alright, for my essay, i want to write about an incident that truly was life alterting for me. at this bball camp i went to, a bunch of my friends got caught smoking pot out of a wiffle ball bat (and believe me, in the right tone, there’s high comedy in this story.) But anyways, the incident really ended up changing the way i viewed my friends and school and up to this point in my life, has really had a big effect on who i am. I also feel like i can turn this into a relatively humorous piece. My question is, is it too risky to write an essay centerd around marijuana?
<p>I'm not sure, but make sure that the essay focuses on you, not your friends or the humor or the weed. The point of the essay is how the incident changed YOUR life and what you learned from it, so no matter what subject you choose make sure that is the focus. Good luck!</p>
<p>It's a pretty poor subject for an essay. They don't really want to hear about your friends pot smoking. A humourous take on it is really a waste of time. Plus, you are opening up a can of worms about your character in deciding on this and the people you choose to hang with. Who knows if you are really a great writer and had profound insights if something could be made of it, but teenage humor is usually not very funny to adults.</p>
<p>The pot essay example that leaps to mind is about the girl in The Gatekeepers who was the only person who turned herself in for taking a bite of a pot brownie (the person who brought them to school had to go to the hospital). She went on to be on the Honor Committee and to be Class President at prestigeous Harvard-Westlake prep school. She chose to write about the incident (1 day suspension) and her subsequent taking of responsibiltiy in her admissions letter and no one would touch her with a 10 foot pole. She was rejected everywhere and waitlisted at 2 places. She only finally got an admit after intense lobbying by her school.</p>
<p>Sad, but true.</p>
<p>I would avoid the topic for an application at any cost. Save the story for a comp class sometime. But thats just me.</p>
<p>You need to read the book The Gatekeepers. Answer: probably not a good idea.</p>
<p>yeah that makes sense. thanks guys.</p>
<p>dont do it...dont write about anything that could call your own character and judgement into question...remember: you want to make yourself look good..</p>
<p>first of all, i want to say that i agree with all of you and that you all make very valid points....</p>
<p>but just for the sake of argument:</p>
<p>i shouldn't have said "centered around marijuana" in my opening post. The story really does center around me, not the marijuana. The pot kind of just opens the story and the rest is more or less a very unsympathetic reflection on the actions of my friends.
Also, someone mentioned that it may call my character into question because of the friends i've picked. This is somewhat untrue because the main point of the story is that i realized what a bunch of dumbasses my friends were and that i came to understand the value of rational thinking.<br>
In addition, i would make it ABSOLUTELY CLEAR that I, myself, have never touched pot or even contemplated doing it (frankly, i'm very anti-drug.) </p>
<p>All the same, thanks to you guys i realize that writing on this topic probably wouldn't be the smartest move. Afterall, why risk it?</p>
<p>Pot isnt that bad for you....the government alcohol class that I had to attend (for my MIP...hehe) told me this.... They were like, i"f we can get all of you to stop drinking and start smoking (weed) than we feel our community and all of you will be safer".... Ah...the govt....</p>
<p>All of this reminds me of the famous Ogden Nash couplet that he expanded in the 1970s:</p>
<p>Candy is dandy
Liquor is quicker
Pot is not</p>
<p>Take Nash's advice and don't write about pot. The example from The Gatekeepers cited above should give you pause. </p>
<p>However, since you like the whiffle-bat-as-roach-clip story, still go ahead and write it up. You may find another outlet for it, such as the school literary magazine or a guest editorial in the school newspaper. If it's that good, you might offer it as part of your admissions package. But do write it up to get your creative juices flowing, if for no other reason that because you want to -- not because you have to for a college admissions essay.</p>