<p>One of the colleges I am applying to requires me to write about my life experiences and how those experiences have offered me a perspective which could contribute something to the school. Believe me, I've had plenty of life experiences and been through many adversities which have ultimately shaped me into the person I am today. My problem is that I have always been private about my personal struggles...I haven't even told my closest friends about many of the things that have happened in my life. Needless to say, I am hesitant to share such things with complete strangers via a college application essay. I am also concerned that an essay which highlights some of the tougher times in my life would come off as a "sally sob story" and make the admissions officer think I was banking on his or her pity for my situation in order to get accepted. What are your thoughts? I could try to come up with another angle to approach this essay with, but at the moment nothing comes to mind.</p>
<p>Sob stories written for overly melodramatic or histrionic effect aren’t good. That said, don’t underestimate the power of writing about a traumatic experience. Focus on how it helped you grow as a person, not how terrible it was.</p>