Extremely Personal Essay Topic

<p>I was thinking about what I should ultimately write my college essays on. Everyones tells me "Choose something that makes you unique and different from others" Well, okay. The thing that comes to mind is my weight issues. At one point in my life I weighed an astonishing 465 pounds at age 15. Now I'm about to be 18 in May, and I've lost about 320 pounds. I'm not really sure how I should go about writing about this topic. Is this a good topic?</p>

<p>Okay, I dont mean to bash your topic, but when you think of one, think of all the people in the country who could possibly write a similar essay. Maybe because I have never been in this situation I am not aware of how life altering the condition is, I would stray away from the topic. For example, I was going to write about my struggles as a Muslim Pakistani American. Though my struggles may be unique, thousands of other Pakistani kids could write the same essay, and thats why I strayed away.</p>

<p>WOW. WOW. just wow. 320 pounds (or to me 150kgs.) Really awesome. I think that If you use this as something like a struggle through adversity it could be really good. Especially if you really had to persevere to do it. Could show you as a really strong person. I would run with it, and see how it goes for you. If done well though, could really make you stand out.</p>

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<p>-Old CC proverb</p>

<p>Define a cliche essay for me, Lol. Jk. </p>

<p>@Sage – Okay, I dont mean to bash your topic, but when you think of one, think of all the people in the country who could possibly write a similar essay. Maybe because I have never been in this situation I am not aware of how life altering the condition is, I would stray away from the topic. For example, I was going to write about my struggles as a Muslim Pakistani American. Though my struggles may be unique, thousands of other Pakistani kids could write the same essay, and thats why I strayed away. </p>

<p>I’m sure there are people who will write their essay on weight loss, or the issues they had from being overweight. However, how could you not be aware of how life altering loosing 320 pounds is? Clearly it’s beyond life altering. I’m not sure thousands of teenagers have lost that much weight. Though I am sure there are thousands of Mulim Pakistani American’s as you said.</p>

<p>"There is no cliche topic, just a cliche essay "</p>

<p>^That.</p>

<p>I think your topic sounds awesome. I think you should go for it!
And I personally have never read a college essay on weight loss before, and I’ve read over 300 college essays (not necessarily a huge amount, but still…!)</p>

<p>The way I would put the “old CC proverb” is:</p>

<p>There are no cliche topics.</p>

<p>There are only cliche treatments of topics.</p>

<p>@gamerchick: I think it can be a brilliant essay topic. Exactly what ADad said: it’s not that the essay topic itself has to be unique; it’s more like the essay has to reveal something essential about you, something that convey those qualities of yours that make you stand out, that you want others to know.</p>

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<p>Advice of your fellow high school student who had to write those essays last December: write it as though you’re writing to a friend or someone you’re close with. Write without feeling as though it’s a college essay or that someone may be judging you, then edit, have someone look over it, and ask whether the essay was engaging and whether it sounds like you.</p>

<p>I understand now.</p>

<p>You can write about how you only need 1 airplane seat now lol. And how you dont need to go to certain stores anymore.
From the serious side, you can subtly raise the obesity theme.</p>

<p>I think that topic is awesome. if you can write an incredible essay with this topic then go for it. it’s super life altering and monumental - go for it!</p>

<p>Congratulations on a tremendous accomplishment. Truly amazing - much more so than being captain of the cheerleaders or wining the state championship etc etc. Lots of people struggle with weight but relatively few have done anything to materially change. I think its a worthwhile topic for an essay.</p>

<p>First off, I congratulate you wholeheartedly. It’s not an easy thing to do, and 320 lb. is an ENORMOUS accomplishment!</p>

<p>I think it would be a great essay–as other people have mentioned, it’s not WHAT you write about, but HOW you write it. I think it has great potential as an essay, and if it is something that has truly made an impact on your life, I say go for it :)</p>