for an obstacle, especially in an essay about an activity, to make the essay interesting. If you want to talk about one, make sure it is really something real and important, not just something you scrounged up to impress someone. </p>

<p>One way to write an interesting essay about an activity is to reflect in an anecdote how you felt about the activity when you started, and then describe how your motives and reasons for doing the activity changed, or if some new aspects have been added to its importance to you.</p>