So my idea for an essay is how my personality being someone who enjoys being sociable and an overachiever affected who I became as a student and how I learned to balance the two in order to be both successful and happy. My grades started as a mix of A and Bs (about a 3.5 UW) to straight A’s (4.0 UW two years in a row) and how learning who I was as a student as a person helped me make those improvements and how I plan on carrying that attitude into college.
I feel like what could possibly make me stand out is how I can be a straight-A student, athlete, and a member of student government while enjoying high school and being a ‘typical’ teenage girl. Basically, I think being average is what could make me stand out among people who are prominently completely focused on academics.
What makes a great essay isn’t the topic but how it’s written. It’s quite possible you could write a stellar essay on that topic. With that said, though, it sounds like it (likely) won’t be a particularly memorable/stand-out essay. Many students will be trying to show how well-rounded they are in an essay. Especially for applicants to more competitive schools, students know that ECs count. I wouldn’t assume that people will prominently be focused on academics. Academics are for your transcript and your honors/awards. Essays are for your personality or things they can’t infer solely from your resume. An essay that focuses on how you can get good grades and be engaged in a social life doesn’t lend itself to being particularly impactful on readers.
I wouldn’t say it’s a risky topic. Just that it sounds a bit common and not too unique to you. I’ve read quite a few essays on that exact topic.