Common App Essay Question... Influential Person

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
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<p>Hey everyone. I have a question concerning the commonapp essay question.</p>

<p>I've chose the following prompt to work with:
Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. </p>

<p>My question is - how strictly do I have to abide by the given prompt for my essay?</p>

<p>My idea for this essay was to discuss my experience speaking at my father's funeral. I would talk about the emotions that went through my mind, my reminiscence on past memories, and the transformation of me as a person while speaking at the podium to the audience.</p>

<p>I do realize that this essay isn't exactly centered on my father. But of course, I am centering it on my father's influence upon me and how he has played a pivotal part in my growth.</p>

<p>Would the "funeral scene" be an acceptable setting for this essay? Please note that I'm not using this topic for pity points or anything of the sort. I'll be heavily describing the positive impact he had and why I feel speaking at the funeral was important to me.</p>

<p>Please share and advice or tips you may have. Thanks!</p>

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<p>I think as long as you frame it as such - about your dad and make the speaking at the funeral secondary to that you will be fine. Sounds like you are planning to make the funeral speech the focus. If you want to do that, do it under topic of your choice. My son chose that prompt too - wrote about his grandfather and how he has been a great influence on him in the areas of work ethic and family commitment. Then he wrote one paragraph on each of these areas. In each paragraph he gave an example of grandfather’s work ethic and how committed he is to family and then son described how that work ethic and commitment to family rubbed off on him and gave an example of how it did rub off on him. It was very good and just under 500 words.</p>