Perfectionist Essay- Too Cliche or Risky?

I’ve thought about this for a long time as a potential essay, but not sure if I could make it “work.” At the beginning of high school, I did have that perfectionist type of mindset which I know now was an awful thing. It really started changing when I joined the sport that I do and I could talk about how it knocked that mindset out of me which also led to me trying a lot of new things in high school that I otherwise wouldn’t have done, including academically(taking hardest course load possible[with classes I genuinely like] without being scared getting a bad grade) and ECs(public speaking/talking about politics in Model UN, etc). It really is a big part of my mental growth in high school and this sport is my first EC listed on my activities list, with the next two spots being somewhat related to the sport too. Not sure if this essay is too common or too risky by sounding like I have some issue or just coming off as unlikeable. Should I try a rough draft of this essay? I have this idea and one more and I can have a teacher read both to get some advice specifically. Just wondering if this topic is too overdone or too risky if not done exactly right.

I have no expertise but I can imagine being a reader. An essay that might give off the vibe that: my biggest growing pain was to be less than perfect but by using my gifts I injected some faux imperfection into my life and now it is even better than fabulous would be tiresome. I would be careful about the tone of it.

@WISdad23 Yeah I see what you mean. I was going more for “It is impossible to be perfect at everything, but I decided to give it my all in everything and inevitably not be perfect rather than hiding in fear of failure” as the message I wanted to convey. I’m not really sure how to make it sound less “woe is me.”

Perhaps a more general topic of insecurities of adolescence limiting potential, then the epiphany, then a tangible example of growth, then how that growth will translate into contributions to be made at the school of choice.

There’s a line between setting high standards for yourself and being neurotic & annoying to be around.

Just make sure your essay doesn’t give off the vibe that you’re neurotic & annoying to be around.

The way you first described it had potential. You can focus in the up side, not the neurosis, as PM noted. I.e., “trying a lot of new things” and a newfound enjoyment. Adcoms can like kids willing to explore, enjoy and grow, in the right ways. And just self aware enough to see it. Now remember, the idea is “Show not just tell.” It means wrap this into a nice tale that shows your growth and some of the satisfaction.

You might want to think about framing it as how you became open to things and took risks rather than only doing things you were sure you could do well. Any essay that cites perfectionism as a flaw can be cliche and distasteful.

How will this show you are a kid they want on their campus?

Yup, #6 and 7. Constructing the right ‘glass half full.’

@gardenstategal @ClarinetDad16 @lookingforward If I try to make it more about being open to trying new things rather than perfectionism, then wouldn’t that be a good message about myself to convey to colleges? After all college is all about trying new things and finding new interests… I actually am trying to avoid the word “perfectionism” and focus on the after(all the new things I tried, new passions and interests that came out of it) rather than the before(the perfectionism). Maybe I could tie in my varied interest in academics as well? I was a “cookie cutter Asian” math person but now I’m much more interested in psychology, philosophy, and law and not really into math/science as much. This sounds more like a “getting out of my comfort zone” than a perfectionism essay. Is the tone more positive this way?

@WISdad23 Would what I said above come off in a better tone than the original post? What would your reaction to be this essay compared to my first post?

I think you see what we meant. Just remember, the CA writing is less a statement and more a narrative that “shows.” That is, a tale that illustrates those attributes. You don’t need to cover every little bit, just enough to let readers see, for themselves.