<p>So I've been trying to think of something that had a significant impact on me, and I've been kind of hard pressed to find something. The only thing I can think of is my on-and-off boyfriend of a year and a half. This guy (I'll call him Bob for now) has some serious issues sometimes, and other times he's just absolutely perfect. The issues all pertain to school. See, we're both ranked really highly in our class, but this year I started to surpass him by A LOT. I did better than him in every single subject and beat him on the SATs by 400 points. This caused him to get ridiculously jealous of everything I did (even to the point where he got angry with himself because I finished Harry Potter before he did). His dissatisfaction with himself but his unwillingness to accept help from others has taught me a lot about being happy with who you are and what you CAN do, and not constantly beating yourself up over the things that other people do better. Would writing about something like this-- and thereby showing that I was, in this case, unable to resolve a conflict-- show something bad about my character, or would the fact that I learned something from it overcome that? Would I be obliged to tell them how the situation ended (namely, not well at all)? Would writing about a relationship at all be a good idea?</p>
<p>Though I'm no expert, I've always heard and read to never write about a boyfriend, so I'm wary. Perhaps you could change him to a "best friend"? I like what you're saying in the last few sentences of this post, so I say give it a try and let others read it. If they don't think it's appropriate, then search for a new idea. I really like that you couldn't resolve the conflict, I think it shows maturity and that you know when to move on.</p>
<p>Honestly, you could probably find a better topic. This essay will be more about you tolerating a significant other who was not supportive of your success, than it will be about you rising above a challenge.</p>
<p>From what you've said so far, I'd find something else to write about.</p>
<p>It is not a problem that you weren't able to resolve the conflict. But what you've said so far reveals more about him than you. </p>
<p>Imo, essays don't need to have bottom lines, "here is what I learned", grand lessons about life. Rather, they should be specific, honest, revealing about the writer. "Show, don't tell" (see the UVa link below).</p>
<p>I've read you "chances" post and I just don't believe that the most personal, revealing, specific, helpful thing you can write about has to do with a row or breakup with your boyfriend. I know you can do better than that.</p>
<p>For good advice about essays, see</p>
<p>Unless you can talk about how this affected you/changed you in a significant way, this probably won't matter. It's not necessarily about being taboo -- it's about how significant this event is to you and how it changed you</p>