<p>for my second essay, i'm really confused on what to write about....</p>
<p>moving away from home at 15 to a boarding school in a different continent, my struggle with an eating disorder and depression has been a HUGE part of my life... it really has shaped me into the person i am today.. (but i kinda don't want to sound whiney and look as if i'm trying to gain sympathy)...</p>
<p>my experience as a resident assistant has taught me so much... i was so shy and lonely in high school but the RA experience has really made me more comfortable with myself by developing my interpersonal skills...developing community and programming events... all that... </p>
<p>i feel like the first option would be more impact and i could write it up beautifully.. i just need some suggestions on how to go about it....</p>
<p>I say ignore the “emotional struggle” topics, seriously, no matter how many beautiful metaphors you use to describe depression, abuse, drug addiction, etc they’ve read it all before. I think the RA experience is a great topic! Mention about how it made you a strong leader and how it enhanced your critical thinking skills. Talk about some of the people you helped during this time, but focus all on personal growth and be positive. I seriously recommend avoiding any uncomfortable emotional issues. The admissions officers are not your therapists or your best friends, they dont want to hear that, they want to hear about your strongest attributes and your leadership skills as an RA are much more interesting than your pre-teen suicide attempts.</p>
<p>Don’t write about mental illness. Unfortunately there is still a strong stigma surrounding it, and especially with recant high-profile suicides and school shooters, adcoms will be weary about accepting such applicants. While I’m sure these experiences shaped you and made you grow as a person, its probably best if you stick to a topic that won’t make adcoms concerned about your ability to cope with the stress of college.</p>