<p>I’m glad you’re feeling better about this process! You did the right thing – reading well-written essays is the best way to learn how to write well yourself.</p>
<p>I personally think the “write about a time you experienced failure” or the “overcoming a challenge” topics are really just done to death. Especially when for most kids it’s about losing the championship game, or getting a poor grade, or not making the team or something. A lot of kids feel like big fat frauds writing those essays, and I don’t wonder.</p>
<p>Write about what interests you and show that you’ve thought about things and issues outside yourself and your own life, and you’ll be fine!</p>