<p>I'm new so I don't know how strict the moderators are about grammar and spelling in threads. Well I was talking to my SAT tutor the other day about what I should write about for colleges that are very selective. She pointed that the colleges want interesting, passionate, and truthful essays. The first thing that came to my head was how much my parents have affected me and how thankful I am. Then she mentioned that these colleges find a lot of these topics "boring" or typical. Should I just make something up to satisfy the colleges or go with this topic, which I feel passionate about?</p>
<p>To go a little more in depth, the topic was about how my parents has affected me. They, like most other Asian parents that immigrated to US, has been blue collar workers ever since. They usually work from 8am to 9-10pm and arrive home at 11pm. I knew the importance of studying and making them proud since I was a student, but until I realized how hard they work to just give me an education, their hardwork had a profound impact on me. I sometimes think about doing all these different jobs to help the poor and immigrants that are mistreated. I sometimes want to just go to my neighbor's house to help his grandmother out because she is sick often. If I see a stranger struggling with groceries, I tell myself to help him (I play football so I have guns lol). Because I want to be the next Mother Terisa and Bill Gates to help the poor, the sick, the elderly at the same time, I feel passionate about helping others. I know it's "girly," but at times, I want to cry for others because I want to show them that I empathize with them. </p>
<p>That is a jist of what I wanted to write and the topic really stirs me. I think it kind of reveals my colors (character). I can't seem to find something unique.</p>
<p>That essay could be good. But that essay isn't about your parents, it's about you and how you behave. Obviously your outlook on life is a result of how your parents raised you, but the essay has to be about you, not them.</p>
<p>It's probably going to take you a while to craft an essay that gets across what you want to communicate without sounding mushy/trite/overly sentimental or plain old insincere.</p>
<p>Thanks ses for your helpful advice. I just wanted to get across that I am passionate about helping others significantly because how my parents raised me. But you are definitely right abou tit's more about me and how I behave. Do you think it is possible to use that topic without being too mushy? (I felt weird typing that part about crying lol, but it's true)</p>
<p>is it ok to be at times a little mushy? for example, i wrote, "i want to cry for those that are less fortunate." I swear that that is how I truly feel. But would colleges think I'm being too sentimental?</p>