<p>At age 12 I was 4'11" and 190lbs, with glasses and braces and all sorts of acne.</p>
<p>I'm now 17, 5'7", 114lbs, applying to school for musical theatre, and am represented by a fairly reputable modeling agency.</p>
<p>In essence, the ugly duckling story... getting through it ON MY OWN despite being picked on, and being strong enough to see in myself what I could truly be.</p>
<p>Will I be able to write this without coming off as conceited? Can I find substance in it? Is it just stupid?</p>
<p>sounds a bit superficial...I mean, what would you have done had you not turned from "the ugly duckling" into "the beautiful swan"? That's the kind of thing adcoms would rather hear about.</p>
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Will I be able to write this without coming off as conceited?
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<p>Sure, there is nothing wrong with honestly describing what happened, what led to your success. A college essay is supposed to be bottom-line positive about the writer (though there is room for some honest self-criticism, some self-deprecating humor); the whole point of the essay is to give the AdCom additional reasons to admit you. You have been successful, :), you have overcome obstacles, you have been determined; a college essay is an appropriate place to show and describe such success.</p>
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Can I find substance in it?
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<p>Yes. There is substance in most any form of human striving, desire for self-improvement, effort to accomplish something worthwhile in life.</p>
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Is it just stupid?
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<p>No.</p>
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<p>Any topic can make for a good essay, since it is not the topic, it is what you do with the topic. The question therefore imo is: will your proposed topic allow you to be personal, detailed, honest and revealing?--for these imo make for a good college essay.</p>
<p>Since what you are talking about is obviously important to you, and since you evidently are thinking that there is some chance that it would work, why don't you give it a try and see what you come up with? </p>
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<p>For good advice on essays in general, see:</p>
<p>My only comment is don't talk about your physical growth.</p>
<p>You didn't overcome being the 'ugly duckling'. You simply grew up, not much of a challenge. If you want it work you must focus on thriving as the kid you were at 12. Yet again, I doubt you really overcame much adversity at such a young age. I could be wrong, but keep those thoughts in the back of your mind. Overcoming true adversity is impressive, but without knowing you, I really gotta question how much adversity you faces considering that growth is a gradual process from 12-17. I can imagine what you must have felt like at 12, but I would think the same thoughts weren't there at 14,15,16 as you matured.</p>