<p>I moved to Texas when I was 13.
It was the hardest time in my life.
Many people write about how they immigrate to the US.
So does that mean I should not write about this topic because it is not unique?
thank you for your advice</p>
<p>Include some details that make the story yours only. </p>
<p>I don’t think it’s off limits as a topic – immigrating to the US was a defining moment in your life and I think adcoms should know the story. You just want to be careful about how you handle it. You want to tell them about the transition, how difficult it was, and what you learned and how that’s prepared you for college – without complaining about how hard you’ve had it. </p>
<p>This topic obviously works better if you have faced adversity – i.e. if the immigrant story is along the lines of “I was at the top of my class at the best boarding schools in Asia/South Am etc and then my dad got a fantastic opportunity in the U.S. and we struggled for 6 months because we had to live in an apartment but now we’re totally settled in one of the wealthiest communities in NY” then I wouldn’t tell it. </p>
<p>@aj725 and @dyiu13
thank you.
But the main question is that I am not sure how to make it personal.
What kind of details should I add?</p>
<p>Where did you come from? The cultural shock? What was the hardest part of adapting to the USA? Did you find any new interests here? new people who showed you new things, etc.</p>
<p>Those would be some cliche questions, but gives you a personal story. Remember to incorporate a personal characteristic about you through the essay that makes you stand out.</p>
<p>@Ctesiphon
thank you.
i also have a question but the writing style.
I dont think my writing skill is good enough to make my essay so personal because all i’ve learn about English writing is the SAT and ACT essay.</p>
<p>Have someone who knows English a bit better edit your essay.</p>
<p>Try to make sure that the story isn’t focused entirely on your struggles as a family. Keep it so that your story is about you and how it shaped you. Talk about what you did to make your situation better and maybe, if it fits, how it made you choose the field you wanted to get into/got involved with. </p>
<p>In terms of writing style, if, for example, someone wants to write about being impoverished they don’t necessarily have to say “we lived poorly.” When it comes to essays about adversity I like reading essays that drop hints to show how severe the situation really was. I read one essay that didn’t go into much detail about how hard it was to live in the projects, but included little snippets about how he happy he was to get a free pen from Home Depot or how surprised he was that Costco would just hand out free food samples. The fact he treasured things that a lot of people take for granted without saying “I value money,” made it such an enjoyable read. </p>
<p>@alwayswonderines
thank you so much. your advice helps me a lot.
Do you think I should talk about that others were being mean to me because of my race?
And will you be willing to read my essay when i am done with it?</p>
<p>@esther2015 About mentioning race: it’s sorta a sensitive topic. I think it depends on the context given in the essay. </p>
<p>Yea sure I’ll be happy to read it. Just message me when you have it. </p>
<p>i just finished my essay
and i wonder if someone would like to read it 
thank you </p>
<p>I will read it if you like. Please let me know the prompt.</p>