So okay guys, this is a very personal issue for me. I want to write about my sexual abuse as a young child on college application - and I am worried that this will be categorized as “too much information” or make the adcom uncomfortable. However, I feel that this is an integral part in my life and that I want to include it in my biography essay for Questbridge. I won’t write about the details of course, I am safe and happy now 
but I want to write how it impacts me psychologically, how it turns me into a feminist, how it dispels my naive idealism of the world and makes me fight harder for women’s right. I actually start a business/organization that sells feminist writings, T-shirts, bookmarks and mugs and the money will go to profit women in my country and those who had suffered from domestic violence. I also participate in the Women’s Committee of Model UN yearly to write resolutions and address problems of women in third world country. So do you guys think I should write about my past - because my past is what make I am today and motivates me to become a stronger person. Thanks a lot for your opinions.
I have no background here, so take this for what it’s worth.
It doesn’t sound as though you’re writing about your sexual abuse. It sounds like you’re writing about how you’ve become a much stronger person-- a survivor who cares about others-- as a conscious choice because of that abuse.
At the end of the day, you’re not writing to get sympathy. The point of your essay is to show that you will be an asset to the college community.
I think that, written well, this could be an incredibly powerful essay. But remember: the emphasis is on you as a survivor, as a champion for others, and not as a victim. I think there should be a very quick mention of the reason you’re all those things. The maximum of those 600 or so words should be on the choices you’ve made since that time, not on the choices some psychopath made to abuse a child.
You will not be selected as a Questbridge Finalist if you discuss sexual abuse. This observation might evoke some ill will, but I’m a professional essay editor, and feel it needs to be said: decide if you care more about making a captive reader glance at a cathartic essay that will destroy your QB / admissions prospects, or using your admirable achievements to get into a top school that has the resources to propogate your worldview.
Absolutely do not mention sexual abuse. You’ve used it to strengthen your resolve and achieve some pretty great things - so write about those achievements instead!
@bjkmom thank you so much for your recommendation. I’ll try my best
@TheEssayGuy I thank you so much for your recommendation also. I don’t plan to write an entire long paragraph on it. I just want to mention it in passing and then focus most of my essay on other things such as how I grow and my achievement. Nevertheless, since you are a professional essay editor, I’ll trust your words.
What if instead I wrote that I know someone close to me who suffer from it and that motivates me? This is also true. And I won’t mention about my trauma at all, but more about the person I love and then generalise it to other women in my country who struggle for equal rights.
Run it by the college placement office at your school. In fact, with summer winding down, you might find that an email to your guidance/college placement advisor gets answered fairly quickly. (Of course, you may not. He/she may be in Bermuda as I write this.) But it’s absolutely worth a shot-- run it by someone you’re confident knows his/her stuff.
I wouldn’t write about this. It isn’t designed to give the essay reader a good feeling, which is what you want. It’s better, in my opinion, to write about what you do. So, as you wrote:
That’s interesting, and I’d want to read more about that–but I don’t necessarily want to read about an awful experience that prompted you to do those things. At most, you might say something along the lines of “inspired by my own experiences and observations, I…”
IMO the risk here outweighs the possible reward.
@bjkmom aww thank you very much. You are the kindest. I plan to talk with my guidance counselor when I come back school. She is old and seriously doesn’t check her email so I’ll talk to her face to face. She is very kind and she will definitely understand me.
@MidwestDad3 @Hunt Thank you all for your opinions 
I understand how difficult the topic will be. I’m just afraid that speaking solely on my organization is too impersonal because many other essays are already about glowing achievements and helping poor people and being all magnanimous. I’'m afraid my essay will lost in those seas of people because it is too objective and sounds boring like an advertisement of my organization. Plus, the question on Qustbridge has a part that says:
“Please describe the factors and challenges that have most shaped your personal life and aspirations.”
So I want to write about the psychological challenges of learning to live again after an incident that happened in my past. Wouldn’t that be more compelling? Because honestly it affects my life for many years and that is the only biggest challenge I face. I could conjure up some other challenges but honestly they all sound so pale in comparison and they are really easily overcome so I don’t think I can’t write well and emotional on them.
And also, I just found out another thread like mine: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/576108-sexual-abuse-p1.html
And in that thread another girl also encountered sexual assault and she also run a charity organization and a lot of people encourage her to write about her experience, so I’m still very hesistant on whether to include my past in it because people say she should include her past in. But again, thanks for all of your comment and opinion. I’m glad to know that some people are willing to listen to my stories.